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Tourist Places In & Around
Dharamsala
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Mcleodganj (1700
mt)
9 km up from Kotwali Bazar
Dharamsala is the famous town Mcleodganj often called the
‘Little Lhasa’. This is the residence of HH the Dalai Lama.
The Tibetan Government in exile has been here for almost four
decades. The impressive monastery has larger than life images
of the Buddha, Padmasambhava and Avalokteshwara. A large
Tibetan community and the presence of traditional
architectural designs drawn from Tibet have enhanced the charm
of the area. A host of Tibetan handicrafts and garments are
available. |
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NAAM
ART GALLERY
NEW IN DHARAMSALA /SIDHBARI
Location : Chamunda road Sidhbari
Dharamshala H.P. |
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The permanent exhibition in ‘NAAM
ART GALLERY’ exhibits paintings by
Elsbeth Buschmann
- watercolours and acrylics - and oil paintings by
Alfred W. Hallett.
Elsbeth Buschmann,
is a professional painter from Germany, having studied
painting in London and Paris .She lived in many
countries where she held exhibitions, especially in
the USA where she received various awards. Her
paintings are in private collections in Germany, USA,
Scotland, India and Switzerland. In India she held
solo exhibitions at AIFAX, New Delhi and TAG, the Art
Gallery of the Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai. She also took
part in ‘The Himalayan National Exhibition of Art’ and
was awarded.
A.W.Hallett is a very well renowned
painter from England. He studied art in London and
participated in two exhibitions of the Royal Academy
of Art, London which entitled him to become a Fellow
of the Academy. He held various international
exhibitions. He lived over 40 years at Dharamsala and
became very popular in Himachal Pradesh. Many of his
paintings are owned by the government of Himachal
Pradesh. A.W. Hallett held a special interest in the
culture and scenery of Himachal Pradesh which are the
main elements of his work. He passed away in 1986 at
Dharamsala.. The display of his paintings in ‘NAAM ART
GALLERY’ are a tribute to this great painter.
Gallery Timing: 10 am to 7 pm
(Monday closed)
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Tsuglag Khang (Central Cathedral)
Though a plain and utilitarian substitute for its far
more splendid name sake in Lhasa, also known as the Jokhang,
the Tsuglag Khang is nevertheless fascinating and peaceful.
Situated opposite the residence of His Holiness the Dalai
Lama, Tsuglag Khang is known to the local Indians as the
Main Temple. It houses three main images: that of the
Sakyamuni Buddha, Padmasambhava and Avalokitesvara, the
Buddha of Compassion, of whom the Dalai Lama is the current
emanation. The principal image is that of Sakyamuni Buddha,
measuring three metres high and made of gilded bronze. To
its right are the images of Padmasambhava and Avalokitesvara
which are both facing Tibet.
Namgyalma Stupa
Surrounded by prayer wheels, this Buddhist stupa, is
located in the centre of McLeod Gunj. Erected as a memorial
to those Tibetans who lost their lives fighting for a free
Tibet, Namgyalma Stupa stands as a monument to the
determination of a suppressed people to preserve their
distinctive way of life against overwhelming odds. With a
statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha enshrined in a small chamber,
the stupa is built in the tradition of the third century
Indian Emperor Ashoka and represents peace and progress. Day
and night, devotees turn prayer wheels as they
circumambulate the stupa, reciting mantras.
Church Of St. John In TheWilderness
Fifteen minutes' walk from McLeod Gunj, the Anglican
church lies in the forest near Forsyth Gunj. This neo-Gothic
stone church was built in 1852 and has some fine Belgian
stained-glass windows. It miraculously survived the 1905
earthquake - only the spire collapsed. A memorial to Lord
Elgin stands in the churchyard. The British Viceroy died in
Dharamsala and is buried here. Visiting hours for the church
and cemetery are 10 am to 5 pm each day.
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St. John In
TheWilderness
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Dal
Lake |
Dal Lake
About three
kilometers from McLeod Gunj and next to the Tibetan
Children's Village, this small lake is brownish in colour
and not nearly as impressive as the name and reputation
suggest. However, there are many interesting walks around
the lake.
Bhagsunag
This ancient temple is 2 kms from Mcleodganj.. Close
to this temple is a beautiful waterfall.Near the Dal Lake is
the shrine of Bhagsunath an easy walk from the Mecleod ganj.
Famous for its ancient temple and a pretty waterfall not far
away. The rock temple dedicated to local Goddess is just 3
km from Kotwali Bazaar.
Dharamkot
This village, twenty minutes' walk further up the
hill from McLeod Gunj, is a favourite picnic spot with a
panoramic view of the Kangra Valley. It is possible to rent
houses from local Indians if you are planning a longish
stay.
Triund
Mcleodganj to
Triund is a 9 km gradual trek which passes through
the Dharmkot and Rakkar villages. The tracks from Rawa,
Dallake, Dharamkot and Bhagsu meet at a ridge known as Galu
Devi (2130m) which has a small temple and a water point.
From Galu Oevi onward the track is smooth and clear and
ascends through a mixed forest of oaks and rhododendrons.
The track then gradually gains height and winds round the
ridges looking towards Dharamsala and the Kangra valley. The
last climb after a snow nullah rises abruptly with steep
ascents and the track weaves through twenty two curves
making the ascent tiring and difficult. On this track one
can spot many types of birds. Monals are in plenty. The
black bear, leopards, pigs and wild goats are also found in
this region. There is a small forest bungalow at Triund
located on a big and green subsidiary ridge of the
Dhauladhar range. The forest bungalow was built some years
ago.
Norbulingka
The
Norbulingka Institute The Norbulingka Institute of Tibetan
Culture was founded by the Department of Religion and
Culture to preserve and promote Tibetan art and culture in
exile. It derives its name from the His Holiness the Dalai
Lama's beautiful summer residence, the Norbulingka (Jewel
Garden), set in parkland two kilometers from Lhasa. Fearing
for the future of Tibet's cultural heritage, the Seventh
Dalai Lama, Kelsang Gyatso, established institutes of arts
and science there in 1754.Today, with occupied-Tibet
undergoing the bleakest period in its history, the
Norbulingka Institute in Dharamsala has taken the initiative
to preserve the roots of Tibetan culture in exile. The
institute is situated in a scenic valley below Dharamsala at
Sidhbari.
Chinmaya Tapovan:-
An ashram
complex has been established by late Swami Chinmayananda, a
noted exponent of the Gita, at a distance of approximately
10 km from Dharamsala . The complex includes a 9 meter high
image of Lord Hanuman, a magnificent Rama temple, a
meditation hall, a school, and a health and recreation
centre.
Kangra
Kangra town is 18 km from Dharamsala. This was the
first seat of Raja Sansar Chand II (1775-1823) .One of the
ancient capital of powerful hill state-fort of Nagarkot(3km)
stands as a mute witness to the ravages of conquerors from
Mahmood of Ghazni to the Emperor Jehangir, and the
disastrous earthquake of 1905. The place is now called
"Purana Kangra".2 km from the bus stand is the temple
dedicated to the goddess Barjeshwari
Devi.
Jawalamukhi (600 mt)
56 km from
Dharamsala is the famous temple of goddess Jawalamukhi also
called the “Flaming Goddess” or “She of the flaming
mouth”.
It lies in
the valley of Beas and is built over some natural jets of
combustible gas believed to be a manifestation of the
goddess Devi Bhagwati Jawalamukhi. Beautiful songs in
praise of the goddess are sung by the women on way to the
temple. On the backside of the temple water runs along a
water-course which takes off from a spring high above. Some
say this canal was constructed by Emperor Akbar to try to
quench the flames. The attempt having proved abortive, he
became a devotee of the Goddes. The interior of
temple
consists of
a square pit about three
feet
deep with a
pathway all round. In the middle, the rock is slightly
hollowed out about the principal fissure and on applying a
light the gas bursts into flames. The gas escapes at several
other points from the crevices of the walls of the
pit. There is noidol of any
kind, the flaming Fissure being considered as the fiery
mouth of
Goddess.
There is the
Gorakh Dibbi, Chaturbhuj Temple and a host of other smaller
shrine at Jawalamukhi town.
Chintpurni
84 km
Dharamsala and 3 km from Bharwain is the
famous
temple of Chintpurni on a ridge top. A stone idol (pindi)
represents the goddess The main fair at the temple is held
during Navratras (April and October) and during the days of
Shuklapaksh of Shavan (August), when thousands of people
visit this place.
Tatwani & Machhial (500 mt)
20 km from Dharamsala and 4 km from Rait
(on Dharamsala-Pathankot Road) is the beautiful waterfall. 5
km down lies the hot spring of Tatwani (a contraction of
Tatta pani) on the bank of Gaj rivulet, a tributory of Beas.
The hot spring issues at a height of about five feet from
the side of the hill.
Chamunda
Another 20 km from Kangra is the famous Chamunda
Nandikeshwar dham. This place also has a beautiful bathing
ghat and a small temple across the bridge joining the ghat.
There are ample arrangements to stay in the temple sarai and
the rest house at Dadh. Up in the Dhauladhar hills, a trek
of about 16 km, is the place where Bhagwati Chamunda,
according to the Puranas, Vanquished the demons Chand and
Munda.
Masrur (800mt)-Masrur is 36 km from Dharamsala
on Nagrota Surian link road and is famous
for remarkable group of rock cut temples. They form a
group of 15 monolithic rock cut temples in the Indo
Aryan style and are richly carved. The main shrine contains
three stone images of Ram laxman and Sita but the
presence of the figure of Shiva in the centre of the lintel
affors a strong presumption that the temple was originally
dedicated to Mahadeva.
[Text & Images:- courtesy
123himachal.com] | |