Dharmshala & Kangra Travel

DHARMSHALA

Dharmshala is commonly associated with Dalai Lama and is located on a ridge in the Kangra Valley. The bazaar area is colourful and interesting and full of Tibetan handicrafts. There is also the Kangra Art Museum.On display here are miniature paintings from 17th century, some wood carvings and costumes from the region. The museum is open daily except Monday from 10 am to 5 pm. Some other place of interest St. Jhons in the wilderness,Tsunglakhang Complex, Dip Se Chok Ling Gompa.

Excursions from Dharmshala:

About 4 kms from Dharamshala is the Norbulinka Institute which has been set up by the Tibetans to impart training in various traditional art and craft forms in order to preserve them. These include thangka painting, embroidery, goldsmithing and wood carving. There is also an institute which offers courses in advanced Buddhist philosophy to Buddhist nuns .

Access to Dharmshala:

From Delhi by bus - 13 hours.
From Pathankot by bus - 3 ½ hours.

KANGRA

Kangra is located 18 Km south of Dharamsala and is better known for it's school of painting, though little remains of it in this ancient town. The temple of Bajreshwari was an extremely wealthy temple and almost all invaders took what they could get out of it. Inspite of this, the temple survived the raids of Mahmud of Ghazni in 1009 and that of Tughlaq in 1360. The temple stands in the middle of the bazaar area, through narrow, crowded streets. The Nagarkot fort, which is located on a ridge, about 2 ½ Km outside of Kangra overlooks the confluence of two rivers: Manjhi and Baner.

Access to Kangra:

From Dharamsala by bus - 45 minutes
From McLeod Ganj by taxi.

JWALAMUKHI

Located about 35 Km from Kangra, this temple is dedicated to the Goddess of Light. The temple has a golden dome and a spire, which were bequeathed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh and by Akbar.

Access to Jwalamukhi:

From Dharamsala by bus