The variety Dharamsala offers for sightseeing ranges from temples, churches and monasteries to museums, ancient towns and places of natural beauty. Every season and every spot has its own special offering.
KANGRA ART MUSEUM, KOTWALI BAZAR: This treasure trove of the Kangra Valley arts, crafts and rich past, displays artifacts that date back to the5th century. It includes a gallery of Kangra's famous miniature painting and a representative collection of sculptures, pottery and anthropological items. Shamianas and dresses used by local royalty, old carved doors, jails, lintels and pandals are also on display Coins, jewelry and manuscripts are included. A section houses the work of contemporary artists, sculptures and photographers. The library is just below this. WAR MEMORIAL: At there start of town, landscaped lawns and a web of narrow paths fill a pine grove where a monuments has been raised to commemorate the post independence war heroes of Himachal Pradesh. KUNAL PATHRI: A 3 km level walk from the Kotwali Bazar leads upto this rock temple. ST. JOHN'S CHURCH : 8km from Dharamsala, between Forsythganj and Mcleodganj is the charming dressed-stone church of St. John in the Wilderness. Under the shade of deodar branches, a memorial has been erected over the body of the British Viceroy, Lord Elgin who died at Dharamsala in 1863. There is a well tended old graveyard on these grassy sloped. MCLEODGANJ : Often called the Little Lhasa at 1770m this is the residence of His Holiness Dalai Lama. The Tibetan Government-in-exile has been here for over three decades. The impressive monastery has larger than life images of the Buddha, Padmasambhava and Avaloktwshwara. The large Tibetan community and the presence of traditional architectural designs drawn from Tibet hace enhanced the area. Tibet handicrafts, and garments are available on sale on every Sunday. The Tibetan institute of performing Arts is just a km away and it organises a ten day festival from the second Saturday of April. |
