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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.
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