Tag: Kangra valley

Dharamsala is best known as the home of the Dalai Lama, but the grubby market town where the buses pull in is actually Lower Dharamsala. The Tibetan government in exile is based just uphill in Gangchen Kyishong, and travelers make a beeline further uphill to the remarkably busy little traveler town of McLeod Ganj, also known as Upper Dharamsala. The bus station, a small museum and the bustling Kotwali Bazar can be found in Dharamsala, but otherwise, it’s just a place to pass through on your way to McLeod or Bhagsu.   The best places to explore in Dharamsala:- McLeod Ganj When travelers talk of heading up to Dharamsala (to see the Dalai Lama…), this is where they mean. Around 4km above Dharamsala town – or 10km via the main bus route – McLeod Ganj is the headquarters of the Tibetan government in exile and the residence of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Along with Manali, it’s the big traveler hang-out in Himachal Pradesh, with many budget hotels, trekking companies, internet cafes, restaurants, and shops selling Tibetan souvenirs. Naturally, there’s a large Tibetan population here, many of whom are refugees, so you’ll see plenty of maroon robes about, especially when the Dalai Lama is in residence. McLeod (named after David McLeod, Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab) was established in the mid-1850s as a British garrison and it served as an administrative center for the colonial government until the earthquake of 1905. It was a backwater until 1960 when the Dalai Lama claimed asylum here following the Chinese invasion of Tibet. Since then, McLeod has become a center for the study of Buddhism and Tibetan culture. There are all sorts of holistic activities and courses on offer, and lots of travelers come here to volunteer on community projects that focus on the