It houses a large settlement of Tibetan refugee. Monks in their robes and old Tibetans walking with rosaries in their hands or turning the prayer wheels is a common sight here. There are a number of monasteries and temples in Dharamsala, which serves as the major attractions for the tourists coming here. There are also several institutes here, set up to conserve the art, culture and traditions of Tibet.
Tourist Attractions of DharamsalaNamgyal Monastery
The personal monastery of The Dalai Lama, Namgyal is situated in Upper Dharamsala. It houses huge stucco statues of the Buddha, Avalokitesvara and Padmasambhava. The monastery also consists of an institute for learning, where futures Lamas are provided with higher Tibet studies.
Gangchen Kyishong
The offices of the Tibetan government-in-exile and the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives are located here.
Monastery of Nechung Oracle
The monastery of Nechung Oracle is situated within the complex of Gangchen Kyishong. The official oracle of The Dalai Lama sits here.
Men-Tse-Khang
It is the center for Tibetan Medicine, located very near to Nechung.
Norbulingka Monastery
The beautiful monastery of Norbulingka boasts of a rich collection of art, paintings, handicrafts and thankas.
Rewalsar
Rewalsar lies very near to Dharamshala. Here, you can visit the cave temple of the great Indian Tantrik Guru Padmasambhava.
How to Reach Dharamsala
By Air
The nearest Airport is at Gaggla, approxiamtely 13 km away from the town.
By Rail
The nearest railway station is that of Pathankot, approxiamtely 85 km away.
By Road
There are regular bus services from Manali, Delhi and Shimla to Dharamsala.
