Dharamsala

From Buddhist Encyclopedia

Dharamsala or Dharmsāla, (literally; "Rest House") is a town and a municipal council in Kangra district in the North Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.

Geography

Dharamsala is located at <ref>Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Dharamsala</ref>. It has an average elevation of 1457 metres (4780 feet).

Dharamsala is located in the Kangra valley, in the Dhauladhar mountains. It became the capital of the Kangra District in 1852.

History

Dharamsala has been connected with Hinduism and Buddhism for a long time, with many monasteries having been established there in the past. In the 8th century, however, these monasteries are believed to have declined, with traditional Hindu building styles experiencing a revival. The local Gaddi people are now almost all Hindu, and for the most part worship many gods and goddess (such as Durga).

In 1848, the area was annexed by the British, and a year later, a military garrison was established in the town. Dharamsala eventually became the administrative capital of Kangra District in 1852. It became a popular hill station for the British working in or near Delhi, offering a cool respite during the hot summer months.

However, the town was virtually destroyed in a massive earthquake in 1905, which killed an estimated 20,000 people. Not only the town was devastated, but the nearby town Kangra was also ruined. Dharamsala falls in seismic zone five, may have earthquake more than VIII MSQ. After this, the British moved their summer headquarters to Shimla (also written Simla) which, though not far away, is off the main fault line and, therefore, less likely to experience a serious earthquake. Dharamsala still experiences frequent minor earthquakes.

When the Dalai Lama left Tibet, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru offered to permit him and his followers to establish a "government-in-exile" in Dharamsala. Since that point, many Tibetan exiles have settled in the town, numbering several thousand. Most of these exiles live in Upper Dharamsala, or McLeod Ganj, where they established temples and schools. The town is sometimes known as "Little Lhasa", after the Tibetan capital city.

Demographics

As of 2001|As of the 2001 India census, Dharmsala had a population of 19,034. Males constitute 55% of the population and females 45%. Dharmsala has an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 80% and, female literacy is 73%. In Dharmsala, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.

The natural features surrounding the town include rich forests of pine and deodars.

The town is divided between Upper Dharamsala or McLeod Ganj (which retains a British colonial atmosphere), and Lower Dharamsala (the commercial centre). Upper Dharamsala (elevation about 1,700 m or 5,580 ft) is about 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) from Lower Dharmsala by road and is some 460 m (1,510 ft) higher.

McLeod Ganj, or Upper Dharamsala, is the residence of Tenzin Gyatso, the current Dalai Lama. A substantial community of Tibetan exiles resides in the town. There is a small Anglican church, St. John of the Wilderness, featuring exceptional stained-glass windows, just a few hundred metres from McLeod Ganj.

The area covered by Dharamsala is almost 29 km². During the months of December and January, snowfall and hail is common and the temperature ranges from 0 °C to 14.5 °C. During summers, the temperature ranges from 22 °C to 38 °C. The best periods in which to visit are considered to be from March to June or September to November.

There is an airport about 20 km away, in Kangra. Rice, wheat and tea are grown around Dharamsala.

References

<references/>

• Verma, V. 1996. Gaddis of Dhauladhar: A Transhumant Tribe of the Himalayas. Indus Publishing Co., New Delhi.
• Handa, O. C. 1987. Buddhist Monasteries in Himachal Pradesh. Indus Publishing Co., New Delhi. ISBN 81-85182-03-5.

External links

• Dharamsala Net
• Discover Mcleodganj
• Wikitravel article on Dharamsala
• Sacred Heart High School Alumni Association
• Grassroots Journalist from Dharamshala