TRAVEL

Himachal Pradesh- Traveling to its heartland

March 7, 2018

Some places our hard to reach and even harder to leave. Yes, I am talking about Himachal Pradesh. It is a tourist spot for many of us and a destination to escape the scorching Indian summer.

So obviously, the best time to visit Himachal is during summers, when the word ‘pleasant’ really is the right adjective and not a cliché. However, the downside is that in summer you will
find the cities of Shimla, Manali, Kullu, Dharamshala, Mclodganj, Kasauli and Chail filled with tourists, both domestic and international.

In the colder months of November to February, the chill in the air can really take your breath away. Because remember: the higher you go, the colder it gets! This is the best time for witnessing snow-clad mountains, warm drinks and conversation while the open fire roars.

So, let me drive you towards few places of District Kangra and its most amazing and beautiful places:

Pong Lake Sanctuary

This lake is created by a dam. Huge in size, birds from all over the world come here. Maharana Pratap Sagar renovated the place turned it into a bird sanctuary. Pong Dam
reservoir is located at a distance of 65 km from Panthankot and 115 km from Dharamsala on the Beas River. The reservoir has been developed on a large scale for promoting water sports for tourists. It is a very peaceful place away from all the hustle bustle of our daily life.

Masroor Temples

The rock-cut temples of Masroor are famous for its monolithic rock carvings situated in the Himachal Pradesh town of Kangra. The stone images here are from the times of the Mahabharata and, while in their audience, transport you into the realms of the Gods and Goddesses of yore. Also, the main shrines are committed to Rama, Sita and Laxmana. In the temple is a water pond of rectangular shape which is also considered divine. Hindu devotees visit the shrines from all over the country. Located on a hill, the temple provides a bird’s eye view of the surrounding terrains including the Dhaulagar Range with its snow-capped peaks.

Now, moving towards Dharamshala, here are my other favorites that you must visit someday-

McLeod Ganj is a suburb of Dharamshala in Kangra. It is known as “Little Lhasa” or “Dhasa” (a short form of Dharamshala used mainly by Tibetans) because of its large population of Tibetian. The Tibetian government in exile is headquartered in McLeod Ganj. There are many places one should visit in McLeodGanj and here is just a glimpse of few places.

Triund

This is a beautiful place which can not be described in words. Why? Because there are
not enough words to justify its beauty. It is an amazing spot for trekking. Triund, is the crown jewel of Dharamshala. It is situated in the laps of Dhauladhar mountains and has the perfect view of the Dhauladhar mountains on one side and Kangra valley on the other. Triund attracts a lot of tourists every year from India and all over the world. I can really not express this place in words. So here are some pictures which may do the place some sort of justice.

Norbulingka

This is yet another stunning place that is famous for its doll museum and a cafe where you can find delicious food at low price. Norbulingka Institute, founded in 1988 by Kelsang and Kim Yeshi at Sidhpur, is dedicated to the preservation of the Tibetan culture in its literary and artistic forms and you can find many tourists here. And if you are fond of photography then this place is all yours where you can get yourself series of profile pictures.

Dalai Lama Complex

It is said that when one is in town then there are two places that one should not miss out on. One is the dalai Lama complex and the other one is the Tibetian Muesuem. Both are situated in the Dalai Lama Complex Temple only. A visit to this place is truly worth every second spent there. You will come to know about the struggle in Tibet and even about their rich culture.

HPCA STADIUM

If you are a cricket fan, then you have seen this place on television. Also, you would have seen those beautiful Dhauladhar ranges in the backdrop as well which they keep on highlighting all the time. One can feel the cool breezes all the time and there is again some different direction and fragrance of the wind which sets all things right.

Bhagsunag Waterfall

Just about a km walk from the temple are the Bhagsu waterfalls. They are not the very huge but have historical significance. Very beautiful, they make you relax and are considered to be amongst the top 20 must visit waterfalls in India. An evening stroll to this place before heading to the market would be a perfect day out.

Shiva Cafe
While you are in McLeodGanj, you must visit the Shiva Cafe. This is a place you will never ever forget, but for sure, you will forget all your worries here. The Cafe is located just few meters above the Bhagsunag fall. So its approximately 1500 meters trek to Shiva Cafe, the Cafe in heaven. The sitting arrangement, the music they play and the that melodious sound of waterfall sets everything right.

So, this was a glimpse of few places in Dharamshala which you should definitely visit as it is perfectly said that “Its better to see than to hear again and again.”