Dharamshala – Principal Township of Kangra
The High snow clad Dhauladhar ranges form a magnificent backdrop to the hill resort of Dharamshala. This is the principal township of Kangra district and overlooks wide spread of the plains. Kotwali Bazar and the skirting markets make up Lower Dharamshala. It is an 18 km gradual uphill drive from Kangra that gets you here. It is the busy commercial centre of the twin settlement.
In 1848, the area now known as Dharamshala was annexed by the British. It originally formed a subsidiary cantonment for the troops stationed at Kangra, and was first occupied as a station in 1849. A site was found upon the slopes of the Dhauladhar, in a plot of waste land, upon which stood an old Hindu resthouse, or dharamshala, whence the name adopted for the new cantonment.
The civil authorities, following the example of the regimental officers, and attracted by the advantages of climate and scenery, built themselves houses in the neighbourhood of the cantonment; and in 1855 the new station was formally recognised as the headquarters of the Kangra District.”
Today is our last day in Mcleodganj. We shall be checking out from Hotel Misty Woods in the afternoon and go for a day trip of the Dharamshala town. Then we shall board our bus to Delhi from Dharamshala Bus Station. We have planned to visit the below place during the day trip.
Tibet Quality Bakery
We went out for a stroll around the main square in the morning. On the way we stopped by at Tibet Quality Bakery around 200 meters from our hotel on Jogiwara Road to try some local bakes and Yak cheese burgers. Cute little place for dessert lovers. Prices are reasonable and their muffins, donuts and burger is mouth watering!
Museum of Kangra Art
The Kangra Art Museum, located in Kotwali Bazaar off the main street opposite Bank of Baroda, is a fascinating museum displaying artifacts from Tibetan and Buddhist cultures. Inaugurated in 1990, the museum has preserved a treasure trove from Kangra valley’s cultural past, crafts, arts and other ancient artifacts including miniature paintings, temple carvings, fabrics and embroidery, weapons, and palanquins belonging to local royalty.
It has a collection of rare pottery, coin memorabilia, sculptures and anthropological materials. It showcases jewelry of various tribes, embroidered costumes and wooden carvings. Some of the items displayed in the museum go back to 5th century. A section in the museum is also dedicated to contemporary artists and photographers.
Dharamshala Cricket Stadium
Stunning! Breathtaking! Awesome! The adjectives roll out as one enters the most beautiful ground in India. The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamsala, with a capacity of 23,000, is as picturesque as the Adelaide, Oval and Newlands, if not more. A small and glittering green plate, the ground has a snow-capped background in the form of the Dauladhar hill-range. The mountains add to the serenity of the venue, which lies at an altitude of 1317 metres above sea level.
Another impressive feature is its openness and small-sized stands, which allow for winds to sweep across, giving fast bowlers assistance in the air. The venue is the first in India to use winter rye grass scattered around the outfield, which prevents the grass from dying when temperatures fall below 10 degrees.
Martyrs Memorial
Martyrs Memorial or Shaheed Smarak is located on your way to the Kangra Tea Estate. You would have to stop at the diversion leading to the HPCA Cricket Stadium, and there you will find the Martyr’s Memorial on one side of the road. Amidst nature’s abundance, this memorial was built to commemorate the memory of the soldiers of Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh who fought bravely and sacrificed their lives for the country while guarding the country in the Post Independence era.
Lot of thought has been put into its creation. The entry points welcome you with a 25 Pound Gun and a Folland Gnat Aircraft. The park also houses a Patton Tank and a dummy Ship (Virrat). There is very big map of India inside the memorial. It is made up of rounded stones and each state is indicated by differently colored stones. Other attractions include a Children Park and open auditorium. Many benches are placed inside the memorial.
The focal attention of the memorial is its three large curved walls in black marble, each 24 feet high. The names of 1042 braveheart martyrs who laid down their lives while guarding the motherland during the war and various other peacekeeping missions are inscribed on these walls. Rising from a circular shallow pool with 21 water jets the walls represent the three wings of the Indian Armed Forces. Their curved shape indicates the continuity and the fact that these great soldiers will remain immortal in the minds of Indians forever.
A mural painted on one of the walls symbolizes the spirit of national freedom. It shows a stout arm holding aloft the flame showing how the brave soldiers of the country are making determined efforts to keep it ever high and burning even at the cost of their lives so that the citizens may be able to live freely. The garlands and medals around them represent our gratitude to them.
Kunal Pathri Tea Garden
There is an innate relationship that Indians share with tea, no matter how hot the weather gets. Maybe that is one of the primary reasons for tea plantations sprawling across most part of the country. In Dharamshala you will find India’s smallest tea region the lush green tea patches in the snow-capped mountains. Traditionally known for Kangra green tea, Dharamshala now produces all teas including black tea, green tea, oolong tea and white teas, in addition to the popular Kashmiri Kahwa and Masala Chai. Kangra green tea is considered to be among the best in India, and has also been found to contain the highest anti-oxidant levels of all green teas produced in India.
Kunal Pathri tea garden is located at a distance of little less than 3 km from Dharamshala War Memorial on Sarah Road towards Kunal Pathri Mata Mandir. A walk through the tea garden will let you experience the Himalayas the ‘offbeat’ way. The view is scenic and is also well suited for some wonderful photography. As you walk past the narrow paths in the tea plantation area, you will also witness some of the most beautiful birds. You are sure to be awestruck by the immense beauty that these plantations offers. It not only helps you love tea more but gets you closer to nature.
Kunal Pathri Mata Temple
Kunal Pathri Mata temple is consecrated to Kapaleshwari (Kapal = forehead + ishwari = godess). Legend has that feeling insulted for not being invited to Yajna by her father King Daksh, Sati, the wife of Lord Shiva, immolated herself. Devastated and grief-stricken, Lord Shiva started Rudratandav with her body in His arms to wreck havoc and invoke Great Destruction (Pralay). To pacify Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu cut Goddess Shakti’s body into 52 pieces which fell at various places on earth giving rise to Shakti Peethas. Kunal Pathri appeared on the spot where the forehead (kapal) of the Goddess is assumed to have fallen.
The temple is known as Kunal Pathri because in Kangri dialect Kunal means a shallow washbowl used to knead flour dough (Hindi = paraat). There is a natural stone sink in the shape of a washbowl which is always filled with water whose source is unknown. The stone sink is considered to be the aforesaid forehead of the residing deity. Also there is a stone (Patthar = Pindi – an abstract manifestations of the mother goddess Shakti in Hinduism) below the sink. Hence, the name “Kunal Pathri” got coined and popularised.
After having explored the Dharamshala town we were dropped at the inter state bus station. Since we had time in our hand before our bus left, we kept our luggage at the cloak room and explored the Kotwali bazar market. This was the end of our trip to Dharamshala & Mcleodganj. Then we headed to bus stand to fetch our bus to Delhi. It had been one of our most memorable trips. We long to be there again to spend longer time exploring the serene beauty of the peaceful town.
