This beautiful city truly lives up to its name as it has been a sanctuary for Tibetans since 1959 when His Holiness Dalai Lama had to flee Tibet along with thousand others.

Dharamshala welcomed these foreign nationals with open arms and not just offered a place of safety and security but also encouraged them to preserve their history and culture by building Monasteries such as the Namgyal Monastery in McLeodganj and Norbulingka in Dharamshala.

Dharamshala is also one of the hundred earmarked cities by the Government of India to be developed as a “Smart City” is rich with a fascinating history.

After all “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture are like a tree without roots”.

Before the British Raj, Dharamshala and its surrounding area were ruled by the Katoch Dynasty of Kangra. In 1848, the area now known as Dharamshala was annexed by the British.

Initially, it was harbored as a cantonment for the troops stationed in Kangra; later in 1860, the Gorkha Light Infantry was stationed in the wild and picturesque scenery.

Gorkha’s who are also known as “The Bravest of the Brave” and the battalion today known as 1st Gorkha Rifles, has grown fourteen Platoon villages and exists till this day.

Dharamshala situated in the Kangra Valley at the foothills of the Himalayas,

the Dhauladhar Ranges is the second winter capital of Himachal Pradesh.

Surrounded by dense prolific coniferous forests, consisting mainly of deodar cedar trees, that house a plethora of local and migratory birds.