Dal : Chota Manimahesh, Shri Durveshvar Mahadev Temple, and Tibetan Children Village

Dal is a small village situated at a distance of  11 kilometers away from Dharamshala near the village of Tota Rani on McLeod Ganj - Naddi road in district Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. The village got its name from Dal Lake, a small mid-altitude lake, 1,775 meters above sea level.

foot path around Dal lake

Dal lake

Dal lake

     Dal lake is filled with greenish water and is surrounded by deodar trees. The lake is famous for its scenic beauty and pilgrimage center.   On the bank of Dal Lake, Shri Durveshvar Mahadev Temple is located (dedicated to Lord Shiva),  which is considered to be very sacred.

Shri Durveshvar Mahadev Temple, Dal

Nandi statue at Shri Durveshvar Mahadev Temple, Dal

      Shri Durveshvar Mahadev Temple was built by Mr Kalshar Singh Rana of village Gharoh in early 18th century. (Gharoh village is about 8 kilometers from Dharamshala and 19 kilometers from Dal). Dal lake is also known as "Chota (small) Mani Mahesh". Every year during the Hindu month of Badon on Radhastami, the 15th day following the festival of Janmashtami, (on August or September), the fair is held at Dal Lake. Thousands of pilgrims came to take holy dip in Dal lake,   seeking blessings of the Lord Shiva.  It is believed that the people who could not go to holy pilgrimage to the Mani Mahesh lake, they could come here.

       (   Mani Mahesh Lake  is a high altitude lake (elevation 4,080 metres (13,390 ft)) situated close to the Manimahesh Kailash Peak in the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas, in the Bharmour subdivision of Chamba district of the Himachal Pradesh. ) 

Mani Mahesh lake, Chamba (image is downloaded from internet)

Sheetla Mata Temple near Dal lake

                         Tibetan Children's Village (TCV) is just near Dal Lake,. Tibetan Children's Villages  is an integrated community in exile for the care and education of orphans, destitutes and refugee children from Tibet. It is a registered, nonprofit charitable organization with its main facility based at Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh

Tibetan Children Village Gate Dal

TCV Ground......Dal

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Kotla Village (Kangra)

View of Kotla village from the Kotla fort

                                    Kotla is a Village situated on the National Highway 20 (Phathankot-Mandi road), in Himachal Pradesh. It is located in the Kangra district. The village is about 45 kilometres from Pathankot (Punjab) and the same distance from Dharamshala. The  Bhed khad (stream) and Dehar khad (stream)  cuts through the village, and both streams are tributaries of Beas river. The village is famous for it fresh water small local fish and there are many fish shops.
     

ruin of Kotla fort.....

The village is famous for the old fort - Kotla Fort,  Bagula Mukhi temple which is inside the fort, and a number of additional religious places. The Kotla Fort was built by the Raja Ram Chandra of Guler-Dynasty in early 16th century.

A footbridge that connect Kotla village with fort 

Bagula Mukhi temple

A yellow footbridge is constructed to connect the village with the fort. There is about 200 steps to reach the Fort. Inside the fort there is Bagula Mukhi temple.

steps to Kotla fort

Shiva temple in Kotla village

Shiva temple in Kotla village

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