Amazing Himachal: District-Kangra

Showing posts with label District-Kangra. Show all posts

Monday

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 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

Index..............

Friday

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

Index.......

Gallu Waterfall: a Secret Waterfall

Gallu Waterfall

Gallu village is about 4 kilometers from McLeod Ganj, at Upper Dharamshala. The trek to Indrahar pass (and Triund Campsite) starts from Gallu Village. There is also a trek to waterfall from the village. The waterfall is known as Gallu Waterfall.

trek to Gallu waterfall

The trek to waterfall from Gallu village is about 2 hours (leisurely trek) and 1 hours (fast trek). There is a water pipe along the path which can use to hold because the walk to the waterfall is slippery (specially in rainy season).

small tea shop on the trek to Gallu waterfall

Gallu waterfall is on Bhated stream and there are several tiny natural pools under and also above the waterfall and the water is refreshingly cold.

natural pool

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Thursday

Divine Dharamshala : Winter Capital of Himachal Pradesh

Dharamshala

Dharamshala is a beautiful hill station nestled on the foot hill of majestic Dhauladar ranges. Dharamshala has been selected as one of the hundred Indian cities to be developed as a smart city. On 19 January 2017, Dharamshala was declared winter capital of Himachal Pradesh. It also serves as the district headquarters of Kangra district.

Dharamshala

Since 1960 when it become a temporary headquarter of His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama, Dharamshala has risen to international fame as 'The little Lhasa in India'. From 2012 Dharamshala hosts yearly International Film Festival, showcasing the best of recent Indian and world cinema, including fiction, documentaries and shorts. Dharamsala is also best known internationally for International Cricket Stadium (Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium). Dharamshala is known as Yoga and Mediation center as there are many institutes of Yoga and mediation in Upper Dharamshala, specially Dharamkot, McLeod Ganj and Naddi.

Dharamshala

The altitude of Dharamshala is between 1,065 m (3,494 ft) to 2,352 m (7,717 ft), which is interesting fact about this town. Dharamsala receives the highest rainfall, nearly about 3400 mm, in the Himachal Pradesh state. Dharamshala is surrounded by dense coniferous forest consisting mainly of Deodar, Pine, Oak, and Rhododendron trees.

Clock Tower at Sidhbari (or Sidhwari)....Dharamshala....

The suburbs include McLeod Ganj, Bhagsunag, Dharamkot, Naddi , ForsythGanj, Gamru, Tahu, Chohla, Kotwali Bazaar (the main market), Depot Bazaar, Jawahar Nagar,Sakoh, Sheela, khanyara, Chilgari, Kaccheri Adda, Barol, Darnoo, Dari, Ramnagar, Shyamnagar, Sidhpur, Rakkar, Fatehpur, and Sidhwari.

Maximus Mall and Gold Multiplex Cinema, Dharamshala

Dharamshala Bus Stand

View of sun set from Cant road near Kotwali Bazaar

Related posts...........
/ Bhagsunag / Brig Sher Jung Thapa MVC Park / Church of St. John / Dharamkot / Gallu / Gyuto Tantric Monastery / Leta Wali Mata Temple / McLeod Ganj / Naddi / Norbulingka Institute / Triund Campsite / Tushita Meditation Centre / War Memorial park /

Index.............

Friday

Trek to Triund Campsite from Bhagsunag

Bhagsunag is a Village about 12 Kilometers from Dharamshala bus stand, and 2 kilometers from Mcleod Ganj.

Bhagsunag

Lete Wali Mata Temple

From the Bhagsunag village, the Bhagsunag waterfall is about 2 kilometers with a very easy and all along the way there is a proper walking path.

Base camp between Triund Campsite and Lete Wali Mata Temple

From Bhagsunag Waterfall or Shiva Cafe (above waterfall) there is trek to Leta Wali Temple.It takes about 2 hours (leisurely trek) and 1 hours (fast trek) to reach Leta Wali Mata Temple.

trek to Triund Campsite

From Lete Wali Mata Temple it takes about 3 to 4 hours (leisurely trek) and 1 to 2 hours (fast trek) to reach Triund Campsite. It is steep ascent for through mixed forest of oak, rhododendron and deodar trees to Triund Campsite. The view of Kangra valley is amazing and even the view of Dhauladhar mountain range.

Lord Shiva Small temple on the trek to Triund Campsite

The trek is difficult then other Trek from Dharamkot (by Gallu) to Triund Campsite, but this trek got had more astonishing view. This trek is less commercial then the Trek from Dharamkot (by Gallu) and had less number of small make shift eating joints. Even the trek had no well-defined trails.

In this trek you will encounter by many abandoned stone huts which are used by Gaddi Shepherds (For Gaddi Shepherds see Leta Wali Mata Temple) or even by Buddhist monks for meditation.