Dharamshala : Wonderland that is bound to hold your heart.❤️
After a refreshing trip to Dalhousie we headed out to our next destination i.e. Dharamshala. Dharamshala is another gorgeous hill station situated in Himachal Pradesh. We had booked a hotel named Citadel in Jiya, a small village near Dharamshala but I would suggest you to book a hotel in McLeod Ganj since it’s at a higher altitude and more inciting. Dharamshala is around 120 kms from Dalhousie and it takes approximately 4 hrs to cover the distance without any break.
The first day went into traveling and we enjoyed the resort view as there was nothing around in close proximity to have a stroll. The next day we headed to McLeod Ganj, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Dharamshala.
St Johns Church in Wilderness
This magnificent church is built amid the picturesque valley of Mcleodganj and lies in a dense jungle dedicated to Lord Elgin, one of the viceroys of India. This beautiful church has a Christian cemetery surrounding it and boosts amazing architectural design. It is ideally situated in the majestic 'Deodar' forest in the wilderness. It is one of the calmest places I have ever visited with silence as our companion and trees all around.
Bhagsu Nag temple
Bhagsunath is Shiva Temple situated about 3kms from Mcleodganj. The sacred temple includes two pools that are believed to have healing properties. It is believed that King Bhagsu built this temple after seeking forgiveness from Snake God. The mythological tale states that Nag Devta was annoyed as King Bhagsu stole water from the sacred Nag Dal Lake here and to appease Nag Devta he built the said temple. The best time to visit Bhagsunath Temple is in September, when the annual fair takes place and the temple is decorated and visited by innumerable devotees.
Bhagsunag Falls
The Bhagsu Waterfall is the most famous tourist spot in Dharamshala and attracts tourists from all over the country. The trek to this waterfall is surrounded by nature and peace. The Bhagsunag temple is located at the foothills of the Bhagsu Waterfall. The climb is not a difficult one and takes around 20 to 30 minutes to reach the waterfall. We missed visiting Dalai Lama temple due to some construction work on the road to the temple. We reached the hotel by late evening after the sight seeing rested, had our dinner and dozed off.
Day 2 sight seeing
Masrur Rock Cut Temple :
The next day we planned to visit a less famous Masrur Temple also known as Rock cut temple. It was situated a little far away from dharamshala and it takes around 2 hrs to reach the place one way. Our driver was not much inclined to visit the place though we were adamant and he had no other option.
Masroor Rock Cut Temple is an archaeological site. The site is a combination of 15 rock cut temples designed in the Indo- Aryan style of architecture built in the 8th century. The Temple is dedicated to the Hindu gods Shiva, Vishnu, Devi and Saura. It is said to have been left incomplete by the makers and most of the site has been damaged due to earthquakes. The specialty of the Temples is that it has been carved out of a single monolithic rock. The temple site also has a pond in it comprising of lot of fishes. The main temple with a square chamber occupies the centre place whereas the other tiny temples surround it. The elaborate carvings in the interiors depict teachings from the Vedic period. The temple is situated in a village on top of a rocky hill and is surrounded by picturesque Dhauladhar Mountains. The Masroor Rock Cut Temple is a must place to see and you should not miss out on visiting this place if you are going to Dharamshala.
After a tiring travel and contended hearts we got back to the hotel and packed our bags as we had an early fight back home the next day. Dharamshala is a very peaceful place surrounded by natural beauty and we plan we visit again some day and stay at Mcloedganj.
Last but not the least I would definitely recommend Citadel Resorts for people who love their peace and don't mind travelling an extra mile. The staff was very courteous, the location is beautiful and since its out of the town it is less crowded and serene.
Radhika Thankar