Dharamshala: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox settlement

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The city has been selected as one of a hundred in India to be developed as a [[smart city]] under Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]]'s flagship "[[Smart Cities Mission]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.firstpost.com/business/why-only-98-cities-instead-of-100-announced-all-questions-answered-about-smart-cities-project-2410576.html |title=Why only 98 cities instead of 100 announced: All questions answered about smart cities project |date=28 August 2015 |website=[[Firstpost]] |access-date=17 May 2019}}</ref> On 19 January 2017, the [[List of chief ministers of Himachal Pradesh|Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh]], [[Virbhadra Singh]], declared Dharamshala as the second capital of Himachal Pradesh, making it the third [[States and union territories of India|national administrative division of India]] to have two capitals after the state of [[Maharashtra]] and the [[union territory]] of [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]].<ref name=hillpost2017>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hillpost.in/2017/01/dharamshala-declared-second-capital-of-himachal/107991/ |title=Dharamshala Declared Second Capital of Himachal |first=Arvind |last=Sharma |website=hillpost.in |date=20 January 2017 |access-date=17 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/dharamsala-declared-second-capital-of-himachal-pradesh-1650683 |title=Dharamsala Declared Second Capital of Himachal Pradesh |publisher=[[NDTV India]] |date=19 January 2017 |access-date=17 May 2019}}</ref>

Dharamshala is a municipal corporation city in the upper reaches of the [[Kangra Valley]] and is surrounded by dense coniferous forest consisting mainly of stately [[Cedrus deodara|Deodar]] cedar trees.<ref name=hillpost2017 /> The suburbs include [[McLeod Ganj]], [[Bhagsu]]nag, [[Dharamkot, Himachal Pradesh|Dharamkot]], [[Naddi]], Forsyth Ganj, [[Kotwali Bazar]] (the main market), Kaccheri Adda (government offices such as the court, police, post, etc.), Dari, Ramnagar, Sidhpur, and Sidhbari (where the [[Karmapa Lama|Karmapa]] is based). This place is also famous for its [[Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium]] (2003), which offers opportunities to the youth of state to prepare for their future in the game. McLeod Ganj town, lying in the upper reaches, is known worldwide for being the home of the [[Dalai Lama]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-usa-tibet-idUSKBN18617F |title=U.S. lawmakers not backing down on human rights for Tibet, Pelosi says |first=Douglas |last=Busvine |work=[[Reuters]] |date=10 May 2017 |access-date=17 May 2019}}</ref> On 29 April 1959, the 14th Dalai Lama ([[Tenzin Gyatso]]) established the Tibetan exile administration in the north Indian hill station of [[Mussoorie]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2016/state-editions/when-dalai-lamas-date-with-india-began-in-mussoorie-in-one-april.html |title=When Dalai lama's date with India began in Mussoorie in one April |first=Jaskiran |last=Chopra |newspaper=[[The Pioneer (India)]] |date=7 April 2016 |access-date=17 May 2019}}</ref> In May 1960, the [[Central Tibetan Administration]] (CTA) was moved to Dharamshala, making it the centre of the Tibetan exile world in India. Following the [[1959 Tibetan uprising]] there was an influx of Tibetan refugees who followed the 14th Dalai Lama. His presence and the Tibetan population have made Dharamshala a destination for Indian and foreign tourists, including students studying Tibet.

==Etymology==

:''"Before the earthquake of 1905, the upper part of the station, which rises to a height of 7,112 feet [2,168 metres], contained the European houses, the station church, and the officers' mess and lines of the 1st Gurkhas, together with the public gardens, post office, and two bazars, the Forsyth Ganj and McLeod Ganj. The public offices, a bazar, and a few European houses made up the lower station, as low as 4,500 feet [1,372 metres]. The 1st battalion of the 1st Gurkhas used to be stationed here, but was moved to the upper station in 1894-5.... The public gardens, which were, before the earthquake, laid out with much taste in lawns and terraces, contained a valuable collection of indigenous and imported trees and shrubs, and were overlooked by the Assembly Rooms, a handsome building comprising a public hall, a library and reading-room and a billiard-room. The church was beautifully situated in a recess of the mountain."''<ref name="dsal.uchicago.edu"/>

The Gurkhas rebuilt the town along with the temple, which today is acknowledged as the 1st Gurkha Rifles' heritage. The British had planned to make Dharamshala the summer capital of India, but moved to [[Shimla]] after the disaster.

The city is divided into two distinct sections. Kotwali Bazaar and the surrounding markets are referred to as "Lower Dharamshala" or just "Dharamshala" and upper Dharamshala or places such as McLeodganj, Dharamkot, etc.

Further, Dharamshala Skyway, a mountain Cable Car between the cities of Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj has become operational from 19th Jan 2022. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.outlookindia.com/national/now-you-can-take-a-cable-car-ride-between-dharamshala-and-mcleodganj-news-44794 | title=Dharamshala Skywalk Inaugurated | date=21 January 2022 }}</ref>

==Sports==

===Dharamshala International Cricket Stadium===

==External links==

{{Kangra district}}