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| Bomdila |
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Sneak Preview
Breathtakingly beautiful, the hill station of Bomdila, situated at 3,500 metres in the Himalayas, is the headquarters of the west Kameng district in Arunachal Pradesh. This lofty paradise called Bomdila is snow clad for a major part of the year and makes a delightful destination to get away to in
summer. Lush apple orchards that stretch far and wide surround Bomdila. The town of Bomdila itself is tiny, but the area spread over a wide ridge that straddles a mountain. Enjoy the panoramic view of the Himalayas with its frosty peaks and the pretty Kameng valley with its orchards. Bomdila is an adventure lover''s country with numerous pretty trekking trails that run through the hills, forest and orchards. Bomdila, like other towns in the area, has a strong Buddhist and Tibetan influence. There are a fair number of gompas here and the town has quaint little eating-places where you can savor traditional Tibetan cuisine plus the all time favourite - momos and thukpas.
Shopping
Buy Tibetan carpets, paintings and thangkas to take back home. The crafts have intricate carvings and interesting themes and are quite different from anything you would get back home.
Night Out
The town has quaint little eating-places where you can savor traditional Tibetan cuisine plus the all time favourite - momos and thukpas.
Activities
A number of treks and hikes into the mountains start at Bomdila. From simple little walking trails to more strenuous treks, Bomdila is at the hub of hiking activity in the Kameng region.
Sights
The town is surrounded by lush apple orchards . Strill around Bomdila and one can get panoramic view of the Himalayas and its frosty peaks and the pretty Kameng valley with its orchards. Visit Tipi , an orchid conservation centre a little distance from Bomdila - there is a glasshouse
How to get there by Air
The closest airport is located at Tezpur which is approximately 160 kms away. Regular bus services and taxis are available to transport you to Bomdila.
How to get there by Rail
The nearest railway station is at Rangapara (Assam).
How to get there by Bus
Drive in from Tezpur or Rangpara by taxi or bus.
Best time to Visit
Bomdila is best visited between March and October as it gets snowed out later in the year. The area experiences rain during the months of July to September and it is best to avoid traveling at that time because of landslides.
Where to Stay
Besides some middle rung and economy hotels, accommodation is possible at the Tourist Lodge, the PWD Inspection Bungalow and the Government Circuit House.
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| Dharamshala, Himachel Pradesh |
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"Dharamshala" redirects here. For other uses, see Dharamshala (disambiguation).
Dharamshala or Dharamsala (Hindi: pronounced is a city in northern India. It was formerly known as Bhagsu; it is the winter seat of government of the state of Himachal Pradesh and the district headquarters of the Kangra district.McLeod Ganj, a village within the Dharamshala municipality, is the home of the current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, and the exiled Tibetan government.
Dharamshala is a city in the upper reaches of the Kangra Valley and is surrounded by dense coniferous forest consisting mainly of stately Deodars. The suburbs of the town includes -- McLeod Ganj, Bhagsu Nath, Forsyth Ganj, Naddi, Kotwali Bazaar (the main market of the town), Kaccheri Adda (government offices such as the court, police, post etc.), Dari, Ramnagar, Sidhpur and Sidhbari (where the Karmapa Lama is based)
The village of McLeod Ganj lying in the upper reaches is known worldwide for the presence of the Tenzin Gyatso. On 29 April 1959, the 14th Dalai Lama established the Tibetan exile administration in the north Indian hill station of Mussoorie. In May 1960, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) was moved to Dharamshala.
Dharamshala is 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 has made Dharamshala a popular destination for Indian and foreign tourists, including students studying Tibet.
Geography
Dharamshala has an average elevation of 1457 metres (4780 feet), covering an area of almost 29 kmē.
Dharamshala is located in the Kangra Valley, in the shadow of the Dhauladhar mountains.
The city is divided into two distinct sections. Kotwali Bazaar and the surrounding markets are referred to as "Lower Dharamshala" or just "Dharamshala." Further up the mountain is McLeod Ganj separated in between by the village of Ganchen Kyishong, the home of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile. A steep, narrow road connects Mcleod Ganj from Dharamshala and is only accessible to taxis and small cars, while a longer road winds around the valley for use by buses and trucks.
McLeod Ganj is surrounded by pine, Himalayan oak, and rhododendron. The main crops grown in the valleys below are rice, wheat and tea.
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| Connections |
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- The nearest airport is Gaggal Airport, an hour's drive from Dharamshala and is serviced by Jagson Airlines and Kingfisher Airlines.
- Many buses of all classes (deluxe, air-conditioned, and regular) drive daily between Dharamsala and major cities such as Chandigarh, Delhi, and Shimla. Several buses each night connect McLeod Ganj with Majnu Ka Tila, the Tibetan settlement in Delhi.
- The nearest broad gauge railway station is Chakki Bank at Pathankot, three hours from Dharamshala and well connected to the rest of Northern India. There is another railway line from Pathankot to Jogindernagar, a part of the Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh, which is a narrow-gauge line, the nearest station to Dharamshala on this line is Chamunda Marg, half an hour away, where a Shaktipitha is located; the town is also well connected by road to other parts of the country.
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| Climate |
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Dharamshala has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate. Summer starts in early April and peaks in early June, when temperatures can reach 36oC. Summers last till mid of June. From July to mid September, is the monsoon season, when up to 3000 mm (120 inches) of rain can fall, making Dharamshala one of the wettest places in the state. Autumn is mild and lasts from October to end of November.
Autumn temperatures average around 16-17oC. Winter starts in December and goes on till late February. Snow and sleet is common during the winter in upper Dharamshala, i.e., McLeodganj, Bhagsu Nag, Naddi,etc. Lower Dharamshala hardly receives any solid precipitation except hail. Winter is followed by a short, pleasant spring till April. Historically, the Dhauladhar mountains used to remain snow-covered all year long but for the past five years, they have been losing their snow blanket during dry spells.
The best time to visit are the autumn and spring months.
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| History |
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Before the Raj
From the earliest times until the British Raj, Dharamshala and its surrounding area was ruled by the Katoch Dynasty of Kangra. The Katoch Dynasty is said to be the oldest serving Royal Family in the world.[10] The Royal Family still keeps a residence in Dharamshala, known as 'Clouds End Villa.
The indigenous people of the Dharamshala area (and the surrounding region) are the Gaddis, a predominantly Hindu group who traditionally lived a nomadic or semi-nomadic (transhumant) lifestyle. Due to the lack of permanent settlements in the area, some Gaddis lost their seasonal pastures and farmland when the British and the Gurkhas arrived to settle.
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