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Tourists
back in Dharamshala
by Hemant Chauhan
Dharamshala: Dharamshala, a place wooded with oak and conifer trees and snow-capped mountains enfold three sides of the town while the valley stretches in front. After the recent snowfall, people in tourism sector in Dharamshala are doing a brisk business as the snowfall has brought the flow of tourists back to the hill station. Dharamshala, the district headquarter of Kangra district, lies on the spur of the Dhauladhar range about 18 kilometres in the north east of Kangra town. The snow line is perhaps more easily accessible at Dharamshala than at any other hill resort. The charm of Dharamshala is back after the snowfall. Tourists have thronged the little hill station. The tourism industry of Dharamshala is upbeat about the sudden increase in the number of tourists in the city.
"It's a wonderful opportunity for the tourism industry. This is the first
or second rain of winter and this will surely enhance the tourism in next
few months," says Prem Sagar, Travel Agent. Tourists generally come to
Dharamshala to see snowfall. As the snow fall was getting late the inflow
of tourists in Dharamshala was declining. Restaurants are filled with
tourists and the demands of woollen clothes have also increased as the
temperature is low. The resident businessmen and shopkeepers are happy
as the glory is coming back to the market. "It's nice now, the tourists
are coming back. The markets were quiet earlier but after the snowfall
tourist started coming in. They are buying woolen clothes and the restaurants
are full as well, " says Tenzin Choddar, a Shopkeeper. Generally the people,
who love mountains or many devotees wishing to meet Dalai Lama usually
come to Dharamshala. "I love mountains that's why I feel great here. It
is really nice, at the moment it's quite cold season. It was raining for
the last three days, some snow was here as well. It's a beautiful countryside
but it's not like spring it's quite cold a little bit dark, we are waiting
for the Sun," said Thomas, German tourist. In 1905, tragedy struck Dharamshala
when an earthquake levelled it completely. After its reconstruction, Dharamshala
flourished as a quiet health resort. It is divided into two distinct parts.
Lower Dharamshala has civil offices and business establishments with courts.
Kotwali Bazar and Upper Dharamshala compose of places with names which
bear witness to its history like McLeod Ganj and Forsythe Ganj. Since
1960, when it has became a temporary headquarter of His Holiness The Dalai
Lama, Dharamshala has risen to international fame as "The Little Lhasa
in India".
-Jan
26, 2006
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