A Revitalizing Trip to Dharamshala

His Holiness The Dalai Lama was actually a lucky charm for Chennai Super Kings! Yes, this time my excursion & my last holiday trip were associated with the high on IPL cricket tournament. I planned for a two day trip to Dharamshala (lying on the spur of the Dhauladhar range in Himachal Pradesh), and luckily my friend arranged for 2 passes for Kings XI Punjab VS Chennai Super Kings match there. All this raised my excitement level several times.

A Revitalizing Trip to Dharamshala

I boarded my train from Delhi and arrived Pathankot, which is the nearest broad gauge railway terminal to Dharamshala. While covering the rest of distance by a cab, I stopped for a quick bite at a roadside dhaba to enjoy morning breakfast. I was willing to relax for a while in my hotel, but the hidden wanderer and explorer somewhere inside me pushed towards the divine greens of Kangra town. The place is wooded with oak and conifer trees and snow capped mountains enfold three sides of the town. My exploration started with Mcleodganj, located 9 km from Dharamshala. This is the place that serves as a headquarter of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. There I came to know that His Holiness The Dalai Lama himself would be going to Dharamshala in the evening to watch the match in the beautiful Cricket stadium overlooking mighty Dhauladhar. I spotted a few Tibetan shops there that sell authentic handicrafts.

In the day-time I explored places like Bhagsunag falls (11 km from Dharamshala), Dal lake (12 km from Dharamshala), St. John's Church (8 km) and War Memorial (3 km). And in the evening, I relished my senses with an awesome cricket match in this picturesque hill station. The auspicious presence of His Holiness The Dalai Lama blessed Chennai Super Kings and made the team enter the Semi-Finals by defeating Kings XI Punjab.

Next day, I planned short visits to places like Dharamkot (11 km) and Jawalamukhi Temple (54 km). While getting back to my hotel for check out, I spend an hour at Kotwali Bazar, a general shopping area in Dharamshala. In short, the divine scenic beauty, calmness and serenity at Dharamshala simply rejuvenated my senses. Spending days amidst high pine trees, tea gardens, and timber yielding trees was remarkable. Moreover, it exhibited the unique Tibetan art, cultures and traditions.