Photo Essay: Dharamshala (India)

Dharamshala is a picturesque, multicultural town sitting in the lap of Dhauladhar mountains. The place has its unique charm which could only be described visually and so I took this opportunity to take you on a ride.

As soon as you enter the town, you encounter a stream of vehicles honking at you, crowds gossiping as they walk on both sides of the road, and a confluence of some unfamiliar fragrances.

Then, you turn north and look at the mighty Dhauladhars; standing tall, overseeing every little thing going on here.

But, wherever you turn, you would catch sight of a Buddhist monk.

Even when you walk deep into the forest.

As you (probably) already know, McLeod Ganj is a suburb of Dharamshala where most of the Tibetan refugees live, including the Dalai Lama. It’s a major tourist attraction. (Check out this photo-essay to see the life of Tibetans in the town.)

And when you’re here, you would surely want to check out local cafes. They are budget-friendly and offer amazing food.

Illiterati Cafe is a delight for book lovers. If you are anything like me, you’d come here and eat up a lot of books.

Shiva Cafe is located high up in the mountain. It’s run by a Kashmiri Muslim who has decorated it with Hindu and Buddhist symbols. Multiculturalism exists in every house, every shop here.

I am not discounting the fact that since you are here in the mountains, you might want to spend time away from crowds and close to nature. If that’s the case, all you have to do is, take a walk uphill.

Alternatively, if you go downhill, it’s not too bad there either.

The further you go down, the more you move away from the Tibetan culture and experience the state of Himachal.

One last thing: as long as you are in Dharamshala, remember that it’s as much a town of dogs as it’s of humans. So, be nice to them.

Thank you for taking time to read. Let’s meet soon!

Note: I own the copyrights of all the images that have been used in this photo-essay. Kindly get in touch if you wish to use them for any personal or professional purposes.