Dharamsala, the principal township of Kangra, is perched on the high slopes of the upper reaches of the Kangra valley. Dense pine and deodar forests, numerous streams, cool healthy air, attractive surroundings and the nearby snowline add to the charm of Dharamshala with its elegant bungalows nestling in thick conifer forests. Covering a wide area in the form of a twin settlement - lower Dharamshala (1380 meters), a busy commercial centre, and upper Dharamshala (1830 meters) - the town retains a British flavour and colonial lifestyle, with suburbs still called McLeod Ganj and Forsyth Ganj.

A large Tibetan community has made Dharamshala their home. It is the headquarters of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader. The colourful temples and gompas which reflect the culture of Tibet are added attractions for the tourists. Several institutes which have been established to preserve the Tibetan art, cultures and traditions.

The charming church of St. John in the wilderness is situated here and this was the final resting place of Lord Elgin, a British Viceroy of India in the 19th Century. Numerous ancient temples like Jwalamukhi, Brijeshwari and Chamunda also lie on the plains below Dharamsala. Dharamsala is essentially a busy bazaar town. The Kotwali Bazaar provides all the colour and idiosyncrasies of a small town which is mixed with a simple life style. The Kangra museum is worth a visit as it gives an overview of the rich past of the region.

Mcleodganj village is part of Dharamsala which is about 10 kilometres away and almost 200 metres below. Certainly Dharamsala sounds more appealing, hinting as it does to oriental mysticism, lama, religion, spiritualism and faith rather than the occidental sounding Mcleodganj!