Dharamsala

Dharamsala is a city of the north of the India, located in the State of the Himachal Pradesh. It is the land of welcome of the 14th Dalaï LAMA, Tenzin Gyatso, currently in exile.

Geography

Dharamsala is located in the Vallée of Kangra, on the edges of the mountains Dhauladar whose coordinates are: .

In fact, the city extends on 29 km ² divided into two parts:

the most urbanized part Low city Dharamsala , more known under the name of Dharamsala , culminates with 1 240 meters. One finds there the most trade and the administrative center of the city.

To 9 km of distance (but 4 km with foot) since low Dharamsala, one finds the high city more known under the name of McLeod Ganj , located at 1 700 m, it act of a town of less great importance but where place the majority of the refugees Tibetans.

There is also around the town of many forests whose prevalent species is the pine, the Cèdre of the Himalayas.

The climate is relatively cold in winter (0 °C with 14,5°C date= June 14th, 2007 ) and thus it falls generally only from the snow of December to February. The summer, the Température S oscillate between 22°C and 38°C.

The Rice, the Corn and the The push on various terraces on the edges of the mountain around the city.

Population

According to the Indian census of 2001, Dharamsala counts 19 034 inhabitants, of which 9 % have less than six years. The major part of the inhabitants are men (55%). The rate of elimination of illiteracy is of 77% (men: 80%, women: 73%).

The practiced languages are the Hindî, Himachali, and the Tibetan.

History

Since many years, the Bouddhisme is the principal religion of the area: since the 7th century, one counts already 50 monasteries in the valley which place close to 2 000 Monk S. But the Brahmanism (Hindouisme connects) as well as the Islam progressing in India carried a blow to the impact and the presence of Buddhism in the area.

Starting from 1848, the English occupied the place and installed there a military garrison which today is occupied by the Indian army. McLeod Ganj was inaugurated during the years 1850 after the British garrison had settled there. This one was ordered by the lieutenant Gouverneur Penjab David McLeod. In 1852, Dharmasala became the chief of district of the valley of Kangra. It is at that time that the English working or placing with Delhi made of Dharamsala a vacation resort because of its simplicity and its fresher climate. So the city became more active and known until the earthquake of 1905 which destroyed the majority of constructions.

This seism was very serious, resulting in the death of 20 000 people. All the area was ruined and the English moved with Shimla, also located in the Himachal Pradesh. Still today, Dharamsala, is on a seismic zone and feels vibrations of the ground.

Refugees Tibetans in McLeod Ganj

When the 14th Dalaï LAMA, Tenzin Gyatso, left the Tibet, the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru authorized it with its close relations to establish a Gouvernement Tibetan in exile in Dharamsala in 1960. Since, a several thousand of refugees Tibetans were established in the city. The majority of them lie in the top of Dharamsala (McLeod Ganj), where they established monasteries, temples and schools. The city is sometimes called the “Small Lhassa”, éponyme of the capital Tibetan. She became an important tourist destination, with many hotels and restaurants.

The Gouvernement Tibetan in exile has his seat with Gangchen Kyishong (located between Dharamsala and McLeod Ganj). Approximately 150.000 Tibetans have flees the Tibet to escape religious persecutions and policies related to the Chinese occupation from the Tibet. Every year, approximately 3000 Tibetans flee during approximately a month, in winters, through the mountains of the the Himalayas to arrive either at the Nepal or at the Sikkim. Approximately 10.000 of them live in McLeod Ganj.

In 1961, the Dalaï Lama refonda in Dharamsala the Institute of medicine and astrology Tibetan. One teaches there and one develops to with it today Medicine Tibetan in exile. The Chakpori Institute of medicine Tibetan refondé thereafter to Darjeeling in India form also of the doctors Tibetans.

Dharamsala is also the seat of associations of the Tibetans in exile fighting for the freedom of the Tibet and the respect of the Human rights for the Tibetans which remain still today under the political yoke of the China.

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