It can be visited all year around.
Dharamsala is all year round destination for tourists. Hill stations are a haven in summers but for romantic couples the rainy season is perfect reason to roam in misty environs. It snows occasionally in winters making it more charming. It depends what you are looking for and choose your time period.
Winters here are extremely cold accompanied with occasional snowfalls; however, this downpour makes the valley look much more beautiful. Summers are pleasant with maximum temperature around 25 degrees. Monsoons could be given a miss as it might hamper your travel plans, but this place does not receive very heavy rainfall unlike other parts of Himachal and Uttarakhand.
Originally constructed in 1852 at Forsythganj in the Neo-Gothic architectural style, St. John’s Church is an Anglican church dedicated to Saint John.
Situated right at the entrance of the Dharamshala Town, the war memorial was set up to commemorate the soldiers who gave their lives in wars post independence.
Situated at about 18,500 feet above sea level, Hanuman-Ka-Tibba is one of the highest point in Dhualdhar Range and is known as ‘White Mountains’.
The Losar Festival or the Tibetan New Year is one of the main festivals Dharamshala, celebrated in the months of February and March. Tourists can visit this place during this time, when people in McLeodganj are in a festive mood.
Another major Tibetan festival that is celebrated with lots of devotion is Saka Dawa Festival, which is celebrated to honour Lord Buddha. Apprise yourself with the rich culture and tradition of Tibet at a 10-day opera that is organised by Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) in the month of April. Various folk dances and performances are also organised during this period.
Another important festival is the Prashar Fair held on the banks of Prashar Lake to welcome the season of summer. Every year, this festival is celebrated in June. It is usually a two-day long festival that commences on the 15th of June. The cultural extravaganza of the fair highlights the cultural heritage of Himachal Pradesh.
Dal Fair is yet another important festival in Dharamshala celebrated on the banks of Dal Lake in August or September. During this festival, devotees take dips in the holy water of Dal Lake.
In September, an animal fair and Shaivite festival is also organised near Dal lake.
The International Himalayan Festival is celebrated for three days in December, in the honour of divine Dalai Lama. The festival is celebrated to honour the day the Dalai Lama was rewarded with the Nobel Peace Prize, in 1985. Various cultural programmes are performed by local and neighbourhood artists and Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts.
