Dharamsala

Today we will cover the picturesque place of Dharamsala. Located in the beautiful Northern state of Himachal Pradesh, it has been very popular amongst the tourists. The place has been famous for a peaceful environment, snow-capped mountains and cascading waterfalls. Dharamsala ranks very high amongst the popular hill stations of india. A tourist is bound to be bewitched with pine covered hills, deodar forests and steep valleys of this magnificent place. Dharamsala is located at the foothills of the Dhauladhar ranges. Actually, this place is divided into two parts of Upper Dharamshala also knonw as McLeod Ganj and Lower Dharamshala which is primarily a commercial centre.

Dharamsala is famous in world because of its being the seat of exiled Tibetan leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. You will find numerous monasteries and monks here. And with monasteries come the images and sounds of enchanting bells. This hill station is an ideal place for someone who is seeking solitude, peace and tranquility.

There are many must-visit places in Dharamsala. Topping the list is Namgyal Monastery that is also the acting residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Buddhist pilgrims love this place for obvious reasons. McLeodganj or Upper Dharamshala is another wonderful place to visit. This place hosts several monasteries and Tibetan schools and is also referred as 'Little Lhasa of India'. Spiritually inclined people get the much needed tranquility in McLeodganj.

Other tempting places that deserve to be visited are, Church of St. John In The Wilderness, Tsuglagkhang which is basically a shrine, Norbulingka Institute that is a treasure trove of art and culture of Tibet, Triund, Dip Thekchen Choeling Monastery, and Chamunda Devi.

Magical Rishikesh

Uttarakhand must be one of the most popular tourist states in country. It has amazing hill stations and wild life reserves and it offers places for all kinds of tourists. This article will talk about one of the popular tourist hotspots situated in the state; Rishikesh. The moment one thinks of Rishikesh, images like holy Ganga River, resonating bells, mesmerizing mountains and holy dips conjure up in mind. The place is well visited by tourists though out the year. Rishikesh has a special place in Hindu religion and the reason is its position as a gateway to the Char Dhams. These Char Dhams signify four major pilgrimages of Hindus, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.

It is believed that, one can attain Moksha (salvation) if he meditates in Rishikesh which is situated on the bank of river Ganga. The beauty of the place lies in its versatility and offerings. On one hand it gives you a perfect religious reason to come and at the same time, those who are adventure freak love coming to Rishikesh because they can do river rafting and paragliding. Nature lovers just go ga-ga over the scenic beauty of Rishikesh and that explains why you will find it crowded with tourists. It would be an exaggeration to say that Rishikesh is a rare mixture of nature and divinity.

There are several tourist attractions in the town. The major ones are; Lakshman Jhula which is a hanging bridge, Ram Jhula, Gita Bhavan, Rishikund, Bharat Mandir, Swarga Ashram and Nilkanth Mahadeo. The place has several accommodation facilities and one can go anytime during the year.