St. John in the Wilderness Church
The beautiful church was built in 1852 and holds a great importance not only among the devotees but also every tourist who visits the city. It is indeed one of the most essential churches in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The neo-gothic look of the church makes it very much unique and the construction of the church took place in order to dedicate it to John the Baptist. Surrounded with lush forests the atmosphere here makes it very pleasant to visit and the beautiful architecture of the church is something that is very much appreciable.
The War Memorial
Located in the region filled with huge trees and green land, the war memorial was made to commemorate the memory of the braveThe War Memorial soldier’s who lost their precious life just to save their land and the city. Many lives were lost in the deadly Indo-China War which took place in 1947-48, 1962 and 1965 and in 1971. People of Khangra lost their lives and to remind of the war heroes, the memorial is constructed and visited by n number of people. Their memory is present in the huge black stones here and the locality where this memorial is built in surely marvellous.
The Dal Lake
The lake is located near the village of Tota Rani and is situated around 1,775 metres above the sea level. The lake is not very huge but the scenic view here is amazing. A perfect place for lovers of nature and people who need relaxation as the huge trees surrounding the place with varieties of fish found here is completely astonishing. Also, the place serves as a perfect picnic spot and you can go trekking in the nearby mountains to explore the beauty of Dharmshala in detail. Every September, many tourists visit the place as a great gala event is organised as a dedication to Lord Shiva.
The Gyuto Monastery
The place is renowned for knowing in details about the Tantric Meditation and it is one of the most visited monasteries in Dharamshala. It was built in 1959 and the reason behind establishing it is for letting people know more about the tantric, black magic and preserving the information on it. You can find out about the Tantric teachings here and also the place promotes the teachings of Ksongkhapa. The monastery teaches that black magic is not only used for wrong purposes but it can also be used to help people and to do good deeds. There is also a spectacular golden statue of Lord Buddha present here.
The Jwala Devi Temple
The beautiful temple is dedicated to Jwala Devi, the Hindu Goddess who is worshipped by many and is symbolised by eternal flames. The temple is one of the 52 Shakti Peethas in India. As per the belief the tongue of the goddess fell here exactly at the place where now the temple of Jwala Devi is situated. The temple is described in several ancient inscriptions and the five aartis done here is highly visited by locals and tourists. The holy flames of the temple are burning 24/7 here without any break and it represents all the nine forms of Goddess Durga.
The Namgyal Monastery
It is considered that Dalai Lama had his abode at this Namgyal Monastery and thus it holds importance in the spiritual significance of the region. The temple is the largest Tibetan temple in the region and the peacefulness here is loved by many. The Monastery is famously known as Dalai Lama's Temple which was built in the 16th century. There are more than 200 monks staying here right now and this place is a must to visit to know about their rich culture in depth.
