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Dharamsala |
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is 1849.39 Kms.
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Dharamsala pronounced as Dharamsala is a hill station in Himachal Pradesh, famed for its large Tibetan community centered around the Dalai Lama.Dharamsala is essentially a rest house. In some places, it also doubles as a charitable home, where, primarily, orphaned children stay and shool until they are adopted or are able to live independently.Set against the backdrop of the dramatic Dhauladhar mountains.Dharamsala is perched on the high slopes in the upper reaches of Kangra Valley.The town is divided into two distinct and widely separated sections, Upper and Lower Dharamsala, which differ almost a thousand metres in height.Today, Dharamsala has become the synonymous to the Tibetan government in exile and the home of Tibetan leader Dalai Lama. Even if the Tibetan community dominates the town, still it has retained the colonial lifestyle and British fervour.    Dharamsala over looks the plains and is surrounded by dense pine trees and Deodar forests. A nearby snowline with numerous streams and cool healthy atmosphere makes the surroundings very attractive.Dharamsala is a busy bazaar town and has established itself as the travellers base camp, who come to explore the nearby mountains. The Kotwali Bazaar provides the entire colour and characteristic of a small town, which is mixed with the simple life style.The colourful temple and Gompas, which reflect the culture of Tibet, adds attraction for the visitor.The Kangra museum gives an overview of the rich past of the region and on the other hand there are institutes that have been established to preserve the Tibetan art, cultures and traditions.Many Tibetan things can be bought in Dharamsala - woolen shawls, prayer flags, prayer wheels, thangka and mandala paintings, Tibetan jewelry and trinkets etc.   
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History of Dharamsala city
Dharamsala came into existence in 1849.Dharamsala eventually became the administrative capital of Kangra District in 1852.However, the town was virtually destroyed in a massive earthquake in 1905, which killed an estimated 20,000 people.Dharamsala still experiences frequent minor earthquakes. When the Dalai Lama left Tibet, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru offered to permit him and his followers to establish a "government-in-exile" in Dharamsala in 1960. Since then, many Tibetan exiles have settled in the town, numbering several thousand. Most of these exiles live in Upper Dharamsala, or McLeod Ganj, where they established monasteries, temples and schools. The town is sometimes known as "Little Lhasa", after the Tibetan capital city, and has become an important tourist destination with many hotels and restaurants, creating a resurgence in tourism and commerce.Since 2002, Dharamsala has hosted a Miss Tibet beauty contest. there. The winter capital Dharamsala has its secretariat at Sidhbari and the government would run for 2 months from there.   
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Geography and Climate of Dharamsala city
Dharamsala is located at 32.2167° N 76.32° E, with an average elevation of 1457 metres or 4780 feet. The area covered by Dharamsala is almost 29 km².During the months of December and January, snow and sleet is common. Summer temperatures range from 22 °C to 38 °C. It is very cold in winter as Dhauladar range of hills, at over 15000 feet, is close by and covered with thick snow during winter and sometimes in Autumn and Spring. As of the 2001 India census,Dharamsala had a population of 19,034. Males constitute 55% of the population and females 45%. Dharamsala has an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 59.5%,male literacy is 80% and, female literacy is 73%. In Dharamsala, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.   
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Economy of Dharamsala city
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Flora and Fauna of Dharamsala city
The animals and birds that are found here are Ghoral,Kakar,Kastura,Aimu,Ibex,Blue mountain sheep,Thar,Black Bear,Brown Bear,Panther or Leopard,Snow Leopard,Wild Boar,Spotted Deer of Chital,Samber,Porcupine,Flying squirrel and Himalayan Pine Martin. Apart from the important game animals described above animals like Jackal, Monkey, Langoor, Fox etc. are also met within the area.
There is a variety of birds in the district like Monal pheasant, Snow cock, Western horned tragopan, Juguriam, Pea-cock, Ring dove, Spotted dove, shikara, parrot, tawny eagle, green pigeon, pigeon, gritton vulture, tits, nut cracker, Pies, Wood peaker, Crow, Himalayan fly catcher, etc. which are found in the tract of this district.
The natural features surrounding the town include rich forests of Pine and Deodars. Rice, wheat and tea are grown around Dharamsala.
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