Dharamsala Travel Facilities
¤ Tourist Information office
 Himachal
Pradesh Tourist office
Kotwali Bazaar
Tourism Department
Hotel Tibet
¤ Banks & Money Exchange
Bank of Baroda
Kotwali Bazaar.
(With Visa facilities)
State Bank of India
Dharamsala and McLeodganj.
(Changes Traveller’s Cheques)
¤ Communications
The GPO is 1km below the Tourist office on the main road (Mon-Sat,
1000-1630hrs).
Another in Kotwali Bazaar.
Post office on Jogibara Road with Poste Resante (0900-1700, Sat
0900-1500).
¤ E-mail & Internet
Skyline
Outside Tibetan Ashoka Hotel.
¤ Transport
Air : Nearest airport is at
Gaggal, 13km (closed at present) from the town. Indian Airlines flies
to Dharamsala thrice a week from Delhi.
Train : Nearest broad gauge railhead is at Pathankot; booking
office is at the bus stand (open 1000-1100hrs). Nearest narrow gauge ‘mountain’
trains at Kangra.
Road : State Highways link Dharamsala to Pathankot and
Jalandhar on National Highway 1 and National Highway 1A. Dharamsala is
well connected by road to other places in Himachal. The are several
buses a day to Mandi (which continue to Kullu and Manali), Shimla,
Chandigarh and Delhi. There is also a service to Dalhousie (which
continues to Chamba) and to Dehra Dun.
Bus : It takes about 30 minutes by bus from Dharamsala to
McLeodganj.
Taxi : Taxis charge Rs 90 for four persons for the ride to
McLeodganj from Dharamsala.
¤ Hotels & Restaurants
 Dharamsala
Sood Guest House
Kotwali Bazaar.
Hotel Dhauladhar (HPTDC)
Near Kotwali Bazaar.
Basera Lodge
Near Kotwali Bazaar.
Clouds End Villa
off the road to CTA.
Rising Moon Restaurant
Cantt Road.
McLeodganj
Glenmore Cottages
off Mall road.
Surya
South of Bazaar.
Tel:- 21868
Chonor House
Norbulingka Institute
Thekchen Choeling Road.
Bhagsu (Himachal Tourism)
South of Bazaar.
Him Queen
South of Bazaar.
Jaldhara Cottage (Himachal Tourism)
Bhagsu Road.
Cheryton Cottage
Jogibara Road.
¤ Hospitals & Medical Services
Delek Hospital above Gangchen Kyishong often has foreign volunteer
doctors; good for dentistry.
District Hospital in Dharamsala. Tel: 22333
Men Tse Khang (Tibetan Medical Institute). Tel: 22484
Gangchen Kyishong for Tibetan herbal medicine.
Dr Dolma’s and Dr Dhonden’s Clinics, near McLeod Bazaar,
for Tibetan treatment.
¤ Recreation
Video Halls : Two video
halls on Jogibara Road show western films and even documentaries on
Tibet. Look out for posters announcing what they’re showing.
Roller-skating : Hotel Bhagsu has its own roller-skating
rink and rents out skates.
Horse riding : You can hire horses from the Occidental and the
Dharamsala Bookshops on Mall Road.
¤ Buddhist Philosophy Courses
Tushita Meditation Centre: Located in Dharamkot village, it
offers interesting courses in individual and group meditation, and a
10-day-long Introduction to Buddhism course that includes lectures and
meditation sessions. Accommodation available, but its rather basic.
Vipassna : Not far from Tushita, Upassna offers a 10-day
retreat with meditation in silence. Make reservations in advance.
Contact:
Dhamma Sikhara
Himachal Vipassana Centre
McLeodganj-176219 (INDIA)
Phone: 01892-21309
E-mail: dhsikhara@yahoo.org
Meditation : Run by a friendly couple and set in peaceful
surroundings, Z Meditation offers courses in yoga and naturopathy.
Meditation and yoga retreats where you live in complete silence with
three days kept aside for discussion are quite popular. You can also
check out their evening yoga classes. Contact Hotel Pink and White,
Room 305, Bhagsu Nag, at least one day in advance.
¤ The Library
in Gangchen Kyishong conducts classes in Buddhist philosophy which are
led by Tibetan lamas.
¤ Tibetan Language Courses
Pema Youdon is a friendly Tibetan woman who teaches Tibetan from
home. Try the house located bang opposite the post office.
The Library also holds Tibetan language classes.
The TIPA gives private tuition for an hour or two for 15 days.
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