MCLEOD GANJ

McLeod Ganj (also spelt McLeodGanj or Mcleodganj) is a suburb of Dharamshala in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is known as "Little Lhasa" or "Dhasa" (a short form of Dharamshala used mainly by Tibetans) because of its large population of Tibetans. It has an average elevation of 2,082 metres (6,831 feet). It is situated on the Dhauladhar Range, whose highest peak, "Hanuman Ka Tibba", at about 5,639 metres (18,500 feet), lies just behind it.

 

ETYMOLOGY

McLeod Ganj was named after Sir Donald Friell McLeod, a Lieutenant Governor of Punjab; the suffix ganj is a common Urdu word for "neighborhood".

History of Bhagsunag

 In March 1850, the area was annexed by the British after the Second Anglo-Sikh War, and soon a subsidiary cantonment for the troops stationed at Kangra was established on the slopes of Dhauladhar, on empty land, with a Hindu resthouse or dharamshala; hence the name for the new cantonment, Dharamshala.

During the British rule in India, the town was a hill station where the British spent hot summers, and around the late 1840s, when the district headquarters in Kangra became overcrowded, the British moved two regiments to Dharamshala. A cantonment was established in 1849, and in 1852 Dharamshala became the administrative capital of Kangra district. By 1855 it had two important places of civilian settlement, McLeod Ganj and Forsyth Ganj, named after a Divisional Commissioner. In 1860, the 66th Gurkha Light Infantry, later renamed the historic 1st Gurkha Rifles, was moved to Dharamshala. Soon 14 Gurkha paltan villages were established nearby and the Gurkhas patronised the ancient Shiva temple of Bhagsunath.

CULTURES

Culture followed here is of Kangra. Many festivals celebrated here have there on colors, new trends and happiness. Many forigners arrives here to enjoy every moment of this place.

Himachal is a religous places and here is also a place named BHAGSUNAG.

"During the rule of Raja Bhagsu there was once a severe drought in his capital. The local chiefs requested the king to do something or else the people would leave his kingdom. The king promised to do something this and set out himself in search of water. After about 3 days of searching he reached the Sacred Nag Dal (Lake) at a height of 18000ft. This lake was very big and had a lot of water. Raja Bhagsu used trickery to fill the water of the lake into a small vessel. He decided to spend the night there, as it had grown dark. Later in the Evening Nag the Lord of Snakes happened to pass by the lake and was shocked to find the lake empty. Following the footmarks he reached the place where Raja Bhagsu was resting. He challenged Bhagsu for a duel and defeated him in the ensuing fight. The moment the vessel containing the sacred water fell on the ground water started flowing from there. Baldy injured Raja Bhagsu prayed to Nag and moved by his prayers Nag granted him a boon that this place shall henceforth be referred firstly by the kings name and then by the Lords name and he shall become popular. Henceforth this place came to be known as "BhagsuNag". In the Beginning of the Kalyug Raja Dharamchand dreamt that lord Shiva asked him to build a temple here to bring prosperity to the area. Today it is about 5100 years since this temple was built."

DAL LAKE

FAMOUS PLACES TO VISIT

1. BUDHA TEMPLE

 

                                  BUDHA TEMPLE

The most important Buddhist site in the town is Tsuglagkhang or Tsuglag Khang, the Dalai Lama's temple. It has statues of Shakyamuni, Avalokiteśvara, and a statue of Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche). 

                                 
               DALAI LAMA MONK OF THE GELUG

2. MASROOR TEMPLE

This temple is around 30 kms from Dharamshala and famous forthere art gallery and also known as ROCK CUT TEMPLE. 

 

HISTORY

 

The Masroor Rock Cut Temple, also known as Himalayan Pyramid and Wonder of the World, is an 8th-century monolithic rock cut temple complex of 15 temples carved out of a single rock, the temple in the center is carved inside, rest of the 14 temples (7 on either side of the central temple) are carved only on the outside, are reflected in the pond carved in front of these temples. According to a myth this beautiful rock cut temple was carved out of one single stone. The Pandavas resided here during their long exile from their kingdom. In one of the areas of the temple there is a dungeon with a half built staircase. 

The local myth suggests that the Pandavas had unfolded the secret to build the stairway to heaven, but on the condition that the stairway should be built before the early morning hours. Lord Indra (the king of Heaven) was worried about this as upon the completion of that staircase the heaven would be accessible to all earthly beings without the Lord Indra's discretion. 

He disguised himself as a rooster and crowed loudly before the early dawn. The Pandavas upon hearing the rooster crowing thought that they were unable to complete the stairway before the early morning. They left the stairway uncomplete.