Temples in Dharamshala
The Dalai Lama
Every year in March the Dalai Lama usually gives classes, which are open to the public. You may request to see His Holiness the Dalai Lama by contacting his office in McLeod Ganj. You are supposed to ask for an appointment at least four months in advance, because his schedule is so busy. Only a select few are granted a private audience. The Dalai Lama's secretary receives hundreds of requests every day.
Most people can only count on attending a public audience, where he greets up to three hundred people at one time. You have to ask in advance to come to one of these public audiences.
Kangra has some old temples. The most famous is the one dedicated to the goddess Vajreswari. It is said a fortune of jewels, diamonds, and gold were plundered by Mahmud of Ghazni from this temple.
The Jwalamukhi Temple, 30 km from Kangra, has an eternally burning blue flame that comes from the rock sanctum.
At Chamunda Devi Temple, the goddess is believed to grant the desires of anyone who worships there. There is a cave behind the temple with a natural stone Shiva-linga
From Dharmkot, 11 km from Dharamshala, there is a good view of the Kangra valley. Masrur, 40 km from Dharamshala, has 15 intricately carved rock temples, like the ones in Ellora. There is a cave temple with a stalagmite dedicated to Lord Shiva there.
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