Dharamsala or Dharamshala, is a town and a municipal council in Kangra district in the northern regions of India in the state of Himachal Pradesh.

The town is notable as the capital of the Central Tibetan Administration, a Tibetan government in exile led by Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th and current Dalai Lama. The government's headquarters are located in McLeod Ganj, a suburb that is also referred to as Upper Dharamsala or "Little Lhasa".

Dharamsala came into existence in 1849, it was selected as a site to accommodate a native regiment that was being raised in the town. Dharamsala originally formed a subsidiary cantonment for the troops stationed at Kangra Valley was fully occupied by its garrison and there was insufficient space for the civil station, a search for an alternate location was made. The ideal location for the cantonment was found at the slopes of the Dhauladhar, upon which stood an old Hindu sanctuary or 'Dharamsala' the name adopted for the town.

Dharamsala has been connected with Hinduism and Buddhism for a long time, with many monasteries having been established there in the past, built by Tibetan immigrants in the 8th century; however, these monasteries are believed to have declined, with traditional Hindu building styles experiencing a revival. The local Gaddi people are now almost all Hindu, and for the most part worship many gods and goddesses, principally Durga and Shiva.

In 1848, the area was annexed by the British, and a year later, a military garrison was established in the town. Dharamsala eventually became the administrative capital of Kangra District in 1852. The second Viceroy of India died here in 1863 and is buried in the cemetery of St. John in the Wilderness. It became a popular hill station for the British working in or near Delhi, offering a cool respite during the hot summer months.

View of Dharamsala valley.Dharamsala is located at 32.2167° N 76.32° E, with an average elevation of 1457 metres (4780 feet). The area covered by Dharamsala is almost 29 km².

Dharamsala is in the Kangra valley, in the Dhauladhar mountains, and became the capital of the Kangra District in 1852. It can be accessible from Pathankot which is 120 km away. The nearest railway connection to Dharamsala is Kangra. The nearest airport is Gaggal at Kangra which is just 15km from Dharamsala. There is a daily flight from Dharamsala to Delhi.

The town is divided between McLeod Ganj or Upper Dharamsala (which retains a British colonial atmosphere), and Lower Dharamsala (the commercial centre). Upper Dharamsala (elevation about 1,700 m or 5,580 ft) is about 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) from Lower Dharmsala by road and is some 460 m (1,510 ft) higher.

McLeod Ganj, or Upper Dharamsala, is the residence of Tenzin Gyatso, the current Dalai Lama. A substantial community of Tibetan exiles resides in the town. There is a small Anglican church, St. John in the Wilderness, featuring stained-glass windows, just a few hundred metres from McLeod Ganj. Lord Elgin (James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin), one of the British viceroys, is buried here, as is Francis Younghusband.

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. The natural features surrounding the town include rich forests of Pine and Deodars. Rice, wheat and tea are grown around Dharamsala.

Tenzin Gyatso, 14th and current Dalai Lama
Namrata Singh Gujral - Hollywood Actress

The nearest airport is Gaggal Airport,it is an hour drive from Dharamsala.
Air conditioned, deluxe buses ply from major cities like : Chandigarh, Delhi, Shimla etc.
Nearest Railway station is Chakki Bank at Pathankot, which is 3 hours from Dharamsala and is well connected to rest of Northern India .