The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Cricket Ground in Lower Dharamsala.
At a height of 1,457 meters above sea level, the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Cricket Ground has been described as the most picturesque in the world. Inaugurated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama two summers ago, the grounds sit amidst the snow capped Dhauladhar range, providing the perfect backdrop to the red stadium that can accommodate 23,000 spectators.
Despite the beautiful surroundings, cloudy skies threatened to interrupt the scheduled match-ups, making authorities nervous about the VIP guests that included Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdulah and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal. Fortunately, by the end of each day, both matches ended without any weather interference.
Although the Kings XI Punjab franchise is based in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh is their home ground because the co-owner of the Kings, Priety Zinta, is originally from this region. Whenever Dharamsala hosts an IPL match, people from all across Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and nearby Himachal towns come to enjoy the cricket match.
Due to the excitement surrounding the game, Dharamsala was full of tourists and locals who added to the liveliness of this beautiful town. Many of the people coming into Dharamsala would never miss the opportunity to visit McLeod Ganj, where they can immerse themselves in Tibetan culture and explore many options for authentic souvenir handicrafts.
Although the streets were crowded with cars for hours and the town was bustling more than usual, it was great to see so many people excited about the match. The only problem is that McLeod Ganj gets crowded quickly due to its size and can’t accommodate hundreds of people arriving as tourists, leading to some obvious problems: traffic, noise pollution, shortage of water supplies and arguments that lead to fights. Despite the turmoil, people in Dharamsala will make you feel as though nothing happened, and everything will be back to its normal, beautiful state the following day.
So, as a local I can say that people in Dharamsala will enjoy its beauty, and for those cricket loving people in the surrounding area, never hesitate to visit Dharamsala any time. You are always welcome.
One last thing I would do is to beg you: use your car and bike horns as sparingly as you can.
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