Surrounded by pine-clad mountains and spectacular views, Dalhousie is a gem of a hill station in India. Located in western Himachal Pradesh, it has a quaint and laid-back atmosphere. The scenery is very vivid with flowering rhododendrons and dense forests filled with pines, oaks, and deodars. The town was established by the British as a summer retreat for their officials. Home to the holy abode of the Dalai Lama at McLeod Ganj, this town located in Kangra Valley has numerous Buddhist monasteries, scattered amidst the hills surrounding this region. With the establishment of the Tibetan government-in-exile, the traditions and flavors of Tibet have found its way into the culture and cuisine .