Dharamshala: The story of a seasonal capital

Several Indian states have a seasonal capital. The functioning of the state assembly happens in one city in summer and in another in winter. A case in point in Maharashtra, where the assembly functions are divided between Mumbai and Nagpur. In 2013, Dharamshala was declared the winter capital of Himachal Pradesh. But it has an interesting story.  

When did Dharamshala gain political importance?  
Dharamshala is a sleepy and beautiful foothill town of McLeodgunge, the seat of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama and headquarters of the central Tibetan administration. The HPCA cricket stadium is also an attraction at Dharamshala. The breath taking backdrop of the majestic snow-covered Dhauladhar ranges makes the town even more striking.  

The British loved the hill town too. Almost a century before the town could be declared a second capital to a free state of independent India, Dharamshala had been a favourite of the then Viceroy. The British even planned to make it the winter capital of India. But unfortunately, the city saw a natural disaster followed by an accident, and Shimla became the winter capital of India.  

How did Dharamshala get to become the second capital of HP?  
Former HP Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh started a practice he called the ‘winter sojourn’, where the state’s Vidhan Sabha held its winter session in Dharamshala, and the CM’s office shifted base to the city for a whole month. Dharamshala was also made into a ‘smart city’. The city already had a mini secretariat building, which made it easy to refurbish it and turn it into a full-blown administrative office for the ministers. In fact, Dharamshala was set up as a second capital at a cost much lower than most states. This scenario continued till 2012, when the cabinet of HP finally went for a vote to decide whether Dharamshala or Kangra was to act as the winter capital. Till 2012, the mini secretariat was controlled by the Deputy Commissioner of Kangra, but almost no minister visited this valley. So, Dharamshala won the voting.  

Dharamshala’s journey is interesting because it fulfilled its dream of being a summer capital with the British by being a winter capital with the Indians instead.