Dharamshala gained global significance after becoming the residence of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile in 1959. This transformed the town into an important center for Tibetan culture and Buddhism outside Tibet. Historically, the area was inhabited by local Himachali communities and later developed under British rule as a cantonment town. However, its identity today is largely shaped by Tibetan heritage, visible in monasteries, temples, and cultural institutions. The town is divided into Lower Dharamshala and Upper Dharamshala (McLeod Ganj), with the latter serving as the spiritual and cultural hub.