Dharamshala: Wheat Fields

Dharamshala, formerly known as Bhagsu, is part of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh and became its second capital in 2017. Its name means “spiritual dwelling” in Sanskrit, but today, in Hindi, the term is commonly used to mean “shelter for spiritual pilgrims.”

 

Dharamshala lies in the North of India and has a humid subtropical climate. Its territory is covered in coniferous forests, mainly Himalayan cedars. Agriculture has an important role in the region and wheat is one of the main crops grown there.

 

Archeologists found evidence of wheat cultivation in the Indian subcontinent as early as 8000-6000 BC. Traditionally, wheat and barley were considered winter crops. Throughout history, wheat production was widespread in northern and central India, whereas rice was more common in the southern regions. Since independence, India has become one of the world’s biggest producers of wheat, as well as other agricultural products such as potatoes, tea, rubber, fruit, vegetables, spices and edible oil.

;