Kangra is tranquil and unpolluted where the pine-scented air is said to have curative powers. With a mix of tropical and sub Himalayan varieties, oaks and majestic cedars ride the crest of every hill. The Dhauladhar range of mountains, part of the Himlayas, rise dramtically from the foothills and provide a serene backdrop to the tea town of Palampur. Nearby is Dharamshala, the district headquarters of Kangra, which is the residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and a second home for more than eight thousand Tibetan refugees.