Dharamshala is one of the 80 hill stations established by the British between 1815 and 1847. It has a spectacular setting, being close to the perennial snowline and built along a spur of the Dhaula Dhar range. The town varies in height from 1,250 metres at the bazaar to 1,768 metres at McLeodganj. Dharamshala is surrounded by deodar forests and provides a superb view of the great granite mountains that almost overhang the town. Upper Dharamshala or McLeodganj is the headquarters of His Holiness Dalai Lama, who settled here following the Chinese invasion of Tibet in October 1959. Thousands of Tibetans have made McLeodganj their home and therefore the town has a strong Tibetan influence - monks in deep red are a common sight.