HPCA Dharamshala 3.65

Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium or HPCA Stadium is a cricket stadium located in the city of Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, India. The town is best known internationally as the home of the Dalai Lama of Tibet. The stadium is home to Himachal Pradesh cricket team for Ranji Trophy matches and other limited overs matches. The stadium also hosted IPL matches as a home stadium for Kings XI Punjab. The venue is unique in India in that it is situated at an altitude of 1,457 m (4,780 ft 2 in) above sea level and has the snow-capped Himalayan mountains in the background. Getting to Dharamsala from the nearest airport in Gaggal, around 8 kilometres away through hilly terrain, the harsh winters, during which it rains and snows, are deterrents to organizing regular matches. Dav Whatmore, the former Director of the Indian national Cricket Academy recommended during his tenure that the stadium is suitable for hosting international cricket matches. The first international team that played here was the Pakistan cricket team, which played a match against an India A in 2005. The first ODI was played between India and England in January 2013, which England won by 7 wickets.