Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association StadiumDharamsala
Short answer: The HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala sits about 1,457 metres above sea level with the Dhauladhar range behind it, making it India's best-known high-altitude international ground. Its first ODI was in January 2013 and its first Test in March 2017. Evenings are cold but dry in our data, so dew is rarely the main factor; cold and early darkness are.
Ground facts
- City
- Dharamsala
- Capacity
- 21,200 (ICC 2023 World Cup media guide, via Wikipedia)
- Established
- 2003
- Ends
- River End, College End
- Association
- Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association
- First international
- ODI: India vs England, 27 Jan 2013
Background
Dharamsala became the Himachal Pradesh association's international venue after an earlier plan for a ground at Annadale in Shimla fell through, because that land is an army cantonment. The ground opened in 2003. Pakistan played a warm-up match there against India A in 2005, the first visit by an international team.
- First ODI: India vs England, 27 January 2013. England won by seven wickets.
- First Test: India vs Australia, 25–29 March 2017. India won.
- First T20I: India vs South Africa, 2 October 2015.
- In November 2015 it was named one of six new Test venues in India.
- It hosted five matches of the 2023 World Cup, including New Zealand vs India. The outfield was criticised by players during that tournament.
Why altitude matters
At about 1,457 m, the air is thinner than at any other regular Indian venue. Thinner air offers slightly less resistance, so well-struck shots carry further, and swing bowlers often talk about the cool, clear conditions. Treat that as a tendency, not a rule: the pitch and the weather on the day matter more.
What the weather data says
Dharamsala is the outlier in our data. Evening humidity at 10 pm stayed in the 50s and low 60s (%) in most months, and the share of dew-risk evenings was in single digits from October to March, except January (about 25%). The real constraints are cold (average 10 pm temperatures below 10°C in December and January) and rain or snow in winter, which make mid-winter scheduling difficult.
Fantasy angle (our general view)
With less dew, the toss is usually less decisive here than at humid venues, and spinners can stay effective in both innings. Early-season or spring matches with cool mornings can give new-ball bowlers more help than usual. Check the pitch report and the forecast; see how to read a pitch report.
Evening conditions by month (Oct–Mar)
| Month | 3 pm temp | 10 pm temp | 10 pm humidity | 10 pm dew-point gap | Dew-risk evenings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct | 22.4°C | 17.6°C | 63% | 7.3°C | 8% |
| Nov | 17.8°C | 13.3°C | 58% | 8.2°C | 1% |
| Dec | 14.1°C | 9.6°C | 56% | 8.6°C | 6% |
| Jan | 12.2°C | 7.6°C | 62% | 7.4°C | 25% |
| Feb | 15.3°C | 10.0°C | 56% | 8.6°C | 5% |
| Mar | 20.5°C | 14.8°C | 51% | 10.7°C | 5% |
Our calculation from hourly Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis data, October to March of five seasons (2021-22 to 2025-26). "Dew-risk evenings" = share of evenings where the 10 pm air temperature was within 4°C of the dew point. Reanalysis describes the surrounding ~25–30 km area, not the outfield, and is an indicator, not a forecast. Open-Meteo
FAQ
How high is the Dharamsala cricket ground?
About 1,457 metres above sea level, as cited on Wikipedia.
Does dew matter in Dharamsala?
Less than at most Indian venues. In our five-season sample, fewer than 10% of evenings met our dew-risk threshold in most months from October to March; January was the exception at about 25%.
What are the ends called?
The River End and the College End.