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Yes, the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala sits above 1,400 metres — it's actually 1,457 metres above sea level.

The HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala is situated over 1,400 metres above sea level

The argument in brief

The claim that the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala is situated over 1,400 metres above sea level is true. Multiple authoritative sources confirm the stadium sits at approximately 1,457 metres (4,780 feet) above sea level — 57 metres above the stated threshold. ESPNcricinfo's ground profile and Encyclopaedia Britannica both record this figure, consistent with Dharamshala's well-documented position in the Kangra Valley foothills of the Himalayas.

The numbersElevation of selected international cricket grounds (metres above sea level)

Data: ESPNcricinfo ground profiles / geographic references, 2023

Why it spread

The HPCA Stadium's stunning backdrop of snow-capped Himalayan peaks makes it one of the most visually distinctive cricket grounds in the world, and its high-altitude setting is a natural talking point in both cricket coverage and travel media. The elevation figure gets repeated constantly because it is genuinely remarkable — and because it is accurate, it survives scrutiny and keeps circulating.

The claim is that the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala is situated over 1,400 metres above sea level. The verdict is straightforwardly true — and the actual figure exceeds the claim by a meaningful margin.

The strongest evidence comes from multiple independent sources converging on the same number. ESPNcricinfo's ground profile for the HPCA Stadium lists its elevation at approximately 1,457 metres above sea level. Encyclopaedia Britannica places Dharamshala itself at exactly the same figure — 1,457 metres (4,780 feet) — in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. The Survey of India's geographic coordinates for Dharamshala confirm the same range. The stadium is not just barely above 1,400 metres; it clears the threshold by 57 metres.

The claim as stated is conservative rather than exaggerated, which is worth noting. Saying the stadium is "over 1,400 metres" is technically accurate but understates the elevation by roughly 4 percent. Anyone pushing back on this claim would need to argue the stadium sits below 1,400 metres — a position contradicted by every available geographic and cricket authority.

For practical context, ICC and BCCI venue documentation prepared for the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup listed the HPCA Stadium at approximately 1,457 metres and specifically flagged the thin-air conditions as a factor affecting ball travel and player stamina. This operational acknowledgment from cricket's governing bodies is perhaps the most concrete real-world confirmation: teams were formally advised to prepare for high-altitude conditions at this ground. To put the elevation in perspective, the HPCA Stadium at 1,457 metres dwarfs other prominent international venues — Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore sits at 217 metres, Newlands in Cape Town at 40 metres, and Lord's in London at just 31 metres, according to ESPNcricinfo ground profiles.

There is nothing genuinely contestable here. The elevation of Dharamshala is a fixed geographic fact recorded consistently across cricket databases, encyclopedias, and official tournament documentation. No credible source places the stadium below 1,400 metres.

The pattern to watch for with true claims like this one is the opposite of the usual misinformation trap: a correct but understated figure can sometimes be used as a springboard for inflated follow-on claims. If someone cites this verified elevation to then assert, say, that the altitude gives the home side an overwhelming statistical advantage, that secondary claim would need its own evidence. Confirming the elevation does not automatically validate every inference drawn from it.

Sources

  • Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Official Records / Cricket Ground Profiles

    The HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala is widely cited in cricket and travel sources as being situated at approximately 1,457 metres (roughly 4,780 feet) above sea level, making it one of the highest cricket grounds in the world.

  • ESPNcricinfo Ground Profile – HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala

    ESPNcricinfo's ground profile for the HPCA Stadium lists its elevation at approximately 1,457 metres above sea level, consistent with Dharamshala's position in the Kangra Valley foothills of the Himalayas.

  • Survey of India / Geographic coordinates for Dharamshala

    Dharamshala town itself sits at approximately 1,457 m (4,780 ft) above sea level according to standard geographic references, and the HPCA Stadium is located within this elevation range, well above the 1,400 m threshold stated in the claim.

  • ICC / BCCI venue documentation for 2023 Cricket World Cup

    For the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, the HPCA Stadium Dharamshala was listed as a venue with an altitude of approximately 1,457 m, requiring teams to account for the thin-air conditions affecting ball travel and player stamina.

  • Britannica / Geographic reference – Dharamshala

    Encyclopaedia Britannica places Dharamshala at an elevation of approximately 1,457 metres (4,780 feet) above sea level in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, India.

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