In my last article, I covered two of the most beautiful places to visit in Himachal Pradesh, i.e. Khajjiar and Palampur. Today I am going to extend my list by adding another place to visit in Himachal "Dharamshala and Mcleodganj" that is quite famous among travellers and backpackers.
Dharamshala
Dharamshala, a beautiful town lies in the heart of Kangra district, offers the same beauty as the rest of the state of Himachal. If you want to visualize and experience Tibetian culture in the country, then this place is perfect for you as it is a blend of Indian-Tibetian culture and is also renowned as the holy residence of Dalai Lama who later established the Tibetian exile administration.
Dharamshala lies in the shadow of the Dhauladhar Range and is parted into two divisions. The lower part itself is the main city, whereas the upper-division is the paradise for trekkers which is surrounded by pine and cedar forests. Apart from offering some majestic panoramic views of the mountain, Dharamshala also has other things to offer that will help you to rejuvenate yourself. The local cuisines and cafes have some mouth-watering dishes to enjoy, cricket stadium, temple, tea garden and Mcleodganj.
Let's take a dig at some of the places that you can visit while you are in Dharamshala.
Places to visit in Dharamshala
HPCA Stadium
The HPCA Stadium, also known as Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, is considered to be one of the best places to play cricket in the world. The picturesque stadium lies at an altitude of 1437 m above sea level and offers a stunning view of Dhauladhar range in the background. The stadium was established in 2003, but it was only in 2013 when it hosted its first international match between India and England which the visitors won by seven wickets. As of now, the stadium hosts both domestic and international matches and has a sitting capacity of 23000 people.
The stadium is open to the traveller and backpacker from 9 am to 5 pm, and the entry fee to the stadium is just INR 20.
Dharamshala War Memorial
To pay tribute to the martyred soldiers there lies a war memorial at the entrance of the Dharamsala. The panels of the black marble are embedded with the name of the soldiers who lost their lives during the war of 1947, 1948, 1962, 1965, and 1971. It is one of the most famous places to visit in the city of Dharamshala. The war memorial is surrounded by pine trees and covered with lush green lawn where you can take a long walk to enjoy the serenity.
The entry fee to the war memorial is INR 10 and is opened from 9 am to 7 pm.
Tea Garden
Get close to nature and relax your mind by taking a long walk in the lush green outfield offered by the tea garden located in the city. If you are a chai lover, then this place is perfect for you. The place offers a picturesque landscape covered with snow-capped mountains.
How to reach Dharamshala
Dharamshala can easily be reached via road, railway and air as it is well connected with all major cities. From Delhi, it's an overnight journey of approximately 13 hours from the bus. The bus tickets can easily be availed online via different platforms like MakeMyTrip or Red Bus. And if you are planning to reach the city via train, then the nearest railway station to Dharamshala is Pathankot which is approximately 85 km.
Mcleodganj
Mcleodganj lies in the upper part of Dharamshala, which is just 3 km away and has a large population of Tibetans and that's why it is also known as "Little Lhasa". This place is one of the famous spots among backpackers because of the Triund trek which is a 6 km trek from Gallu temple. Mcleodganj is quite a popular place and attracts thousands of foreign visitors along with the locals. The place is not only famous for trekking, but it also offers courses in Buddhism, yoga, some delicious mouth-watering cafes and local Tibetan craft shopping. So let's find out the places that you can visit in Mcleodganj.
Places to visit in Mcleodganj
Triund Trek
Triund, a trekking paradise for the backpackers, is famous for its spectacular view of Dhauladhar range. It is a 10 km trek from Dharamsala and 6 km from Galu temple near Dharamkot. The steep slopes will take you to the land of meadows surrounded by snow-clad mountains which is at an altitude of approximately 2810 m above sea level.
Triund trek is one of the easiest treks to be offered by the northern state. It can easily be completed in one day, as one side of the trek takes around 4 hours. After reaching the summit, place your camp sit down in the lap of nature and enjoy the beauty offered by Triund. You can easily rent a tent at the top, which you can easily get by spending as low as 500 bucks, all you have to do is some bargaining. You also have the option to book the guest house which needs to be done in advance.
St. Johns Church
St. John Chruch was established in the year 1852 and is dedicated to John the Baptist. The non-gothic church is also famous with the name of St. John in the wilderness among the locals and backpackers.
Set amidst dense jungle, the church is surrounded by pine and oak trees and it offers an amazing architectural design. The church is around 8 km away from Dharamsala, once you move from Dharamsala to Mcleodganj, you can take a long walk in nature to reach the church.
Bhagsu Waterfall
Bhagsu waterfall is located at a distance of approximately 3 km from Mcleodganj is one of the main attractions of the place. The waterfall is quite famous among travellers, take a walk in those slippery stones surrounded by lush greenery to reach the place. On your route to the waterfall, you will be passing by the Bhagsu temple, which is famous among devotees. Once you reach the temple, take a further walk to reach the waterfall and witness the panoramic beauty of the Bhagsu Village. Sit down at the Shiva cafe and have some hot maggie and enjoy the view offered by the place. The green vistas will not only help you to soothe your mind and soul but will also provide some astonishing views to capture.
These are some of the famous places in Mcleodganj that you can cover. Including trek, the beauty of Dharamsala and Mcleodganj can easily be embraced in a span of 3 to 4 days. So you don't have to worry about taking a long leave from your office to explore the place.
There are many hotels and hostels available in and around the place. So, if you are a good bargainer, then you can get a room in a hotel at around 500 bucks. And if you are not good at bargaining or if you are a solo traveller, then hostels are the best options that can provide you with a dorm bed at 200 to 300 bucks only.
Hostels to stay in Dharamshala-Mcleodganj
La Vaca India
Shalom Backpackers
Backpackers Inn
Hostel Triangle Folks
These are some of the best hostels that you can look around for booking. There are several websites and applications that you can use to book your bed as per your availability. Some of the websites and applications that you can use are
Cafes to visit in Dharamshala-Mcleodganj
Apart from the stunning beauty of nature and Indian-Tibetan culture, Dharamshala-Mcleodganj offers some of the best mouth-watering cafes that are definitely worth visiting. From momos to bakeries the place has everything that you can think of.
Shiva Cafe at Bhagsu Waterfall
Tibet Kitchen at Main Chowk
Momos at the main market road
Norling Restaurant
Illiterati Cafe for some delicious coffee
Morgans Place
Jimmys Italian Kitchen
The Clay Oven
If you have some other places in your mind that I forgot to mention then feel free to share in the comment section. You can also visit my Instagram account and Facebook page and follow them for photo stories and posts.
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