Mcleod Ganj, Dharamshala

A hill-station similar to those described by Ruskin Bond, sharing vicinity with Dharamshala, Mcleodganj is a trekker's recommended place. The place is a seamless blend of British and Tibetan influence.

Coined as the 'Little Lhasa', Mcleodganj, Dharamshala is loved and preferred by tourists and travel apps from across the world for being the birthplace of Dalai Lama, the great Tibetan spiritual pioneer. Mcleod Ganj is renowned as a picture-perfect town seated near the Dharamshala. The serene hill-station takes pride in its stunning landscapes, which happens to be one of their kind in the entire Himachal Pradesh.

Traveler Tips

Tip 1: Avoid Visiting the hill-station sans booking a hotel at the peak seasons.

Landing at Mcleodganj early morning sans a hotel booking would get you in serious trouble as you wouldn’t find a single room available.

Tip 2: Do not expect bliss or the hill-station to be quite during the peak seasons.

The main ingredients that make up a perfect hill station, shouldn’t be expected during the peak seasons, as the place is thronged by crowds at this time.

Tip 3: You are likely to get some great deals in the markets on the street.

The street markets dole out some lucrative prices on products and items, however, you must hone our skills of bargaining.

Things to Do

The top things to do in Mcleod Ganj include Trekking at the Kareri River visiting the famous Namgyal Monastery, going to the Bhangsu Falls, heading out at the Dal Lake and many more.

Here are some of the remaining best to-dos in the hill-station that you must try:

• An Adventurous Trek to Triund

The 9000ft range Triund is situated behind the range and offers a spectacular experience. Upon completion of the trek, you can plan for a stay at the Forest Rest House seated atop the ridge. The 9km trek to Triund is worth all your efforts, given the captivating sight of the Kangra valley that it offers.

• Camping in Spellbinding Mcleoganj

Nestled in Dharamshala, Mcleodganj is home to some of the most spectacular landscapes of Himachal Pradesh. What attracts tourists from across the world is camping at the encircling valleys and regions followed by the beautiful Dhauladhar Mountains. Camping at Mcleodganj overlooks some of the hypnotizing views of the famous Himalayan peaks.

• Trekking and Camping at the Lake Got and Triund

Backpacker’s favorite holiday destination, Mcleodganj is also famous and quite popular for the myriad adventurous sports it provides you with including the thrilling Triund Trek, which also leads you to the Lake Got Glacier camping.

Few other things to do are a visit to Dalai Lama’s Temple or Tsug La Khang Temple, visiting the Tibetan Museum, a boat ride to the beautiful Dal Lake, enjoying the cultural shows at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts, shopping at the local markets, dining out at the dramatic cafes and fine restaurants.

Availability

While the hill-station can be visited by tourists all throughout the year, the best time to go and explore the best of Mcleodganj, Dharamshala is during the winter season or during the summer season. The hill-station experiences pleasant summers and chilly winters.

History

McLeod was birthed back in the 1850s as a settlement of the civilians in the exteriors of Dharamshala's British garrisons. The hill-station was named after Punjab's Lieutenant Governor-Donald McLeod. However, the place was ransacked by the Kangra earthquake in 1905, after which it degraded into obscurity post-Independence. It was then that Dalai Lama landed to build his settlement here in the year of 1960. From that time on, McLeod had become a colorful center of Buddhism ad Tibetan culture.

Architecture

The Namgyal Monastery is known as Tibetan's famous monasteries, which was set up back in the 16th century and is famous for the seat of Dalai Lama and is home to an impressive statue of the Lord Buddha. The interior of the monastery is a display of some finest paintings, images and plethora of Buddhist idols. Besides this, the Tsuglakhang Dalai Lama Temple is also a testament to Tibet’s finest architectural design.

Festival

The remarkable festivals celebrated in Mcleodganj, Dharamshala is Buddha Purnima, Lohri, Losar, Himachal Winter Carnival, Drunkpa Tesh, Butoh Dance Festival, etc.

Popular Culture

The present Mcleodganj, Dharamshala is a flourishing hub of Buddhist and Tibetan traditions, lifestyle, Tibetan astronomy, culture, Yoga, Thai meditation, healing, Tibetan cooking methods, Thai massage, Tibetan language and so forth. More so, the place is a vibrant nucleus of Tibetan carpets, garments, thangkas, handicrafts and artifacts.

The place is rightly deserving of the title- 'Little Lhasa' as the place shall instantly transport you to Tibet, with various Buddhist Monks draping burgundy robes chanting their rosary prayers.

Best Time to Visit

The appropriate time to visit the breathtaking hill-station is between the months of October and February, which happens to be the winter season or between the months of March and June which is the summer season. This place experiences soothing summers and chilly winters with the temperature dropping to even minus 1 degree Celsius.

How to Reach?

Gaggal Airport is the nearest airport to Mcleodganj, Dharamshala which is about 20 km away and the Pathankot Railway Station which happens to be 90 km away.

By Air

The airport is well connected with cities like Chandigarh, Kullu, and Delhi. Upon reaching the airports, travelers can book taxi cabs, or buses to reach their drop locations. It usually requires an hour to get into McLeodGanj.

By Road

A large number of private buses followed by state buses operate within the city. The distances between Delhi and McLeod are 500 km on-road, with Dharamshala it is about 20 km and with Chandigarh, it is 250 k. You can also access the luxury Himachal Pradesh Tourism buses from the Himachal Bhawan.

By Train

The Pathankot Railway Station is about 90kms away from the city. Famous trains available for Pathankot from Delhi are Uttar Sampark, Jammu Mail, etc.

Interesting Facts and Trivia

• McLeod Ganj experiences a blissful environment and atmosphere.

• You can experience and enjoy the echoing from nature and mountains.

• The Tibetan Culture and New Year are worth celebrating.

• Mcleodganj is also coined as the Upper Dharamshala.

• The Nawrojee and Sons General Store is Dharamshala's oldest shop, dating to some 152 years old, which is presently a heritage site and is also famous for German-design lamps, England warriors shoelaces, and toffees.

• Hanuman Ka Tibba, Dhauladhar Range’s highest peak, is also McLeodganj's highest trekking destination.

Nearby Attractions

Some of the famous nearby tourist attractions from Mcleodganj, Dharamshala that deserve a visit are:

• Masroor Temple- Popular for its intricate Nagra style of architecture

• Bhagsu Falls- Can be chanced upon for its divine scenery.

• St. John’s Church- Known for its architecture made with Rock Solid.

• Indrahar Pass- This one owes your visit for being an offbeat destination.

• Sunset Point-You can cherish the enthralling sights here.

Few other attractions are Kareri Lake, Dharamkot, Kangra Fort, Banglamukhi Temple, Nobullingka Institute, Naam Art Gallery, Tibetan Market, Minkiani Pass, Maharana Pratap Sagar Lake etc.