Your Little Guide to the Dharamshala Trip

Places to visit in Dharamshala is an eminent hill station in the state of Himachal Pradesh. It is eminent for its steep valleys and cedar trees. It is an eminent holiday spot among families, backpackers, and foreigners. Dharamshala is identified as the home of the Dalai Lama and one of the biggest Tibetan communities. Dharamshala can be accessible by trains, buses, and taxis. It is the base for many great treks that leads you up to the Chamba district. Some of the best treks around Dharamshala are Kareri Lake, Minkaini Pass, Bhagsu Nag, Indrahar Pass, and Shri Guna Devi Mandir.

Apart from all this, Dharamshala is one of the great places if you are glancing to escape the scorching summer heat. Visit here to calm and soothe your senses in the pleasant weather. In winters, this city is enveloped in fluffy snow and is truly a visual treat. Dharamshala is also an ideal place for honeymoon couples who want to spend their quality time away from the city crowds, in peace and privacy. This place is also the residence of Buddhist Holiness – the Dalai Lama.

How to reach Dharamshala?

One can reach the famous hill station, Dharamshala in three ways such as –

1 By Air:

For the travelers outlining to travel by air, one of the nearest airports to Dharamshala is the Gaggal airport in Kangra which is located just at a distance of 15 Km from there. Regular flights are flying out from Delhi and Chandigarh. 

2 By Road:

There are many Himachal roadways buses and private buses which are intermittently available to reach Dharamshala. Delhi is located at a distance of 475 Km from the city and it takes around 8-9 hours to reach there. Apart from Delhi, some of the other cities of Himachal are also well connected by the roadways and regular buses run on the route. 

3 By Train:

For travelers who are outlining to travel by train, Pathankot is one of the nearest railway junctions located at a distance of 90 Km from this city. This railway junction comes at the Delhi to Jammu railway track and from here it takes approximately 3 hours to reach Dharamshala.

Also read: A Complete Travel Guide to Himachal Pradesh

Places to visit in and around Dharamshala Such As:

War Memorial 

For the people having a patriotic feeling in their hearts, this beautiful open museum is one of the best places to visit in Dharamshala. This is one of the great places to acquisition the beauty of the mountains and feels the martyr spirits at their best. 

Dal Lake

While driving up to the Naddi sunset point, lies the Dal Lake which is encompassed by gigantic fir trees. The lake is located at a distance of 3 Km from McLeod Ganj and is 11 Km from Dharamshala. This lake is not that engaging as compared to other lakes situated around Himachal Pradesh.  

Also read: Places to visit in Dharamshala and Mcleodganj

Bhagsunath Waterfall

For enthusiastic travelers, trekking up to this elegant waterfall will be no less than an adventurous escape. It is quite a prominent picnic spot at the upper part of Dharamshala and is known for its undaunted beauty and the ancient Bhagsunath temple abutting the waterfall.

Tsuglagkhang (Dalai Lama’s Temple)  

This place is commonly known as the Dalai Lama’s Temple and is an elegant complex situated at the temple road of McLeod Ganj. This is one of the top places on every traveler’s list and only if you are lucky, you can catch a sighting of the spiritual leader. The place has a large compound and meditation hall where a colossal statue of Shakyamuni Buddha takes all the heed. 

Dharamshala Stadium

It might sound very uncommon to visit a stadium but the HPCA stadium in Dharamshala will give you outstanding views to capture. Surrounded by the mighty ranges of the Dhauladhar Mountains this stadium is one of the most alluring complexes in India. 

Accommodation in Dharamshala

These are the accommodations in this:

Go camping at Triund

If you are contemplating some adventure in the woods, then camping at Triund will be the perfect plan for you. After experiencing the famous and tough Triund trek, the travelers can make an antecedent booking to stay in the camps settled amidst the wilderness of the mountains. 

Backpacker Hostels

For the budget backpackers, there are many hostels feasible around the region of upper Dharamshala. These hostels are furnished with all the basic amenities and the travels can enjoy the stay with other travelers coming from different countries. 

Mountain View Hotels

Apart from the hostels, if you are ready to splurge something extra on the accommodation then there are many extravagant and budgeted hotels around the town which endeavor all the conveniences along with a beautiful view of the mountains.

Places to dine in Dharamshala

For a scrumptious meal, places to visit in  Dharamshala have many absurd places to eat. With great mountain views, your food acquaintance will be memorable. During your trip, you must endeavor the famous foods of Dharamshala including Carrot Cake, Bhagsu Cake, Tibetan Bread, Thukpa & Thentuk, Momos, and many more. Some of the top places to eat in Dharamshala are such as –
1 Namgyal Cafe
2 Crepe Pancake Hut
3 Tibet Kitchen
4 lliterati
5 The Taste of India
6 Peace Cafe

Useful Tips for Dharamshala Trip 

Here, are useful tips for the places to trip to:

. Wear heavy woolen clothes in winters to protect yourself from cold
. If you wish to trek, take a robust pair of shoes
. Carry a torch and a fully charged phone and power bank as there might be a precedent of electricity downtime
. Summer is a peak tourist season to visit Dharamshala. So, it is advised to book your hotel, tickets, transport, etc. in advance before you visit Dharamshala
. Check out weather conditions before traveling to Dharamshala
. Landslides are a prospect during the monsoon. Therefore, have buffer time in hand
. Use phone cases with thermal/water protection

Tips to remember before visiting Dharamshala

Some of the tips to remember before visiting Dharamshala areas –

. Before planning a trip to Dharamshala does make sure to learn some of the basic Hindi phrases for easy communication with the local people. Though these Tibetan locals also know to speak English.
. Circumvent roaming around the region of Dharamshala and Naddi at late hours as there are no street lights on the roads of Dharamshala.
So now when you have this ultimate local guide to drift around Dharamshala, do not wait and pack your bags to stay and relax amidst nature’s most picturesque setup at this little town of Himachal.