Dharamshala, and McLeod Ganj above it, is where the Dalai Lama has lived since 1959 and where the Tibetan government in exile sits. It is in India, in the Himalayan foothills of Himachal, but it does not feel like India.
Nine days through Punjab and the western Himachal hills — the Golden Temple, the Dalai Lama's Dharamshala, the Kangra valley and the…
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Tsuglagkhang, the main temple complex and the Dalai Lama's residence. The Tibet Museum inside is small, careful and worth an hour.
Namgyal Monastery, where you can watch the monks debate in the courtyard in the afternoons.
Bhagsu waterfall and Dharamkot, short walks out of McLeod Ganj through pine forest.
Triund, a nine kilometre climb to a ridge at 2,850 metres with the Dhauladhar range directly above you. It is a full day, and a real walk rather than a stroll.
Ten to eleven hours from Delhi, which is why we normally break the journey at Chandigarh or Amritsar. Amritsar is around five hours, Shimla eight.
Two or three nights. The town is small but people slow down here and end up staying longer than they planned.
March to June and September to November. Monsoon here is heavy, and January and February bring snow that can close the upper road.
The last two hours are mountain road with switchbacks. It is safe with a driver who knows it, and uncomfortable with one who does not. Our Himalayan routes carry their own rate for exactly that reason.
Tell us when you want to travel and how long you have. We come back with a route, the vehicle it needs and one price, usually within 24 hours. Our day rates are published in full, and your hotels stay your own choice.
Get a price for your Dharamshala trip See our car and driver rates
Dharamshala fits best between Amritsar and the hill towns of Dalhousie or Manali. A popular eight to ten day loop from Delhi is Amritsar, Dharamshala, Dalhousie and back through Chandigarh. Kangra airport at Gaggal also has flights from Delhi if you want to save a day on the road.
Only when he gives a public teaching, which is announced in advance on his official website. Most of the year he is not giving public audiences, but the temple is open to visitors every day.
Yes. The roads are good mountain roads, and our drivers on these routes do them regularly. We avoid driving the hill sections after dark.
We plan Amritsar–Dharamshala–Dalhousie routes on request. Our Amritsar tour can be extended into the hills.
