Amritsar, Dharamshala and Dalhousie: tour overview
This route pairs the two things western Himachal does best: the Golden Temple in Amritsar, and the Tibetan quarter above Dharamshala where the Dalai Lama has lived since 1959.
McLeod Ganj is a small, steep, very walkable town of monasteries, momo shops and Tibetan exiles, with the Dhauladhar range rising almost vertically behind it. Dalhousie further north is quieter and much less visited, a scatter of colonial buildings among the pines.
It is a driving tour on mountain roads we know well. Nine days keeps it unhurried.
Our other north India routes — Punjab, Himachal and the Uttarakhand hills — are on the India tours page, and what a car and driver actually costs is set out on private car and driver in India.
Amritsar, Dharamshala and Dalhousie at a glance
Length: 9 days by private car, with the same English-speaking driver throughout.
Price: the Amritsar, Dharamshala and Dalhousie tour starts from $900 for the whole car, not per person.
Route: Day 1 of the Amritsar, Dharamshala and Dalhousie: Delhi to Amritsar · the Golden Temple at night. Last day: Chandigarh to Delhi.
Flexible: every day of the Amritsar, Dharamshala and Dalhousie itinerary can be changed, shortened or extended.
Amritsar, Dharamshala and Dalhousie: trip highlights
The Golden Temple at Amritsar, at night and before dawn
The Tsuglagkhang complex at McLeod Ganj and the Tibet Museum
The Dhauladhar range straight above Dharamshala
Dalhousie and the Khajjiar meadow, and the old Kangra valley temples
Amritsar, Dharamshala and Dalhousie itinerary, day by day
JOUR01Jour 1
Delhi to Amritsar · the Golden Temple at night
North across the Punjab plains to Amritsar, arriving in time to see the Golden Temple lit up and reflected in its holy tank.
Morning: Pick-up in Delhi at 7 a.m.
Drive: Delhi to Amritsar is about 460 km, 7½–8 hours on the NH44, with stops at the famous dhabas of Murthal for parathas and at Ambala.
Evening: Check in, then walk to the Golden Temple. Night is magical: the gold glows on the water and the kirtan (sacred music) plays until late.
Eat: Breakfast of stuffed parathas with white butter at a Murthal dhaba; dinner at the temple langar or in the old city.
Tip: Hotels near the temple let you walk there at any hour; the old city lanes are pedestrian-only near the complex.
Overnight: Amritsar
JOUR02Jour 2
Amritsar · Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh, Partition Museum and Wagah
A full day in the spiritual home of the Sikhs, ending with the most theatrical border ceremony in the world.
Early morning: The Golden Temple before dawn (optional, about 4:30 a.m.) for the Palki Sahib ceremony, when the holy book is carried in procession to the inner sanctum, and the sound of the kirtan over the water.
Morning: The langar, the free community kitchen that feeds up to 100,000 people a day. Sit on the floor with everyone else and eat, or help roll chapatis in the kitchen.
Late morning: Jallianwala Bagh, two minutes' walk away, the garden where British troops fired on a peaceful crowd in 1919. Then the Partition Museum in the old Town Hall (closed Mondays).
3:00 p.m.: Drive 30 km (45 minutes) to the Wagah–Attari border for the Beating Retreat flag ceremony, about an hour before sunset. Back by 7 p.m.
Tickets: Golden Temple, langar, Jallianwala Bagh and the Wagah ceremony are all free. The Partition Museum has a small ticket.
Eat: Amritsari kulcha at Kulcha Land or Bhai Kulwant Singh, lassi at Gian Di Lassi, and a vegetarian thali at Kesar Da Dhaba (since 1916) in the old city.
Tip: At the temple, cover your head (scarves are given free), leave shoes at the free shoe store and wash your feet before entering. At Wagah, carry your passport and leave all bags in the car: none are allowed in.
Overnight: Amritsar
JOUR03Jour 3
Amritsar to Dharamshala · into the Dhauladhar
East into the hills, to the home in exile of the Dalai Lama.
Morning: Check-out at 9 a.m.
Drive: Amritsar to Dharamshala is about 200 km, 5 hours via Pathankot.
Afternoon: Up to McLeod Ganj (about 1,800 m), 10 km above the lower town. Walk the main bazaar and the kora path around the temple.
Eat: Momos and thukpa at a Tibetan restaurant.
Overnight: McLeod Ganj
JOUR04Jour 4
McLeod Ganj · Tsuglagkhang, Tibet Museum and Bhagsu
Tibetan Buddhist culture in India, and a waterfall walk.
Morning: Tsuglagkhang, the Dalai Lama's temple, Namgyal monastery (watch the monks debating in the courtyard in the afternoon) and the Tibet Museum (closed Mondays).
Afternoon: The walk to Bhagsunag temple and Bhagsu waterfall (2 km, about 40 minutes).
Evening: Dharamkot village cafés above town.
Tickets: Temple free; Tibet Museum small ticket.
Tip: Walk clockwise around temples and stupas. Photography inside the main temple hall is not allowed.
Overnight: McLeod Ganj
JOUR05Jour 5
Triund hike or the Kangra valley
Choose a mountain hike or a gentle day of art and tea gardens.
Option 1: Triund: A hard but popular hike from Galu Devi (about 7 km each way, 3–4 hours up) to a ridge at 2,850 m facing the Dhauladhar. Leave by 7 a.m., back by 5 p.m.
Option 2: Kangra valley: Norbulingka Institute for Tibetan arts, the Kangra Art Museum, and the tea gardens of Palampur (35 km), with a factory visit.
Tip: For Triund, wear proper shoes and take water and snacks; there are small tea stalls on the way.
Overnight: McLeod Ganj
JOUR06Jour 6
Dharamshala to Dalhousie
North-west through the Kangra valley to an old hill station of cedar and pine.
Drive: Dharamshala to Dalhousie is about 120 km, 4–5 hours on hill roads.
On the way: Chamunda Devi temple, or Kangra Fort, one of the oldest in India.
Evening: Gandhi Chowk and the Mall.
Overnight: Dalhousie
JOUR07Jour 7
Dalhousie and Khajjiar · the 'mini Switzerland of India'
Forest walks and a meadow ringed by cedars.
Morning: St John's church, Subhash Baoli and the Garam Sadak forest walk.
Afternoon: Khajjiar (24 km, about 1 hour): a green meadow with a small lake and the Khajji Nag temple, ringed by deodar forest.
Overnight: Dalhousie
JOUR08Jour 8
Dalhousie to Chandigarh
The long descent to the plains.
Morning: Check-out at 7:30 a.m.
Drive: Dalhousie to Chandigarh is about 330 km, 7½–8 hours via Pathankot.
Evening: Sukhna Lake or the Rock Garden.
Overnight: Chandigarh
JOUR09Jour 9
Chandigarh to Delhi
An easy last drive back to the capital.
Morning: Optional: the Capitol Complex, Le Corbusier's UNESCO-listed government buildings (guided tours only, carry your passport).
Drive: Chandigarh to Delhi is about 250 km, 4½–5 hours.
Drop: Your Delhi hotel or the airport (flights after about 7 p.m.).
Nuit : Delhi, ou votre vol retour
What's included: Amritsar, Dharamshala and Dalhousie
Ce qui est inclus
Véhicule privé climatisé pour tout l'itinéraire, rien que pour votre groupe Chauffeur professionnel anglophone chaque jour du circuit Tout le carburant Tous les péages et taxes d'État et inter-États Frais de stationnement à chaque arrêt Permis lorsque l'itinéraire l'exige Les repas et l'hébergement du chauffeur — jamais à votre charge sur la route Prise en charge et dépose à l'aéroport ou à l'hôtel dans la ville de départ et d'arrivée
Ce qui n'est pas inclus
Hôtels et hébergement de toute sorte Tous les repas et boissons des voyageurs Entrées des monuments, forts, palais et parcs nationaux Guides locaux agréés à l'intérieur des monuments Droits photo et vidéo lorsqu'ils sont demandés Visa indien et éventuels frais de frontière Vols internationaux et intérieurs Assurance voyage Pourboires pour le chauffeur, bienvenus mais jamais attendus Tout ce qui est personnel — blanchisserie, téléphone, achats, frais médicaux Nous organisons volontiers hôtels, guides, billets des monuments et vols pour vous, au prix coûtant. Nous ne prenons aucune commission dessus, c'est pourquoi ils ne sont pas inclus dans le prix.
Before your Amritsar, Dharamshala and Dalhousie tour:
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Ce que disent les voyageurs
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Jack van Iersel★★★★★
June 9, 2026
I travelled twice with Go India Nepal. In 2019 for 4 weeks with Babu, together with my 2 adult daughters, and in 2025 2 weeks with Suraj, together with my wife. Both trips were perfect !! Both are safe drivers, speak excellent English, and very respectful to their guests. Highly recommended.
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Michiel Meulendijk★★★★★
January 20, 2026
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Niels Lokman★★★★★
August 19, 2025
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giuseppe petroro★★★★★
July 17, 2025
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Hans de Vries★★★★★
April 22, 2025
We recently completed a remarkable Golden Triangle tour in India and want to share our wonderful experience with Babu's company, particularly with our driver, Pramod. From the moment he greeted us at the airport in the middle of the night, we felt a genuine sense of hospitality. Pramod is a fantastic driver who navigated the busy streets with ease, ensuring…
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Lorenza Corti★★★★★
March 2, 2025
Babu was perfect!
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carla ciatto★★★★★
March 2, 2025
Abbiamo vissuto una bellissima esperienza di viaggio grazie alla guida impeccabile e sicura del nostro driver Niki, sempre gentile, concentrato e molto professionale. Un lungo viaggio tra l'India e il Nepal alla scoperta di luoghi raggiungibili solo in auto. Un grande grazie a Babu e Niki!!
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Philippe JUTEAU★★★★★
February 27, 2025
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Amritsar, Dharamshala and Dalhousie: frequently asked questions
Les vraies questions que nos voyageurs posent avant de réserver, avec les réponses de la famille qui conduit sur ces routes.
Only if he is in residence and giving public teachings, which happen on an announced schedule and are usually free but require registration. He travels often and is not always there. We will tell you what is scheduled for your dates, but we cannot arrange a meeting and neither can anyone who says they can.
It is about nine kilometres round trip with a steep 1,100-metre climb, four to five hours up for most people. No technical skill needed but real fitness helps. Start early. Our driver waits at Galu Devi where the trail begins.
It is much quieter than Shimla or Manali and Khajjiar is genuinely lovely. If you want busy markets and things to do, it is not that; if you want pine forest and space, it is. We would keep it in.
No — never on our road tours. Our price covers the vehicle, driver, fuel, tolls, state taxes, parking and permits. McLeod Ganj has good cheap guesthouses and a few excellent hotels lower down.
Amritsar to Dharamshala is straightforward. Dharamshala to Dalhousie and the descent to Chandigarh are mountain roads — winding, narrow in places, slow. They are fine in a proper vehicle with a driver who knows them, which is what you are hiring.
March to June and September to November. The monsoon in July and August brings landslides to these roads and Dharamshala is one of the wettest places in India. Winter is cold and Dalhousie can get snow.
Very. Amritsar is famous for Punjabi vegetarian food, the langar meal is vegetarian, and McLeod Ganj has Tibetan and Indian vegetarian everywhere. Vegans do fine too with a little care about ghee.
