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.
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
Day-by-day itinerary
DAY01Day 1
Delhi to Amritsar
Around eight hours on good highway. Evening at the Golden Temple, lit and reflected.
DAY02Day 2
Amritsar — temple, Jallianwala Bagh, Wagah
Before dawn at the temple and the langar kitchen. Jallianwala Bagh and the Partition Museum. Late afternoon out to the Wagah border ceremony.
DAY03Day 3
Amritsar to Dharamshala
About five hours east into the hills. Arrive in the afternoon; McLeod Ganj is a short climb above the main town.
DAY04Day 4
Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj
The Tsuglagkhang complex, the Dalai Lama's temple and the Tibet Museum in the morning. Namgyal monastery, then the walk out to Bhagsu waterfall and Bhagsunag temple.
DAY05Day 5
Dharamshala — Triund or the valley
If you want to walk, the Triund trail climbs steeply to a ridge with the Dhauladhar directly above — a hard day hike, and worth it. Otherwise Norbulingka Institute, the Kangra Art Museum and the tea gardens at Palampur.
DAY06Day 6
Dharamshala to Dalhousie
Around five hours north through the Kangra valley. Chamunda Devi or the Kangra fort on the way if you want them.
DAY07Day 7
Dalhousie and Khajjiar
Gandhi Chowk, Subhash Baoli and the Garam Sadak walks in the morning. Then out to Khajjiar, a green bowl of meadow ringed by cedars about an hour away.
DAY08Day 8
Dalhousie to Chandigarh
A long descent, roughly seven to eight hours. Evening at the Rock Garden or Sukhna Lake.
DAY09Day 9
Chandigarh to Delhi
Five hours on the highway to your Delhi hotel or the airport.
What's included
What is included
Private air-conditioned vehicle for the entire route, exclusively for your group
Professional English-speaking driver for every day of the tour
All fuel
All road tolls, interstate and state taxes
Parking charges at every stop
Place permits where the route requires them
The driver's own meals and accommodation — never your responsibility on the road
Airport or hotel pick-up and drop-off in the start and end city
What is not included
Hotels and accommodation of any kind
All meals and drinks for travellers
Monument, fort, palace and national park entrance fees
Licensed local guides inside monuments
Camera and video fees where charged
Indian visa and any border fees
International and domestic flights
Travel insurance
Tips for the driver, which are welcome but never expected
Anything personal — laundry, phone, shopping, medical
We are happy to arrange hotels, guides, monument tickets and flights for you at cost. We take no commission on them, which is why they are not bundled into the price.
What travellers say
Verified Google reviews of GoIndiaNepal. They cover our service as a company rather than this individual journey.
5.0★★★★★
10 reviews
5★10
4★0
3★0
2★0
1★0
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.
GoIndiaNepal replied
So much thank you jack for your valuable review. and also thank you for you choosing seconds time too with your wife travelling with our company.. We hope again to see you nepal trip. Thank you for your all what…
Michiel Meulendijk★★★★★
January 20, 2026
Our time in India was made truly special thanks to our driver, Anil. From the very beginning, he made us feel comfortable and well cared for, and throughout the trip he proved to be an excellent and reliable companion on the road. Anil is a highly skilled driver who navigated the busy and often chaotic streets with confidence and ease,…
GoIndiaNepal replied
Soo mush thank you Michael for your voluble review.and we always trying to give best service to our valuable clients.and thankyou for you choiching our little coprate driver company. With worm regarding Thepearlsofindia.com And babu.
Niels Lokman★★★★★
August 19, 2025
Just finished our fantastic tour around Rajasthan and Agra with Babu. Our 17 day journey was the first time we travelled with a driver since we have been travelling to quite some places just by ourselves over the last years but thought this modality was the right option in chaotic India. This journey was a great success in many ways;…
GoIndiaNepal replied
So much thankyou for your valuable review.i do my best for our valuable guests. Thanks again for your great review. Rhd www.thepearlsofindia.com And babu
giuseppe petroro★★★★★
July 17, 2025
babu is the best driver i ever meet. he s more than a driver, he's a tour operator. he knows many stories about everything, he's very helpful to arrange your travel, before your arrival and during your visit. i really was satisfied about him and i suggest to everyone, for sure!
GoIndiaNepal replied
So much thankyiu for your valuable review for our service and I do our best for our valuable clients. And I will be glad if I got chance to give you again my service for India or nepal.. Thnks 🙏…
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…
GoIndiaNepal replied
Thankyou Hans de Vries for your valuable review about my service and drive service we always give best service and best drive and safe drive to our valuable guests. Thanks again for choosing our company and service. Rgd Thepearlsofindia. Com
Lorenza Corti★★★★★
March 2, 2025
Babu was perfect!
GoIndiaNepal replied
Ha ha babu is the best as always 😄😂😂!!!!! Thank you so mush Lorenza for your valuable reviews for the our best service and best drive. We always trying to give our best to our valuable guest. Thank you again…
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!!
GoIndiaNepal replied
So much thank you carla for your valuable reviews about our service and drive we always give our best service and best drive to our valuable guest. Thank you again for choosing our service hope to see you again Regard…
Philippe JUTEAU★★★★★
February 27, 2025
Je tenais à exprimer ma profonde gratitude envers Babu, qui a été un chauffeur exceptionnel et plus tout au long de notre voyage. Grâce à ses conseils avisés et à son accompagnement chaleureux, nous avons pu découvrir des sites merveilleux que nous n'aurions jamais trouvés seuls. Babu a su nous faire partager sa passion pour la région et nous a…
GoIndiaNepal replied
Soo much thank you philippe your valuable review about my service and driver service with skills. We always try to give our best service and best drive to our valuable guests. And thanks for all that you appreciate with my…
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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.
