Mcleodganj also known as the “Little Lhasa”, shot to fame when His Holiness Dalai Lama established Tibetan government in exile here. India’s Mini Tibet is a heavenly abode in the laps of the Dhauladhar mountain range. This place has a unique culture of its own and is loved by all kinds of travelers, solo and group alike.
If you are planning to travel to Mcloedganj, then you have stumbled upon the right place. Based on my personal experience, here is a list of things I did and places I visited. So lets get started!
Bhagsunath waterfall and temple
My first recommendation has to be the Bhagsunath waterfall and temple. The Bhagsunath temple is a Shiva temple. The sacred shrine is home to two pools that are believed to have healing powers. This is also the starting point of your trek to waterfall.
The Bhagsunath waterfall is a 15-20 min trek from the temple. The path to the waterfall is beautiful and picturesque. This place is famous for picnicking with friends and family. I would recommend going early morning to avoid the crowds and enjoy the serenity of this place.
Shiva Café - for amazing views and food
After spending some time at the Bhagsunath waterfall you can head straight to this beautiful café. You have to climb further up to reach this place. The way is a little tricky as there is no proper pathway, but trust me the view of the valley from there is spectacular. If you are going here in the evening you can witness a beautiful sunset!
The food is mouth watering and affordable. The entire café is inspired by Bob Marley and you can see posters of him hanging around. Needless to say, you have to visit this place!
Namgyal Monastery
Namgyal Monastery is one of the biggest monasteries in Himachal Pradesh. The monastery is home of the 14th Dalai Lama. The place houses a huge statue of Lord Buddha and overlooks the Dhauladhar mountain range.
Monks come here and pray. You can spend some peaceful time and meditate. The monastery has spectacular interiors and various sculptures of Lord Buddha.
Photography is prohibited inside the monastery and I would suggest to maintain the tranquility of the place.
Read till the end to find about a hidden gem in Mcleodganj
Triund Trek
If you are someone who loves to trek, then Triund Trek should definitely be on your list. This is a moderate level trek the starting point of which lies is Mcleodganj. You can either trek and then come back on the same day or stay in a camp.
Kangra Fort
Mcleodganj is a part of the Kangra District. So while at Mcloedganj you can plan a day trip to Kangra Fort. From this fort you can get a 360 view of the entire Kangra Valley.
Though most parts of the fort is in ruins you can still witness the beauty this fort has to offer.
HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala
HPCA stadium is one of the most picturesque stadium in the world (at-least that’s what I think!). The stadium located in Dharamshala is surrounded by a magnificent view of the Dhauladhar mountain range.
You can visit the stadium to either watch a cricket match or go on a non-match day to witness its beauty. Personally, the next time I would want to visit this place is to watch a cricket match. Can’t imagine how would it actually feel.
Visit Tea Gardens in Dharamshala
The green fields spread over acres of land are a scenic natural site. While there isn’t much to do here, you can easily spend a couple of hours here just soaking in the peaceful environment. You can also pick up some fresh mountain tea from here.
Masroor Rock Cut Temple
Are you wondering whether there are any hidden gems in Mcleodganj, well this is it. The Masroor Rock Cut temple is a Hindu Temple overlooking the beautiful Dhauladhar mountain range. As the name suggest the temple has been carved out of rocks and is a sight to behold.
Most of the sculptures and relics have been lost most likely due to an earthquake. But despite it the beauty of this place is spectacular. This should be on your list for sure!
How to reach Mcleodganj
Mcleodganj is well connected by roads and flights.
The nearest airport is the Kangra airport. From there you can take a taxi to Mcleodganj and reach this beautiful place in one hour.
Mcloed is also well connected with roads. You can take an overnight bus from Delhi. By road you will take approximately 1o hours to reach.
Accomodation
From budget options like hostels to Mid-Range Hotels to luxury resorts you can take your pick.
The average cost of staying in Mcleodganj can range anywhere between 1K to 2.5K a night.
When to visit?
Mcloedganj is pleasant to visit all year along. You can visit in any season to witness the beauty it has to offer.
Days required
2-3 days are more than enough to explore Mcleodganj and the beautiful Kangra Valley. You can extend your stay and explore the places around Mcleod like Dharamkot, Bir-Billing, Dalhousie, Khajiar etc.
So there you go my Ultimate travel guide to Mcloedganj. I hope you guys found my recommendations useful and it would help you plan a perfect trip. If you wish to know anything specific then leave your queries in the comments section below or you can reach me at deyritu91@gmail.com.
Until then, stay tuned for the next one.
Love,
Rituparna
Oh, Namgyal Monastery is in Mcleodganj also, I though it is in Bir only!
Its in Mcleodganj also. A pristine and beautiful place 😊
Okay!
Great coverage. You have covered almost everything worth visiting around. The rock cut temple is indeed a hidden treasure and not known to a lot of people. Since its not so commercialized, its a great place to visit and explore. And Shiva cafe is definitely worth the trek.
Thank you Shashwat for those kind words. Shiva cafe and the rock cut temple were the highlight for me too!
Nice blog 👍 Covers a lot of places! My trip to Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj is one of the best trips with my friends!
Thank you Anuria for those kind words! Glad you loved it 😊