Located in Himachal, Dharamshala is one of the beautiful places in India. This place is divided into two parts: Lower Dharamshala and Upper Dharamshala. Upper Dharamshala is also known as McLeod Ganj, which is among the most famous places to visit in Dharamshala. Every year millions of tourists come here to feel the beauty of this place.
Triund Hill, Dharamshala cricket stadium, Bhagsunag waterfall and Temple, Kangra fort, Hanuman Tibba, and much more. There are plenty of places to visit in Dharamshala, which will help in making your Dharamshala Trip a memorable one. Kangra Fort, which is considered as one of the oldest forts in India, is among the famous Dharamshala Tourist Places.
If you are also planning to spend your summer vacation in Dharamshala, then before leaving, you should know about the famous Dharamshala places to visit, also about the right time to visit this place and how to reach here easily.
Best Time to Visit Dharamshala
March-June: The summer season is considered to be the best time to visit Dharamshala. At this time, you can experience different adventure activities like paragliding and other mountain activities here. Apart from this, the weather here is very pleasant in summer, due to which you will get to see a lot of good views here.
July-September: Monsoon is not a good time to visit Dharamshala. This place receives heavy rainfall, as a result, you will have to stay in your hotel all the time. Apart from this, the chances of landslides increase here in the monsoon, which can lead to blocked roads for days. But if you want to go for a trip in less budget, then this off-season will be the best time to visit Dharamshala for you.
October-February: Winters considered as a great time to visit this place. But most of the adventure lovers and honeymoon couples come here at this time, as this place gets really very chill in winters. Although the chances of snowfall in Dharamshala are few, but Triund Hill receives good snowfall in winter. This is the reason why adventure lovers love this season the most to visit this place.
“You can choose the best time to visit Dharamshala, as per your preferences and budget”
How to Reach Dharamshala
By Air: The nearest airport of Dharamshala is “Kangra Airport”, which is just 15 km away from Dharamshala. From the airport, you can hire a taxi, which will take approximately 30-45 minutes to reach Dharamshala.
By Train: Dharamshala does not have its own railway station, so you will have to get down at Pathankot railway station, as it is the nearest railway station to Dharamshala, which is 86 km away. You will easily get a taxi or bus from here to McLeodGanj, which will reach Dharamshala in 3-4 hours.
Apart from this, you can also get down at Chandigarh railway station, which is 253 km away from Dharamshala. From here you will have 5-6 hours to reach Dharamshala by bus or taxi.
By Road: Being one of the most beautiful and most visited places in India, Dharamshala is well connected via road with all major cities like Delhi, Pune, Mumbai Kolkata. From Kashmiri Gate Bus Stand in Delhi, you can take a bus or a Volvo to Dharamshala. The Delhi to Dharamshala distance is 471 km and the bus takes 10-12 hrs. to reach there.
Also, read “Places to visit in Shimla“
Famous Dharamshala Places to Visit in 2022
Dharamshala is among the best places to visit in summer in India, whether you travel alone or with friends. Stunning lakes, beautiful temples, waterfalls, museums, and forts make your trip more exciting and memorable. Check below some most famous places to visit in Dharamshala.
Triund Trek
Nestled in the Dhauladhar Range of the Himalayas, offers an amazing view of the Dhauladhar Range from one side and the Kangra Valley from the other side. This trek is good for the first-timer as well.
The maximum height of Triund Trek is 9,278 feet. But the view which you will experience after reaching here will thrill you surely. That’s why trekking here is considered among the best things to do in Dharamshala.
Triund trek starts from McLeodGanj and is famous for trekking, camping, snow-covered peaks, nature scene, and photography.
Few Tips for Triund Trekking
- Before start trekking, have a good breakfast, so that you don’t feel hungry or weak while trekking
- Start the trekking early in the morning to get maximum time to spend on Triund.
- If you want to do camping on Triund, then will have to do a booking in McLeodGanj. But if you are thinking you will talk to them after reaching Triund, then it would be costlier.
Dharamshala Cricket Stadium
Considered among the top attractions and best places to visit in Dharamshala, which attracts millions of visitors every year. You cannot even guess the beauty around this stadium. It is beyond the imagination of any human being. Built at a height of 1500 meters above sea level, this stadium is also the world’s highest cricket ground.
This ground is open for tourists from 9 am to 6 pm. You can come to see this beautiful ground any day. If you are planning to go to Dharamshala, then you must go to this place.
Entry Fee
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Bhagsunag Waterfall
Due to its beauty, this place is one of the best Dharamshala places to visit. Whether you are an adventure lover or a nature lover, this place is the best place for both. The beauty of this waterfall will fascinate you. Apart from this, do not forget to take a bath in the water here. If you want, you can spend some quality time here with your loved ones in the form of a picnic.
The beauty of this waterfall draws millions of tourists every year. You should also add this place to your itinerary to feel the scenic beauty of this place.
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Bhagsunath Temple
Bhagsunag temple is among the most visited religious places in Dharamshala, where every year number of tourists visited to get the blessings of Lord Shiva. The scenic beauty of this temple makes this place one of the topmost places to visit in Dharamshala.
Don’t forget to take a dip in the pool in the temple. And if you are going to Dharamshala in the month of September, must attend the annual fair which is held every year in this temple.
The Bhagsu village where this temple is located has become a tourist place now and also the way of earning a living for the people who live here. That’s why you will find a number of guesthouses and restaurants here. Must taste the delicious food here.
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Kangra Fort
This fort is counted among the oldest and largest forts in India. This is why this fort is one of the most visited places to visit in Dharamshala for the tourists visiting here. It is believed that this fort is built by the Rajput family of the Katoch dynasty, who proved that they are descendants of the tri-empire. You can find information about this tri-empire in the Mahabharata.
After the severe earthquake on 4 April 1905, the Britishers left this fort, as heavy damage occurred in this fort. As a result, a number of priceless artifacts were destroyed, but still, when people come to this place, get surprised after seeing the evidence of ancient architecture.
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Entry Fee
- Rs 150 for Indian and Rs 300 for Foreigners
McLeodGanj
McLeodGanj is the place where the Dalai Lama and his thousands of followers settled in 1959. That’s why Dalai Lama’s temple and the Namgyal Monastery here are the famous places to visit in McLeodGanj.
If you are going to McLeodGanj then take at least two to three days to visit here. So that you can feel the beauty of this place while seating in the lap of nature. Greenery all around, and winding paths and hills, attract adventure lovers.
Things you can do in McLeodGanj
- A visit to Dalai Lama’s Temple
- Boating
- Experience the amazing Sunset view from Dalai Lama’s Temple
- A visit to Bhagsunath Temple and Waterfall
You can also read “Places to visit in Manali“
Dharamkot
Dharamkot, one of the beautiful Dharamshala tourist places and hill stations, is famous for its pleasant climate, and natural beauty. It’s among those hill stations where you can spend a splendid holiday with your family or friends. The beauty here is enough to attract and impress the tourists who visited here.
There are many scenic spots around here, where you should visit while on your trip. Some of them are Kangra Valley, Pong Dam, and the Dhauladhar mountain range, which make this hill a famous tourist spot among visitors.
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Hanuman Tibba
Hanuman’s Tibba is one of the top Dharamshala places to visit, which is located at the height of 5639 meters above sea level. Also, considered as the highest point of the Dhauladhar Ranges, which is not less than a paradise is in itself. The views from here can able to fascinate anyone.
This place attracts adventure lovers for the activities like mountaineering, trekking, and more. If you are also an adventure lover, then this place is only for you. Must visit this place!
“Don’t miss the sunset view from here”
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Aghanjar Mahadev Temple
Himachal Pradesh, one of the famous tourist places, is also known as the land of Gods and Goddesses. A number of famous temples are situated here, one of which is the Aghanjar Mahadev Temple. Which is located near khaniara village, 18 km from Dharamshala.
According to mythological beliefs, the establishment of this temple was during the Mahabharata period. It is said to be, Arjuna received the Pashupati weapon from Lord Shiva in this village.
Due to being situated on the banks of the Dhauladhar hill, this temple offers an amazing view of high mountains. This beauty-filled place attracts millions of visitors every year. You should also visit this, one of the best Dharamshala tourist places.
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Lahesh Caves
Lahesh Cave, located at a distance of about 3.4 km from the Triund Trek, is among the famous places to visit in Dharamshala. Only a few tourists know about Lahesh caves. That’s the reason most of the tourists travel to the Triund only. But the tourists who love adventure, visit Lahesh caves along with Triund trek surely.
The Lahesh cave is surrounded by high mountains of the Dhauladhar mountain range of the Himalayas. Apart from this, the green forest around this place, makes it more exciting. There are two ways to reach Lahesh cave, first from McLeodGanj and the second from Dharamkot. The distance from Dharamkot to Lahesh cave is 2 km shorter than McLeodGanj.
If you also want to do camping here, then you will have to contact the local adventure activity organization of Dharamshala and McLeodGanj.
Entry Fee
- Starting from Rs 2500/person
Masroor Temple
Like the Taj Mahal and Red Fort, this temple is also among other wonders of the world. Its carving and the pond near this temple increase its beauty to manifolds. It is to be said that Pandavas lived in this temple for a long time during their exile. This temple has idols of Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, and Radha-Krishna.
Its carving has been done in a very beautiful way, but who did this, no evidence has been found about this. A lot of damage occurred to this temple in the 1905 earthquake. Despite this, this place is among the top places to visit in Dharamshala.
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Entry Fee
Indrahar Pass Trek
Himachal is famous for its lush green beauty and high peaks, all over the world. Apart from greenery Himachal has some of the best treks in the world, in which every year millions of tourists participate. One of these famous treks is the “Indrahar Pass Trek”, situated in the Dhauladhar hills.
Indrahar mountain is covered with snow for almost the year, but between April and October, millions of tourists come here. During this trek, you can see the small and beautiful villages on the way along with the beauty of the Himalayas.
This trek pass through dense jungles, where you get the pleasure of seeing the beauty here along with a little bit of fear. To reach Indrahar Pass, you will have to go to Triund Peak first, which is among the beautiful Dharamshala places to visit in itself. From the Indrahar Peak, you can see other peaks as well like Manimahesh, Pir Panjal mountain range, Kishtwar, and Bara Bhangal.
Entry Fee
- Starting from Rs 5000 for the Trek
Must read “Places to visit in Munnar“
