Places to visit in Dharamshala
The winter capital of Himachal, spread across a hillside below the Dhauladhar, with McLeodganj perched on top.
Kangra district · 13 km from Gaggal
Himachal destinations, from Kangra outwards
Most trips start in Kangra. These are the places we know best: what they are like, when to go, and how to get there.
Kangra valley
Things to do in McLeodganj
Little Lhasa: prayer flags, monasteries, momos and mountain cafés on a ridge above Dharamshala.
Kangra district · 22 km from Gaggal
Kangra town travel guide
Our home town. An old royal seat with one of India's oldest forts, a Shakti Peeth in the bazaar and the whole valley around it.
Kangra district · 10 km from Gaggal
Places to visit in Palampur
The tea capital of north India, a green, quiet town under the Dhauladhar's highest peaks.
Kangra district · 40 km from Gaggal
Things to do in Bir Billing
A world-class paragliding site above a small Tibetan village of monasteries and slow cafés.
Kangra district · 68 km from Gaggal
Baijnath temple guide
One of the finest stone temples in Himachal, built in 1204 and still in worship.
Kangra district · 56 km from Gaggal
Masroor rock-cut temples
Carved out of a single sandstone ridge in the eighth century, and often called the Ellora of the Himalaya.
Kangra district · 32 km from Gaggal
Pong Dam lake guide
A huge reservoir in western Kangra and one of north India's great winter bird sanctuaries.
Kangra district · about 60 km from Gaggal
Devi temples
Jwalamukhi temple guide
The temple of the flame goddess, where natural fires burn from the rock without any idol.
Kangra district · 45 km from Gaggal
Chamunda Devi temple guide
A much-loved Devi temple on the Baner river, with the Dhauladhar rising behind it.
Kangra district · 25 km from Gaggal
Chintpurni temple guide
Mata Chintpurni, the goddess who removes worries, on a hilltop in Una district.
Una district · about 80 km from Gaggal
Chamba and Dalhousie
Places to visit in Dalhousie
A quiet colonial hill station on five hills, with deodar walks and old stone churches.
Chamba district · 125 km from Gaggal
Khajjiar travel guide
A green saucer of meadow ringed by deodar forest, with a small lake in the middle.
Chamba district · 145 km from Gaggal
Places to visit in Chamba
A thousand-year-old royal town on the Ravi, full of stone temples and living craft.
Chamba district · 170 km from Gaggal
Bharmour travel guide
The ancient capital of the Chamba kings, home of the Gaddi shepherds and base for the Manimahesh yatra.
Chamba district · about 230 km from Gaggal
Beyond the valley
Manali travel guide
The head of the Kullu valley, gateway to Lahaul, Spiti and the high passes.
Kullu district · 225 km from Gaggal
Kasol travel guide
A riverside village in the Parvati valley, the base for Manikaran, Tosh and the Kheerganga trek.
Kullu district · about 250 km from Gaggal
Things to do in Tirthan valley
A quiet river valley of wooden homestays at the edge of the Great Himalayan National Park.
Kullu district · about 230 km from Gaggal
Barot valley travel guide
A quiet riverside valley behind Jogindernagar, with trout, forests and very few tourists.
Mandi district · about 125 km from Gaggal
Places to visit in Shimla
The old summer capital of British India, strung along a ridge, and the first stop on most Himachal circuits.
Shimla district · about 240 km from Gaggal
Kinnaur travel guide
The Sutlej gorge, apple orchards and the Kinner Kailash range, on the road to Spiti.
Kinnaur district · about 470 km via Shimla from Gaggal
Spiti Valley travel guide
A cold desert valley on the Tibetan side of the Himalaya, with monasteries, fossils and the clearest skies in India.
Lahaul and Spiti district · about 430 km via Manali from Gaggal
Want to combine a few of these?
Tell us which places and how many days. We will plan the order and the drives.