Places to visit in Dharamshala

Dharamshala is really two towns. Lower Dharamshala, around Kotwali Bazaar, is a busy Himachali hill town with government offices, schools, the courts and the HPCA cricket stadium. Upper Dharamshala, McLeodganj, sits about 600 metres higher and is the home of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile.

What ties it all together is the Dhauladhar range, which rises very steeply right behind the town. On a clear morning the snow looks close enough to touch. That view is why people come back.

Things to do in Dharamshala

• HPCA Stadium: Possibly the most scenic cricket ground in the world. Check for match days.
• Kangra Art Museum: Miniature paintings and local crafts near the bus stand.
• War Memorial: A quiet park among pines at the entrance to town.
• Norbulingka Institute: Tibetan arts, gardens and a café, 6 km below town at Sidhpur.
• Gyuto Monastery: At Sidhbari, with the snow peaks behind the golden roofs.
• Tea gardens at Mann: Small estates on the road towards Palampur.

How to reach Dharamshala

Gaggal (Kangra) Airport is 13 km away, with flights from Delhi. The nearest broad-gauge station is Pathankot (88 km), and the narrow-gauge Kangra Valley Railway stops at Kangra and Nagrota. Volvo buses run overnight from Delhi and Chandigarh.

Best time to visit Dharamshala

March to June and September to November. July and August bring very heavy rain, as Dharamshala is one of the wettest towns in India. Winters are cold and clear, with snow on the range and occasionally in McLeodganj.

Where to stay

Lower Dharamshala is quieter and closer to the stadium and Norbulingka. McLeodganj is livelier, with cafés and monasteries. Families often prefer the lower town or Sidhbari.