Top places to visit in Dharamsala

• Tsuglagkhang Complex (Dalai Lama Temple)

  temple · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · free entry

  The spiritual heart of Tibetan exile — the residence of the Dalai Lama, the main temple, the Tibet Museum and prayer-wheel-lined kora circuit.

• Bhagsunag Temple & Waterfall

  Waterfall · 4.3 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  An old Shiva temple beside a spring-fed pool, with a popular short walk to the Bhagsu waterfall and the laid-back Shiva Cafe above it.

• Triund Hill

  Nature · 4.6 rating · about 6 h · check the fee at the gate

  A scenic ridge at ~2,850 m reached by a popular ~9 km day-trek from Dharamkot, rewarding hikers with a grandstand view of the Dhauladhar peaks.

• Namgyal Monastery

  monastery · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  The largest Tibetan temple outside Tibet and the Dalai Lama's personal monastery, where monks debate and chant within the Tsuglagkhang complex.

• HPCA Cricket Stadium

  Viewpoint · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · entry ₹30

  One of the world's most picturesque cricket grounds, set against a backdrop of snow-capped Dhauladhar peaks; tours and matches draw fans year-round.

• St. John in the Wilderness

  Heritage · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  A neo-Gothic 1852 stone church set among deodar forest at Forsyth Ganj, known for its Belgian stained glass and the grave of Lord Elgin.

• Dal Lake (Dharamsala)

  Nature · 4.0 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  A small, serene deodar-fringed lake near Naddi with a lakeside Shiva shrine, a peaceful spot for a short walk away from the McLeod Ganj bustle.

• Norbulingka Institute

  Cultural · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A beautiful Tibetan arts institute at Sidhpur preserving traditional crafts — thangka painting, woodcarving and metalwork — set in Japanese-style gardens.

• Naddi Sunset Point

  Viewpoint · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  A ridge-top viewpoint above Naddi village with a sweeping panorama of the snow-clad Dhauladhar range, especially glorious at sunset.

• Kangra Art Museum

  Museum · 4.1 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  A museum in Lower Dharamsala showcasing Kangra miniature paintings, Tibetan artefacts, coins and sculptures of the region's rich hill culture.

Things to do

• Triund Day Trek Activity · 6 h · from INR 1,200 per person
• Dalai Lama Temple & Kora Walk Cultural · 2 h · from INR 500 per person
• Bhagsu Waterfall & Cafe Walk Nature · 2.5 h · from INR 400 per person
• Tibetan Momo Cooking Class Activity · 2.5 h · from INR 900 per person

Day trips and tours

• Triund Trek Expedition 9 h · from INR 1,800
• McLeod Ganj & Dharamsala Sightseeing 8 h · from INR 1,500
• Norbulingka & Tibetan Culture Tour 5 h · from INR 1,200

Where to stay in Dharamsala

• McLeod Ganj about INR 2,500 per night

  Tibetan cultural hub with cafes, shops, and monastery

• Lower Dharamsala about INR 2,000 per night

  Cantonment area with mid-range hotels and services

Hotels

• Hyatt Regency Dharamshala 5-star · INR 12,000 to INR 22,000 per night
• Grace Hotel Dharamshala 4-star · INR 5,000 to INR 9,000 per night
• Udechee Huts Naddi 3-star · INR 3,500 to INR 6,500 per night
• Fortune Park Moksha 4-star · INR 6,000 to INR 11,000 per night
• Zostel McLeodganj 2-star · INR 500 to INR 1,800 per night
• Hotel Tibet 3-star · INR 3,000 to INR 5,500 per night

Where to eat

• Shiva Cafe Israeli, Continental, Cafe · about INR 350 per person
• Tibet Kitchen Tibetan, Bhutanese, Chinese · about INR 400 per person
• Nick's Italian Kitchen Italian, Continental · about INR 450 per person
• Jimmy's Italian Kitchen Italian, Continental · about INR 400 per person
• Lung Ta (Japanese) Japanese · about INR 500 per person
• Tibet Quality Bakery Bakery, Cafe, Continental · about INR 250 per person
• Norling Restaurant Tibetan, Chinese · about INR 200 per person
• Common Ground Cafe Tibetan, Chinese, Cafe · about INR 350 per person

Getting to Dharamsala

Airport: Dharamsala (DHM)

How visitors arrive in Dharamsala

• Bus from Delhi, Chandigarh, Manali By road from Delhi · most visitors

  The main bus stand in Lower Dharamsala has links across North India; hill roads make trips slow. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Train to Pathankot, then road By train from Pathankot · common

  There is no station in town; nearest mainline stations are Pathankot and Chakki Bank, with onward bus or taxi. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Flight to Kangra Airport By air · possible

  Kangra Airport at Gaggal is the nearest airport, a short road trip from McLeod Ganj. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Taxi from Kangra Airport (Gaggal) unconfirmed

  Kangra Airport at Gaggal is the nearest airport; taxis run on to Dharamsala and McLeod Ganj by road. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the railway station to the centre

• Train to Pathankot, then road

  Pathankot is the nearest mainline station; the Kangra Valley narrow-gauge line or taxi continues to Dharamsala. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the bus terminal to the centre

• HRTC bus to Lower Dharamsala

  Most arrivals come to the Lower Dharamsala bus stand on HRTC buses from Pathankot, Amritsar and elsewhere. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Shared Taxi
• Taxi

  Local taxis serve nearby destinations within Kangra district and the wider Himachal Pradesh region.

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Pre-paid taxi "broken meter"

  Airports, train stations, popular squares

  Driver insists meter is broken, quotes ~3x the fair price; or detours via "shopping" stops earning commission.

  How to avoid it: Use pre-paid taxi counter at airport, or Uber/Ola/Rapido apps. Insist on meter or agree price upfront.

Best time to visit Dharamsala

• Jan 12°C
• Feb 14°C
• Mar 19°C
• Apr 24°C
• May 29°C
• Jun 30°C
• Jul 28°C
• Aug 27°C
• Sep 26°C
• Oct 23°C
• Nov 18°C
• Dec 14°C

More in India

• New Delhi
• Agra
• Jaipur
• Panaji
• Mumbai
• Varanasi

Frequently asked questions about Dharamsala

What are the top-rated places to visit in Dharamsala?

The highest-rated places in our Dharamsala guide are Tsuglagkhang Complex (Dalai Lama Temple), Triund Hill, Namgyal Monastery, HPCA Cricket Stadium, Norbulingka Institute.

Where should I stay in Dharamsala?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Dharamsala: McLeod Ganj, Lower Dharamsala.

How do I get around Dharamsala?

Ways to get around Dharamsala covered in our guide: Shared taxi, Taxi, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Dharamsala?

Scams reported to us for Dharamsala include Pre-paid taxi "broken meter". Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Dharamsala?

Average daytime highs in Dharamsala run from 12°C in Jan to 30°C in Jun.

Which airport is nearest to Dharamsala?

The nearest airport to Dharamsala has the code DHM.