Dharamshala is a city in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Surrounded by Cedar forests on the edge of the Himalayas, this hillside city is home to the His Holiness The Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile.
This beautiful city is located at an height of 1457 metres.
I spent approximately 3 nights and 4 days in this city exploring parts of Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj (town part of Dharamshala itself; located at a few kms height from the main city of Dharamshala).
Best time to visit
I Recommend you visit Dharamshala in winters if you want to enjoy breath-taking scenery and have fun in the snow-capped hilly area. The months from September to November are perfect for touring, sanctuary visits, excursions and trekking. However, plan your monsoon trips to Dharamshala carefully as there may be heavy rainfall leading to land-slides.


How can I reach Dharamshala?
One can take a flight to Amritsar and cap the remaining journey by road (like I did) Or..
One can directly take a flight to Dharamshala.
What all places to visit and activities to do?
The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium - One of the highest sportsground in the world, it is located at the height of 1457 metres. The magnificent natural backdrop and the cool winds constantly caressing the ground makes the trip worth it.


The Thekchen Chöling Temple Complex is a spiritual center for Tibetan Buddhism, while the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives houses thousands of precious manuscripts.
The Bhagsunang Waterfalls is a picturesque cascade in a forest setting. A lengthy walking trail leads to this well known scenic waterfall that cascades into the rocky pool.  A café nearby: The German Bakery. 
Dal Lake - it is a small mid altitude lake near the village of Tota Rani. The lake is surrounded by deodar trees and is considered to be a sacred spot as there is a Shiva Mandir on its bank.
Norbulingka Institute is a unique institute dedicated to the preservation of Tibetan Arts and culture. It was founded in 1995 by Kelsang and Kim Yeshi.

Workshops are also offered to those willing to study the Tibetan Arts. The institiute also runs two guest houses-Norling Guesthouse and Chonor Guesthouse. Norbulingka’s art studios include Tibetan Statue making, thangka painting, wood carving, wood painting, paper making and wood and metal craft.

The institute also has the two-storeyed 'Seat of Happiness Temple' (Deden Tsuglakhang) built in 1985 and set amidst the Japanese inspired Norbulingka gardens. It is known for its 1,173 murals of Buddha, frescoes of all the Dalai Lamas and drawings chronicling the life of the 14th Dalai Lama. In the main hall stands the 4 mt high gilded copper Buddha Sakyamuni statue, made by institute's master statue-maker, the late Chenmo Pemba Dorje, and one of largest such statues outside Tibet. Around the temple are workshops of artisans and apprentices that produce various art objects, which are sold at the Norbulingka Shop, for the benefit of Tibetan refugees. The Losel Doll Museum has miniature displays of traditional Tibetan scenes, using miniature Tibetan dolls in traditional costumes.
A short distance from the institute lies the Dolma Ling Buddhist Nunnery and the Gyato Monastery.


St. John in the wilderness is dedicated to John the Baptist built in 1852, located near Dharamshala, on the way to McLeod Ganj. The church is known for its Belgian stained glass windows. 
Tsuglagkhang Complex is a pilgrimage site featuring His Holiness The Dalai Lama’s Temple, a monastery, stupas, a museum (The Tibetan Museum), a library and a café.
War Memorial is a memorial park displaying the names of the soldiers in a natural setting.
How to Plan - I did it this way !

Day 1
Landed in Amritsar and spent the day in Amritsar doing local sightseeing; including the Golden Temple, The Partition Museum, Jallianwala bagh and the local market. Hand stitched dresses are a speciality of this city.

Had a scrumptious and filling dinner at Kesar da Dhaba , a 100 year Old Place , I ordered the famous Aloo Prantha Thali(served with 2 full sized aloo parathas, chole, dal, and raita along with onions and pickles). I also ordered the Punjabi kadhi and Steam rice. The two of them make a delicious combo! Despite the fact that I ate way beyond my limits; I couldn’t help but order myself a plate of Gulab Jaamun. Completely lipsmacking and delicious food!


Day 2
After having our breakfast , aloo paranthas and paying our respects at the Harmandir Sahib (The Golden Temple), we set off to cap the remaining journey to Dharamshala! It is a 240km journey via road and it took me around 6 hours along with breaks to reach Dharamshala. We were dead tired till we reached our hotel and decided to spend the evening at the hotel, taking in the breathtaking view offered with a Good Book .


Day 3
We visited the Norbulingka Institute, Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association and the Thekchen Chöling Temple Complex.

We first started off with the Norbilingka Institute. Since this complex has a variety of restaurants, we had lunch at the Norbulingka Café. The food there was delicious. Besides the main course, the deserts be it ice cream or cheesecakes were mouth watering.

On the way to the HPCA Stadium, we halted at the Thekchen Chöling Temple Complex to pay our respects. The scenic view offered by the stadium was breath taking!Day 4
On the second day for sightseeing, we visited the Dal Lake, The Bhagsu Waterfalls and the Tsuglagkhang Complex.

One needs to hike for a few kms uphill or downhill to get the desired view.


Day 5
On the last day of the trip, we headed back to Amritsar on the return journey. The meals were had on the way back to Amritsar. Owing to the deadly heat during the day, a group of kind Sikhs were serving cold rose water with aloe vera to the weary travellers. We were in Mumbai back in time for our dinner!