Plan Your Travel To Mcleodganj
Places To Visit In Mcleodganj
Tibet Kitchen
Mcleodganj is synonymous with Tibetan Food and tasting the succulent Tibetan food is one of the most essential things to do in Mcleodganj. And one of the best places to go to is the Tibet Kitchen. It offers various varieties of momos, thukpa, and other variants. The place keeps buzzing with crowd who come in to have a bite of the delicious food with a beautiful view outside.
Tibetan Museum
Located in the suburban district of McLeodganj in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, is the famous Tibetan Museum which is very popular. Regarded as the official museum of the Central Tibetan Administration Department of Information and International Relations, is located very close to the popular temple of Dalai Lama, popularly known as Tsuglagkhang, where His Holiness resides.
The Tibet Museum is purely a work of Tibetan workmanship which incorporates history reports, earthenware, handiworks and various canvases. Built in a traditional yellow and white Tibetan style of engineering, the exterior of the museum radiates positive energy which compels people to visit and explore what the museum has to offer.Regarded as the official museum of The Central Tibetan Administration Department of Information and International Relations, the Tibetan Museum aims to raise awareness about the occupation of Tibet, human rights abuses committed by China and how Tibet overcame all other struggles put before them. The interior of the museum is filled with various exhibitions, documentary screenings, talk series, photographs and workshops along a single line and it is always buzzing with people who visit them. A video is also shown which highlights the journey of Tibet into the Himalayas which is very interesting to watch. Due to the exhibitions and workshops conducted, the Tibet Museum teaches children a lot about the Tibetan culture and is thus, an ideal place for them to enhance their knowledge and have fun at the same time.
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Trekking in Mcleodganj
Trekking in McLeod Ganj, nestled in the Dhauladhar range of the Indian Himalayas, is a captivating adventure that combines the thrill of exploration with the serenity of nature. Known as the "Little Lhasa" due to its Tibetan influence, McLeod Ganj serves as a gateway to numerous trekking trails that wind through dense cedar forests, meandering streams, and charming mountain villages.
One of the most popular treks is the Triund Trek, a relatively easy yet rewarding ascent that offers panoramic views of the Kangra Valley and the snow-capped peaks beyond. As trekkers ascend, prayer flags flutter in the mountain breeze, and the distant sound of Tibetan chants adds to the mystical atmosphere. Whether you're a seasoned trekker or a novice adventurer, McLeod Ganj provides a perfect setting to explore the natural beauty and cultural richness of the Himalayas.Following are the routes for trekking from Mcleodganj that definitely must be taken by all lovers of nature:
1. Triund Trek
Situated in the laps of Dhauladhar mountains, Triund is a base camp with a perfect view of Dhauladhar mountains on one side and Kangra valley on the other.How to get there?From Dharamshala bus stand, you can take a bus to McLeodganj (Bus fare is INR 12) or shared taxi (fare is INR 15) or book a taxi (Might cost INR 450)The TrekStart your trek from the Main Square in McLeodganj and take a steep and rigid upward walk to your left-hand side and walk for about 45 minutes via the Office of Regional Mountaineering Centre, Dharamshala. Turn towards your left side from a three-way intersection to reach Dharamkot. You may also take a rickshaw or a cab here (INR 60 and INR 300) to be dropped off at Dharamkot primary school. From the left side of the school, there is a trail that will take about an hour through the forests to reach the Gallu Devi Temple.There are cafeterias and guest houses here. Rest for a while as the trek from here to Triund is a bit tough with some steep curves. It takes about three to four hours to reach the top of Triund Hill.The trail goes through a beautiful mixed forest of oak, deodar and rhododendron. The Mcleodganj Triund trek is easy and can be done by all age groups especially for the first five kilometres. The last one kilometre is, however, tiring. There are many shops that offer refreshments along the way.AccommodationYou can't pitch your own tent in Triund anymore. There are campsites 2kms before the Triund peak which can be booked. There are small shops where you can get to Tea and Maggi refreshment.There is a Guesthouse by the forest department of Dharamshala, however, make sure to book it in advance.Best time to goAny time of the year except January- February due to heavy snowfallDifficulty levelEasy to moderate
2. Kareri River Trek
Situated in the south of the Dhauladhar range, around 9 kilometres away from the Dharamshala city, is one expansive and beautiful Kareri Lake. Kareri Lake is named after the village Kareri that is located approximately 9 kilometres to the south of the lake. A popular trekking destination, it is at a high altitude of 9629 ft from the sea level and is frozen from the end of November, early December up to April or the start of May.How to get there?Regular buses are ply from Dharamshala to Ghera village, starting from 8:00 AM in the morning. The distance between the two is around 20 km. You can also take a taxi from Dharamshala to Ghera. The trekkers begin their trekking from the market in Ghera village.The Trek
The village has a navigable road. Walk along this path, cross a bridge that comes along the way and trek on the route that goes along the Khauli River. You will pass Sari village on your way, after around 30 minutes into the trek. From here, the Kareri village is 2 kilometres away. The trail leading there is through the dense rhododendron forests. Observe a wooden bridge over the Kareri stream, from there; the trail is of another 30 minutes to reach the Kareri village. The camping grounds and Forest Guest House are another 10 minutes away.
From the back of the forest guest house, there is a trail on the left side that leads to the entrance to a narrow valley. Cross the wooden bridge and then after a steep climb of 200 meters and crossing another temporary bridge, you will reach a camping spot called Harote. From there, on your right, there will be a narrow funnel-like valley that leads to Kareri Lake. Accommodation Campers usually set up their camp on the meadow near the stream, 10 minutes away from Kareri village. There is also a Forest Guest House. However, it is advisable to speak with the forest ranger in advance if one wishes to occupy the guest house. Home-Stay in the village is also possible.
Best time to goThe best time to go on a trek to Kareri Lake is anytime from May to June and September to October. This is because from December to April end the lake is frozen, and one must exercise extra caution while trekking over the frozen lake.Difficulty levelModerate
3. Guna Devi Temple Trek
Guna Devi is located 13 kilometres away from the Dharamshala bus stand and 8 kilometres from the McLeodganj bus stand. It is one of the major religious centres in the area. It is a pilgrim centre for the locals and the Gaddi shepherds. Enjoy your trek here through the beautiful trail through Deodar Forest.How to get there?The campers can take a cab from either McLeodganj or Dharamshala to Naddi Village.The TrekThe trek starts from Naddi village above Dal Lake, 4 km from McLeodganj. From Naddi there is a moderate trail leading to Baal village. 2 kilometres away from Baal village is the Guna Devi temple.AccommodationThere is no need for accommodation as it is a one day hike. You can crash in any of the hotels and home-stays in McLeodganj.Best time to goThroughout the yearDifficulty levelEasy
4. Bhagsu Trek
The trek to Bhagsu is short but a refreshing one! There are two places to be visited in Bhagsu. One being the Bhagsu temple, which is also a pilgrim centre for Hindus. It is also referred to as the Bhagsunag temple, a temple of Lord Shiva. The other place to be visited is the Bhagsu / Bhagsunag waterfalls. They are 20 minutes away from the temple. The waterfall is mid-sized, cascading from a height of 20 meters. The waterfall is truly a phenomenal sight during monsoons.How to get there?Bhagsu Waterfall is 3 km away from McLeodganj and one kilometre from the Bhagsu temple.TrekThe trek from McLeodganj to Bhagsu is relatively easy. You can also take a cab to reach Bhagsu temple and start hiking from there. The temple and the waterfall are only twenty minutes from each other. For the waterfall, the trekkers need to climb half a hill, which may be difficult for some. Bhagsu has many refreshment centres as well and also houses the popular Shiva Cafe.AccommodationBhagsu village has some homestays and hotel options. However, since the trek is short, people prefer going back to McLeodganj or further trek up to Triund. Best time to goThroughout the year. Waterfall becomes grand during monsoons.Difficulty levelEasy
5. Indrehar Pass Trek
Situated on the top of the Dhauladhar range is the Indrahar pass at the peak of 14160 ft. The trek to this pass is a mesmerising experience as you feel like you are on top of the world.How to get there?The base camp set up for Indrahar pass is Lahesh Cave. Lahesh Cave is further uphill from Triund. Trekkers usually camp till Triund for a day and then on the next day proceed to shift to Lahesh Cave.TrekLahesh cave is 9 km away from Triund. It is located at 11646 ft while Triund is at 9760 ft. From the Triund ridge, the trail goes up north past the guest house and a small Devi shrine. The trail keeps on rising throughout. You will find stone trails that are maintained by the Gaddis due to the location of various shrines in the area. The trail goes towards the east to a steep traverse to get to Laka ridge. Past this, the trail goes through many pastures to the camping grounds of Laka. There will be some boulder fields that descend the face of Laka, from here, take the trail up the north most area. The trail will pass two boulder fields. Stick close to the right of the stream and after an hour of walking, you will reach the Lahesh cave. Camp overnight. The next morning begin the trek from Lahesh cave (at 11646 ft) to Indrahar pass (at 14160 ft). Continue to follow the trail that goes over the rocks straight up North East Ridge of the cave. At some places, it will be easy to walk due to the paths created by the Gaddi shepherds. However, there are steep rises at many points so continue to trek at your pace. There may be few streams that you will cross along the way. You will know when you are getting closer and the trail becomes steeper. You will reach the pass quite suddenly. There is a shrine in the centre of the pass as well. The trek is of 6 to 7 hours from Lahesh to Indrahar pass to Chhata camp.AccommodationFrom the Indrahar pass, trekkers proceed to Chhata camp, which is downhill from the pass. (From 14160 ft. to 12729 ft)Best time to goThe best time to go is from September to OctoberDifficultyModerate to difficult.
Dharamshala and McLeodganj have become hotspots for trekking base camps as one can feel a close association with nature. It is a perfect way to detox from life in the cities and from our constantly busy minds.
Travel into the woods and between the mountains to feel content again. Use this information to plan your next trek!
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Triund
Triund is an easy trek in Himachal Pradesh that offers you an escape into the majestic Himalayas. Situated a few kilometres from Dharamshala at an altitude of 2828 m, it is a place perfect for trekking with amazing trails offering scenic views of the entire Kangra Valley. A trek to Triund is short and simple. It can be done from either McLeodganj or Dharamkot, which is 2 km ahead of McLeodganj. The first half of the trek is a gradually inclined walk with the last 2 km from Snowline Cafe which involves a vertical climb all the way till Triund. The evening sky from Triund is a sight in itself and is a good excuse for camping here at night.
The trek starts from Galu Temple in Dharamkot and one needs to trek for about 7-8km to reach Triund. It is absolutely worth it because of the refreshing walks amongst the Rhododendron and Oak forest. There is another trek route that goes via Bhagsu Fall and Shiva Cafe which is considered to be more challenging. Triund is also the base camp and acclimatisation point for the trek to Inderhara point in Dhauladar range.
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Body Temple
Located in the Kangra Valley, the Body Temple is the perfect spot for visitors (especially trekkers) to relax and destress. Owned by Anand Bharadwaj, a masseur, the temple is where people would go for soothing deep-tissue massages, AYM treatments (which combine Ayurveda, Tantric practices and yoga asanas) and calm sitar music played by the masseur himself.
He is also known to provide training to visitors on the art of healing, massaging and attaining physical and mental equilibrium. Once the massage is over, visitors get to stand on the balcony watching the gorgeous view of the Dhauladhar ranges while sipping on tulsi tea.
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Gallu Devi Temple
Perched on a hilltop above Dharamkot at an altitude of 2,100m, Gallu Devi Temple in Mcleodganj is a Hindu temple that doubles as the base camp for the Triund Trek. Not only is the temple an excellent spot for nature watching, given its setting amidst the cedars and red rhododendrons, it is also perfect for setting up a picnic and catching the sunset against the Kangra valley. There are tea stalls around the temple that serve beverages and snacks to visitors and trekkers.
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Gallu Devi Waterfall
A hidden gem in Upper Dharamshala, Gallu Devi Waterfall is located about 10 minutes away from Gallu Devi Temple and serves as a popular trekking destination. It is situated on the Bhated stream, with numerous tiny natural pools around, and the short yet tricky trek passes through narrow rocky routes lined with trees and plants on all sides. A pipeline supplying water to Dharamkot Village serves as a guide and support on the slippery path, and the journey culminates with a gorgeous view of the Dhauladhar ranges. There are small tea shops on the route selling refreshments.
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Kareri Lake Trek
The trek to the Kareri Lake commences from Mcleodganj and then leads up to the Kareri Village, which is located at an altitude of 1,800 metres above sea level. This entire trek passes through a thick pine forest and a few small villages. What follows next is a gradual ascent to the Kareri Lake through narrow ridges and thick forests. While on this trail, you will always have to cross the Kareri Nallah several times over a wooden bridge.
Further, from Kareri Lake, the trail descends to Bagga and then to Rewa for all those who wish to explore the area further and enjoy the beauties of nature. The trek then proceeds directly to the Guna Devi Temple which is situated at an elevation of 2,120 metres above sea level. Since the Kareri Lake trek is located in the Indian Himalaya region and is one of the alpine treks, the trek is recommended only for experienced trekkers who have had some prior experience of trekking at such high altitudes.
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Naddi View Point
Located in Mcleodganj’s Naddi Village, Naddi View Point is the perfect location for catching a glimpse of the spectacular Dhauladhar ranges, especially during the winters when the peaks are covered in snow. A trek or drive to Naddi View Point, specifically in the evening, will allow visitors to catch the sunset against the mountains, take photographs, and there is also the option to see the distant mountains through a telescope. It also serves as the starting point for various treks like Kareri Lake, Triund, and Dharamkot. The tea stalls on the way provide snacks and beverages.
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Paragliding in Mcleodganj
The mountain peaks, rocky terrain, vast open spaces and overall serenity make Mcleodganj an ideal destination for paragliding. Triund Hill is one of the most popular paragliding spots in Mcleodganj owing to its location at an altitude of 9,000 feet and slope; trekking up to Triund is the most preferred way of getting there. The slightly complex flight ends in Dharamshala and offers marvellous views of green valleys and distant snow-clad peaks like the Dhauladhar ranges and Shivalik Hills, Bhagsu Village and more.
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