Waking up to the mountains is a wonderful feeling in itself. Especially after the arduous task of travelling to a hill station in India in the first place. So wake up and go get yourself a lovely breakfast, one with a view is preferable. My personal favorite was Asia Resorts & Spa.Once you are well fed, get ready to immerse yourself in Dharamshala and Mcleodganj. A curious blend of Indian and Tibetan culture that can only leave you wanting for more.
Day 1
Trek up to the top of Bhagsu Falls
Bhagsu falls is about 11Kms from Dharamshala city center. Easily approachable by road, Bhagsu falls has something for everyone. The place is known for its public swimming pool, the Bhagsunath Shiva Temple, the beautiful falls, Shiva Café and is en route Triund trek.The falls is 1.5 km walk from the parking lot. If you are not the adventurous kind, you can view the falls from far after a short walk. The path is not too steep with several stops in-between where you can pause to catch your breath. As you pause, soak in the mesmerizing stream amidst majestic mountain tops and cliffs. Do not forget to look back as you make your way up to the waterfalls. The view of the mountains surrounding is simplystunning and makes you wonder
There are cafes that serve hot maggi en route (for when is it ever a bad time for a hot cup of noodles). As you make your way back, there are 100s of stores trying to sell nearly everything in the name of local handicraft products (cause why not!).
Relish some sinful Bhagsu Cake
As you make your way to the parking lot there are multiple restaurants and eateries. Do find the right one for you to sit back and relax before heading to the next destination. We made our way to German Bakery. Do try the famous Bhagsu cake here. It is a biscuit crust filled with caramel and coated with a dollop of chocolate on top. A delectable delicacy even for those who don’t enjoy too much sweet.
Lunch at Illiterati Café
I am quite a sucker for a cafe or restaurants with views. So you can imagine my happiness when I hear about a Café with a view in Dharamshala. A café with a soul like no other I have been to. Books, coffee, dessert and view of the mountains. Period. I would not want to hype it any further, but the café should be a must visit on your list no matter how short the trip
Immerse yourself in the Tibetan culture in Tsuglagkhang Complex
I used the time in the café to read about the Tibetan influence to this town (More on that here). We made our way straight to the complex that houses the Namgyal Monastery (also referred to as the Dalai Lama Temple), The Dalai Lama’s residence (Not open to Public), a museum that gives you a little peek into the Tibetan culture and a cafe. The complex is a calm space and a relief from the bustling markets right outside.
The museum gives a glimpse of the Tibetan crisis, the state of Tibetan refugees all across the globe and have a one-hour documentary (around 3 PM) for those interested to delve deeper.
The temple in itself has a very calming vibe, you can also spend a few minutes meditating right outside the temple in the balcony facing the mountain ranges. It’s a delight to open up your eyes to see the vibrant lung ta or prayer flags above your head ahead of those majestic mountain ranges.
Tsuglagkhang Complex, Dharamshala, India
Stop for a cup of coffee in Woeser Bakery
One thing, Mcleodganj does not fall short of is cafes. Step over to the Woeser Bakery for your evening dose of coffee and cakes. They have lovely small trinkets and stationery to shop for as well. The café remains closed on Mondays so plan a trip there depending on your itinerary.
Walk by the Dal Lake
As fancy as this looks online, the place is a quite a let down in person. The lake is in ruins with lack of maintenance and garbage all around. Yet, some pockets of it remind you what got its fame. You can go for a quick walk by the lake before retiring for the evening.
Unwind at the Black Magic for the night
For those who love a drink after a long day, this place is quite good (Don’t be afraid of the entrance or name ). We had a chance to witness amazing live music here by a local band that made the evening doubly good.
Day 2
Breathe in the mountains at Naddi View Point
Start your day with this stunning view of the Dhauladhar ranges. It is a 15 minute drive from Mcleodganj and is scenic. You can get telescope views of temples, river streams and Triund Valley as well for 10 bucks a person. The view gets even better if some of the ranges are snow-capped.
Breakfast at Illiterati Café
I had to revisit the café to finish a book I had started the previous day. I figured there cannot be a better accompaniment than good breakfast and coffee.
Get awed by the Dharamshala Cricket Stadium
We then made our way to the Dharamshala cricket stadium. Set in the picturesque backdrop of mountains, it is a view for the eyes to behold. For a person who is not a fan of cricket, I would have left my corporate career behind in a jiffy to try my hand at batting here. The stadium has a way of leaving you speechless, irrespective of whether you like the sport.
Experience the vibes at the Gyuto Monastery
A monastery established in Tibet in the early fifteenth centuries. A base was later set up in India after the Tibetan exile. They are popularly known for the practice Tantric Meditation. There is no entry fees, one can walk in and sit by as the monks chant the prayers. The vibes in this temple are unique unlike any I have felt before, spend some time experiencing them.
Unwind in the soothing ambiance of Norbulingka Institute
The Institute is an establishment dedicated to preserving Tibetan culture and arts. It’s a beautifully landscaped institute and is a delight to walk around within. Lovely stone-paved pathways, beautiful historical artifacts, to walk on stone-paved pathways. The institute houses museums, wood shops, a temple, a shop and a café. Though slightly over-priced, the store has authentic Tibetan offerings for a tourist’s delight.
Haggle your best shopping for souvenirs
Reserve the last of your residual energy for haggling and souvenir shopping. I love collecting souvenirs from all the places I travel but haggling is an annoyance I would love to avoid. Right at the city center you can find shops after shops selling everything under the sun. I managed to pick up a few books, prayer wheels and local perfumes for myself.
A few things I missed
Triund Trek – A trek as famous as Mcleodganj itself. The trek is said to reward those who hike with mesmerizing views atop the mountains. But, we chose to give it a miss due to our time crunch. The trek is medium to difficult and is 2.5-3 hours one way. Many choose to camp on top of the mountains for the night. Alternatively, you can choose to trek back the same day if you start early.
Paragliding in Bir – Who wouldn’t want an aerial view of these lovely mountain ranges?! And that is exactly what Bir Billing offers to tourists with a little taste for adventure. They offer tandem paragliding wherein you would fly with an expert navigating the parachute. So all you need to do is sit back and enjoy the view up in the air. You would need a whole day to accommodate this in your itinerary. The travel from Mcleodganj to Bir is 3 hours one way and from there to the takeoff point is another 20-30 minutes. The flying time is 30 odd minutes.
St John in the Wilderness Church – Located just a few
Hope you have as amazing a time immersing yourself in the streets of Dharmashala as we did ourselves!