---
title: "Top 10 Things To Do in Dharamshala, India | Wimup"
description: "The 10 best things to do in Dharamshala: the Dalai Lama's temple in McLeod Ganj, the Lingkor kora, the Triund ridge, Norbulingka and St John in the Wilderness."
url: https://wimup.com/city/dharamshala
type: City guide
updated: 2026-10-13
publisher: Wimup (https://wimup.com)
---

# Top 10 Things To Do in Dharamshala

Dharamshala, India · Asia · By Wimup Editorial, 15 min read

Dharamshala is two towns on one hillside. Below sits the Kangra district seat, with its bazaar and offices; up the ridge, McLeod Ganj has been home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile since 1960. Come for the monasteries, stay for the Dhauladhar.

## Quick answer

Dharamshala is the winter capital of Himachal Pradesh, at about 1,457 m in the Kangra Valley under the Dhauladhar range. Most visitors stay in McLeod Ganj, the upper town, for the Tsuglagkhang temple, the Lingkor kora and Tibetan kitchens, then hike to Triund or drive down the valley to Norbulingka and Kangra Fort.

## Quick facts

- **Best months:** Mar–Jun · Sep–Nov
- **Ideal length:** 3–4 days
- **Budget per day:** ₹2,000–5,000
- **Language:** Hindi, Kangri and Tibetan
- **Getting around:** On foot, by taxi, and the Skyway between the two towns
- **Tourism board:** [↗ Website](https://himachaltourism.gov.in/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## The 10 best things to do in Dharamshala

### 1. Join the courtyard at Tsuglagkhang

Monastery · Temple Road, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh 176219

The Dalai Lama's temple and Namgyal Monastery share one hilltop complex, and its courtyard is where the exile community gathers for prayers and public teachings. Check the teachings calendar before you plan: on those days McLeod Ganj fills and rooms go early.

- **Time:** 1–2 hrs
- **Cost:** Free
- **Best at:** Morning prayers
- **Tip:** Check the teachings calendar

Links: [Website](https://www.dalailama.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 2. Walk the Lingkor around the temple

Walk · Lingkor, Temple Road, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh 176219

The pilgrims' circuit loops the Tsuglagkhang hill through pines, prayer wheels and carved mani stones, with the Kangra Valley opening below. Walk it clockwise, as Tibetans do, and early, when the elderly circle with their beads.

- **Time:** 45 min
- **Cost:** Free
- **Best at:** Early morning
- **Tip:** Walk it clockwise

### 3. Climb to the ridge at Triund

Hike · Triund, Dhauladhar range, above McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala

About 9 km from McLeod Ganj and roughly 1,000 m of climbing put you on a grassy ridge near 2,850 m, face to face with the Dhauladhar wall. Start from Galu Devi to shorten the walk, and carry water and a warm layer: the ridge turns cold fast after sunset.

- **Time:** Full day
- **Cost:** Free
- **Best at:** Mar–Jun · Oct–Nov
- **Tip:** Start at Galu Devi

### 4. See the Tibet Museum at Gangchen Kyishong

Museum · Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh 176215

The Central Tibetan Administration's museum left McLeod Ganj for a new building here in 2022, and tells the story of occupation and exile through archives, photographs and testimony. Pair it with the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives on the same campus.

- **Time:** 1–2 hrs
- **Cost:** See website
- **Best at:** Weekday morning
- **Tip:** Pair it with the library

Links: [Website](https://tibetmuseum.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 5. Watch the craftsmen at Norbulingka

Crafts · Norbulingka Institute, Sidhpur, near Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh

Thangka painters, woodcarvers and metal sculptors work in open studios set in Japanese-influenced gardens, a deliberate effort to keep Tibetan crafts alive in exile. Leave time for the temple at the top of the grounds, and take a taxi: it sits in Sidhpur, below the town.

- **Time:** 2 hrs
- **Cost:** Entry fee
- **Best at:** Morning
- **Tip:** Take a taxi from town

Links: [Website](https://norbulingka.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 6. Find Lord Elgin at St John in the Wilderness

Church · Forsyth Ganj, McLeod Ganj Road, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh 176219

A stone church of 1852 in the deodar forest between the two towns, with Belgian stained glass given by Lady Elgin. The 1905 earthquake took its spire, and the Viceroy Lord Elgin, who died in 1863, lies in the churchyard.

- **Time:** 45 min
- **Cost:** Free
- **Best at:** Afternoon
- **Tip:** Walk down from McLeod Ganj

Links: [Website](https://www.incredibleindia.gov.in/en/himachal-pradesh/dharamshala/st-john-in-the-wilderness-church?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 7. Follow the stream to Bhagsunag

Temple · Bhagsunag Temple, Bhagsu, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh 176219

A Shiva temple with spring-fed pools sits about 2 km east of McLeod Ganj, and a short path climbs past it to the Bhagsu waterfall. The fall is fullest in the monsoon, July to September; in the dry months it thins out and the walk is the point.

- **Time:** 2 hrs
- **Cost:** Free
- **Best at:** Jul–Sep
- **Tip:** Wear shoes with grip

Links: [Website](https://rural.tourism.gov.in/Bhagsunag-Temple-attraction.html?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 8. Ride the Skyway between the two towns

Ropeway · Dharamshala Skyway, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh

Opened in January 2022, the 1.8 km gondola links the lower town to McLeod Ganj in about five minutes, against a slow climb by road. Ride it up for the valley view, and check the weather first: it stops running in storms and high wind.

- **Time:** 30 min
- **Cost:** Paid ticket
- **Best at:** Clear mornings
- **Tip:** Check the weather first

### 9. Catch a match at the HPCA Stadium

Stadium · HPCA Stadium, Jawahar Nagar, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh 176215

A cricket ground at about 1,457 m, with the snow of the Dhauladhar behind the sightscreen. It hosted its first men's Test, India against Australia, in March 2017. Visits on non-match days depend on the fixture list, so check the association's site first.

- **Time:** 1 hr
- **Cost:** Varies
- **Best at:** Match days
- **Tip:** Check the fixture list

Links: [Website](https://www.hpcricket.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 10. Drive down to Kangra Fort

Fort · Kangra Fort, Old Kangra, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh

About 21 km south, the ridge-top fort of the Katoch kings was wrecked by the 1905 earthquake and is all the more striking for it. The Maharaja Sansar Chand Museum beside it keeps the carvings and sculptures that survived.

- **Time:** Half day
- **Cost:** Entry fee
- **Best at:** Late afternoon
- **Tip:** Add Bajreshwari temple

## Best monasteries & Tibetan institutions in Dharamshala

The institutions that make McLeod Ganj the capital of Tibet in exile.

1. **Namgyal Monastery** (Monastery · McLeod Ganj): The Dalai Lama's personal monastery, inside the Tsuglagkhang complex.
2. **Gyuto Monastery** (Tantric college · Sidhbari): The Gyuto tantric college, rebuilt in exile and known for its deep-voiced chant.
3. **Dip Tse Chok Ling** (Monastery · 1992 · McLeod Ganj): A small monastery down a steep lane, refounded here in 1992 after its original in Tibet was destroyed.
4. **Central Tibetan Administration** (Government in exile · Gangchen Kyishong): The government in exile works from this hillside campus, beside the library and museum. [Website](https://tibet.net/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
5. **Tibetan Children's Village** (School · 1960 · Upper Dharamshala): Founded in 1960 for refugee children, first run by the Dalai Lama's elder sister Tsering Dolma. [Website](https://tcv.org.in/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best hikes & viewpoints in Dharamshala

The range starts at the edge of town. These are the walks that reach it.

1. **Galu Devi** (Trailhead · Dharamkot): The small temple where the Triund trail leaves the road, a quieter start than McLeod Ganj.
2. **Guna Devi** (Half-day walk · Naddi): A forest walk from Naddi or Dharamkot to a hilltop temple facing Indrahar Pass.
3. **Naddi** (Viewpoint · Naddi): A village viewpoint above McLeod Ganj, best at sunset when the range turns pink.
4. **Dal Lake** (Lake · Tota Rani): A small lake ringed by deodars on the road to Naddi; the walk matters more than the water.
5. **Kareri Lake** (Overnight trek · Kareri): A snow-fed lake reached from Kareri village, usually as an overnight trek.
6. **Indrahar Pass** (Multi-day trek · Dhauladhar): The 4,342 m crossing beyond Triund into Chamba, a multi-day trek for the fit and acclimatised.

## Best temples & shrines in Dharamshala

The valley's Hindu pilgrim circuit, a short drive below the Tibetan town.

1. **Chamunda Devi** (Temple · 15 km · Chamunda): A goddess temple about 15 km from Dharamshala, crowded at Navratri. [Website](https://kangratemples.hp.gov.in/shri-chamunda-mata-temple/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Bajreshwari Devi** (Temple · Shakti Peetha · Kangra): One of the 51 Shakti Peethas, flattened in 1905 and rebuilt by 1920 in the heart of Kangra town.
3. **Jwalamukhi** (Temple · 55 km · Jwalamukhi): A flame issues from the rock in the sanctum and is worshipped as the goddess, about 55 km away.
4. **Masroor Rock-Cut Temples** (Rock-cut · 8th century · Masroor): Monolithic temples carved from one sandstone ridge around the 8th century, about 40 km away.
5. **Baijnath Temple** (Temple · 1204 · Baijnath): A stone Shiva temple built in 1204 by two merchants, and still standing after the 1905 earthquake.

## Best museums & culture in Dharamshala

Where the Tibetan and Kangra traditions are kept, studied and performed.

1. **Library of Tibetan Works and Archives** (Library · 1970 · Gangchen Kyishong): Founded by the Dalai Lama in 1970, with tens of thousands of Tibetan manuscripts and books. [Website](https://tibetanlibrary.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Men-Tsee-Khang Museum** (Museum · 1997 · Gangchen Kyishong): Medical thangkas, herbs and astro instruments at the Tibetan Medical and Astro Institute. [Website](https://mentseekhang.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
3. **Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts** (Performing arts · 1959 · McLeod Ganj): Founded in 1959 to save Tibetan opera and dance, and host of the Shoton opera festival. [Website](https://tipa.asia/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
4. **Kangra Art Museum** (Museum · 1990 · Kotwali Bazaar): Kangra-school miniatures, temple carvings and textiles in the lower town, opened in 1990.

## Best cafes & restaurants in Dharamshala

Tibetan kitchens and the long-running traveller cafes of the upper town.

1. **Tibet Kitchen** (Tibetan · Bhutanese · McLeod Ganj): Tibetan and spicy Bhutanese cooking; order the kewa datse if you can take the heat.
2. **Moonpeak** (Cafe · McLeod Ganj): Serious coffee and a short, inventive menu, a reliable stop between sights.
3. **Jimmy's Italian Kitchen** (Italian · McLeod Ganj): Pasta with a long list of sauces, and the town's comfort food.
4. **Nick's Italian Kitchen** (Italian · McLeod Ganj): A long-standing traveller hub with a large rear terrace.
5. **Shangri La** (Tibetan · vegetarian · McLeod Ganj): Well-priced Tibetan staples: momos, thukpa and thenthuk.
6. **Illiterati Books & Coffee** (Cafe · books · Jogiwara Road): A bookshop cafe with mountain views and the occasional weekend gig.
7. **Woeser Bakery** (Bakery · Jogiwara Road): A basement bakery on Jogiwara Road; the carrot cake is the order.

## Best neighborhoods in Dharamshala

Six settlements strung up one hillside, each with its own pace.

1. **McLeod Ganj** (Upper town · McLeod Ganj): The Tibetan upper town of temples, bookshops and kitchens, and the base for most visitors.
2. **Bhagsu** (Village · Bhagsu): East of McLeod Ganj, with the temple, the waterfall and a busy backpacker strip.
3. **Dharamkot** (Village · Dharamkot): A quiet village above McLeod Ganj, home to the Tushita meditation centre and Triund walkers.
4. **Forsyth Ganj** (Forest · Forsyth Ganj): The forested stretch on the road down, with St John in the Wilderness.
5. **Gangchen Kyishong** (Exile capital · Gangchen Kyishong): The government-in-exile campus halfway down, with the library, museum and Men-Tsee-Khang.
6. **Kotwali Bazaar** (Lower town · Kotwali Bazaar): The lower town's market and bus stand, where the Indian town gets on with its day.

## Best day trips from Dharamshala

The valley below, from tea estates to a paragliding launch.

1. **Palampur** (Tea country · Palampur): Tea estates and a quieter hill town to the east; Kangra tea has held Indian GI status since 2005.
2. **Bir Billing** (Paragliding · Bir): India's best-known paragliding site: launch at Billing, land at Bir, 14 km below. About 65 km away.
3. **Andretta** (Crafts · Andretta): An artists' village near Palampur with a working pottery open to visitors.
4. **Pong Dam Lake** (Birding · winter · Pong): A Ramsar wetland since 2002 and a winter stop for migratory birds, about 55 km away.

## Festivals & annual events in Dharamshala (2026)

- **Losar** (Feb–Mar): Tibetan New Year, with prayers at Tsuglagkhang and feasting across the upper town.
- **Maha Shivratri** (Feb–Mar): Night-long worship at the Shiva temples and a state fair at Baijnath.
- **Tibetan Uprising Day** (10 Mar): Speeches at Tsuglagkhang, then a march down toward the lower town.
- **Saga Dawa** (May–Jun): The holiest Buddhist month, marking the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death.
- **Dalai Lama's birthday** (6 Jul): A community holiday, with celebrations at the main temple.
- **Navratri** (Sep–Oct): Nine nights of the goddess, and crowds at Chamunda Devi and Bajreshwari.
- **Dharamshala International Film Festival** (Oct–Nov): Independent cinema over four days; the 2026 edition runs 29 October to 1 November.
- **Diwali** (Oct–Nov): Lamps in the lower town's bazaars and the valley's temples.

## Must-try dishes in Dharamshala, India

- **Momos**: Steamed dumplings of meat or vegetables, sold all over the upper town.
- **Thenthuk**: Hand-pulled noodle soup, thicker and heartier than thukpa.
- **Tingmo**: Steamed, folded Tibetan bread, served with curries and stews.
- **Laphing**: Cold starch noodles in chilli and garlic, sold from street stalls.
- **Shapaley**: Fried pastry filled with spiced minced meat or cabbage.
- **Po cha**: Butter tea: salted tea churned with butter. Worth one cup.
- **Madra**: Chickpeas in a spiced yoghurt gravy, the centre of a Kangri dham feast.
- **Kangra tea**: The valley's own green and black tea, milder than Darjeeling.

## Dharamshala transport & airports

- **Kangra Airport** (DHM): At Gaggal, about 13 km from Dharamshala, with small-aircraft flights from Delhi and a few other cities. Seats are few, so book early. [Official website](https://www.aai.aero/en/airports/kangra-gaggal?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- **Rail** (Rail): Long-distance trains stop at Pathankot. The narrow-gauge Kangra Valley line runs from there, but floods and landslides have cut it in recent years. [Official website](https://www.indianrail.gov.in/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- **Dharamshala Skyway** (Ropeway): The 1.8 km gondola links the lower town and McLeod Ganj in about five minutes, and stops in bad weather.
- **Buses and taxis** (Road): HRTC runs overnight buses from Delhi and Chandigarh. Locally, taxis and shared jeeps cover the steep roads between the settlements. [Official website](https://www.hrtchp.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Dharamshala at a glance

- **Country:** India
- **Region:** Himachal Pradesh, Kangra district
- **Population:** About 22,600 in the 2011 census; about 53,500 in the expanded municipal corporation
- **Founded:** District seat since 1855; seat of the Tibetan government in exile since 1960
- **Nickname:** Little Lhasa (McLeod Ganj)
- **Language:** Hindi and Kangri, with Tibetan in McLeod Ganj and English widely spoken
- **Currency:** Indian rupee (₹)
- **Time zone:** IST · UTC+5:30, no daylight saving
- **Calling code:** +91, area code 01892
- **Airports:** DHM 13 km
- **Power:** 230V, Type C, D and M sockets
- **Emergency:** 112

## Interesting facts

- The Dalai Lama settled in Dharamshala in 1960, a year after leaving Tibet.
- The Kangra earthquake of 4 April 1905 killed about 19,800 people across the valley.
- Dharamshala was formally named the winter capital of Himachal Pradesh in 2017.
- The HPCA Stadium sits at about 1,457 m and hosted its first men's Test in March 2017.
- Lord Elgin, Viceroy of India, died in 1863 and is buried at St John in the Wilderness.

## Dharamshala travel FAQ

### How many days do you need in Dharamshala?

Three days covers McLeod Ganj, the Lingkor, the Tibet Museum and Norbulingka, with a full day for Triund. Add a fourth for the valley below: Kangra Fort, the temples and the tea estates of Palampur.

### Should I stay in McLeod Ganj or Dharamshala?

Most visitors stay in McLeod Ganj, the upper town, where the temples, cafes and trailheads are. The lower town has the bus stand, the stadium and the Kangra Art Museum, and suits day trips down the valley.

### When is the best time to visit Dharamshala?

March to June and September to November bring clear views of the Dhauladhar and the best trekking. July and August are the monsoon, with heavy, persistent rain. Winters are cold, with snow on the peaks.

### Can you see the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala?

Only at public teachings and events, which are announced in advance on his official website. Check the schedule and the registration details there before you travel, and expect the town to be full on those dates.

### How do you get to Dharamshala?

Fly to Kangra Airport at Gaggal, about 13 km away, or take an overnight HRTC bus from Delhi. Long-distance trains stop at Pathankot, a few hours away by road.

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Part of the [India guide](https://wimup.com/country/india.md) · [Asia](https://wimup.com/asia.md)

## Sources

- [Dharamshala tourism board](https://himachaltourism.gov.in/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Join the courtyard at Tsuglagkhang (official site)](https://www.dalailama.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [See the Tibet Museum at Gangchen Kyishong (official site)](https://tibetmuseum.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Watch the craftsmen at Norbulingka (official site)](https://norbulingka.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Find Lord Elgin at St John in the Wilderness (official site)](https://www.incredibleindia.gov.in/en/himachal-pradesh/dharamshala/st-john-in-the-wilderness-church?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Follow the stream to Bhagsunag (official site)](https://rural.tourism.gov.in/Bhagsunag-Temple-attraction.html?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Catch a match at the HPCA Stadium (official site)](https://www.hpcricket.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Central Tibetan Administration (official site)](https://tibet.net/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Tibetan Children's Village (official site)](https://tcv.org.in/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Chamunda Devi (official site)](https://kangratemples.hp.gov.in/shri-chamunda-mata-temple/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (official site)](https://tibetanlibrary.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Men-Tsee-Khang Museum (official site)](https://mentseekhang.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (official site)](https://tipa.asia/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Kangra Airport (official site)](https://www.aai.aero/en/airports/kangra-gaggal?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Rail (official site)](https://www.indianrail.gov.in/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Buses and taxis (official site)](https://www.hrtchp.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- Rankings are Wimup editorial picks. Prices, durations and budgets are editorial estimates, not live quotes; check the official site before you go.