Mcleod Ganj/Dharamkot Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know
Introduction
Macleod Ganj is a small village in Himachal Pradesh, India. It's well connected with the Dharamshala airport to the south, direct buses from Delhi, and a variety of transport options around the town.
Here's some important information to know about the place that I believe to be one of the easiest travel destinations in Himachal.
Table of Contents
Best Time to Visit
The weather can vary pretty greatly in this region and Himachal Pradesh in general. The winters are cold, the summers can be toasty with monsoon season coming in the mix to give you anything you're looking for.
High Season: March - June
Low Season: October - Feb
Rainy/Monsoon (Off) Season: Late June - Mid September
Best Weather: Late March - June / October - Mid November.
Peak season and timings are quite varied depending on who you ask.
Here's how you can navigate when to visit:
Weather - Being in the mountains, this place gets cold. Most of the year you'll get chilly nights, but October - March will be cold at night. There's strong winds and occasional snowfall. Roads can be tough to navigate in the snow, but that usually doesn't stop people from crowding the area. Know that you might have to make prior arrangements for heating indoors nad it can be quite cold inside in the winter. You'll get heavy blankets but be prepared with adequate winter clothes.
Events - Quite a few toursit cafes and shops are closed in the winter. You'll still find the same kinds of things, but there will be fewer places open.
Price - The warm weather time in the mountains can be very crowded and more prone to tourist scams. The prices for hotels/homestays/hostels also increases drastically. Because of the limited supply of nice accomodation, it often gets booked out early.
How to Get There
Describe the main options for reaching this destination:
By Air: Dharamshala Airport (DHM) is about a 1-1.5 hour drive (depending on traffic which can vary greatly on mountain roads), costing ~1400 rupees from the airport to the town.
By Train: The nearest railway station to Dharamshala is in Pathankot, which is about 4 hours by car.
By Bus: Multiple Daily Buses from Delhi. Most are overnight buses, taking about 8 hours from Delhi to arrive.
See Transportation Around India for more information on how to book and what you can expect from the modes of travel.
Top Attractions
Highlight the must-see sights and activities. Include hours, entrance fees, and tips.
Triund Trek/Camping: Brief description, unique aspects, and why it’s a must-see.
Mall Road: Include details on accessibility, if it’s family-friendly, etc.
Dalai Lama Temple Complex: Mention any cultural or historical significance.
Bagsu Waterfall: Mention any cultural or historical significance.
Bonus tip: Gulu Falls
Where to Stay
Offer options based on different budget levels:
Luxury: DLS Meghavan Resort, DLS Spring Valley, Hyatt Regency.
Mid-Range: DS Casa, Cloud Chat, Hosteller
Budget-Friendly: Small Guest Houses, Zostel (best hostel chain brand), Young Monk (although hygine here can be questionable)
Neighborhood Guide: There are 3 major areas that you need to know. There is Dharamshala, which is the bigger city known as the home of the Dalai Lama, place for monestaries and places to worship, there is McLeod Ganj, which has a vast mall road and the transportation stations, places to stay and nice cafes, and then there is Bagsu and Dharamkot, which are smaller towns/neighborhoods that are where transportation options are more limited, but there tends to be a younger crowd and more cafes to hang out at.
What to Eat
Must-Try Dishes: Like many hill stations or mountain towns in India, there is a lot of maggie and chai spots, corn on the cob, momos, and Tibet food. Indo Chineese is a popular option alongside cafes that make variety of food with their local spices. .
Restaurant Recommendations: Tibet Kitchen, Cafe, Kalimpong Restaurant, Young Monk Cafe.
Street Food: Chai spots, Maggie Points, street side omlettes, and parantha is very popular. You will find places to eat and sell goods on most popular hikes as well as road routes.
Budgeting Tips
If you're like me, you're traveling on a budget. Lucky for you, this town has so many budget options.
Hostels: some of the most fun in India. I would suggest going with a local chain such as Young Monk (one that I have personal experience with) but their cleanliness can leave more to be desired. Zostel and Hostiller are popular options, but know that the clientelle will be mostly Indian budget travelers, which is very different from the international crowd.
Transportation: Walk when you can when you get to town. Going to prepaid auto rickshaw or taxi stations is popular and you're often able to find people to split the cab with, especially if you're solo. The way to do this is to ask around where people are going and ask the driver directly. Don't be shy, it's a very common practice.
Cafe's, coffee shops, and most places to eat will be expensive compared to much of India, but it's not going to be unreasonable. Look for mom and pop shops rather than big restaurants for a better price. Cleanliness is very common here, so take that as you will.
Free Attractions: You can choose to camp at Triund, which I would highly recommend, but it does not have to be something you spend money on. You can hike up to Triund on foot for free, along with Gulu Falls, Bagsu Falls, and some other smaller hikes in the area.
Travel Tips
Share essential travel advice, such as:
Events Tips Ask around at hostels and there are multiple groups advertising various events, whether they be yoga sessions, movement therapy, clay
Packing Tips: Pack at least a light jacket, even in the summer becuase of the drop in temperature and wind chill at night. Also, make sure you pack at least a small blanket, if you can, because inside will be chilly.
Language Tips: Hindi is the most common language here, but you'll be able to get by with English without issue.
Local Etiquette: The mountain region is quite a bit more polite than Delhi or other major cities. Prices at shops are generally negotiable, but you won't get the deep discounts as you will elsewhere in India. Taxi service and transportation can be overpriced at times but usually runs on standard rates. Negotiate all travel packages or rentals and stay vigilant.
Safety Tips: Big tourist town = big scams in India. Be cautious with our belogings. People are generally nice and helpful but be dilligent in peak season. I'd say this was one of the places I had to worry least in India. I was pretty comfortable traveling around at night no proble,, but be aware if you're solo of scams and wild animals.
Final Thoughts
This is one of my favorite places in India. It has a bustling international community, events for spiritual, creative, and fun events. It is not as gimmicky as major cities, includes fun locals and those that have moved to run something, has a great mall road with good food and shopping, and is very walkable (albeit not the most fun). You'll get international food and local food with no problem.
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