What is not so good about Dharamsala?

It has become over-crowded with large amount of tourists rushing to Dharamshala.

What is famous about Dharamsala?

A great place for meditation and learning about Buddhism and Tibetan culture. Great view of Dhauladhar ranges. Pleasant weather all around the year.

Dharamshala Tourism (2025) - Himachal Pradesh

Dharamshala Travel Packages

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4 Days / 3 Nights

Dharmshala Himachal Pradesh Tour Packages

Dharamshala(1N) → Dalhousie(2N)

$ 216

22% off

$168/person

5 Days / 4 Nights

Dharamshala Dalhousie Sightseeing Package by Volvo

Dharamshala(2N) → Dalhousie(2N)

$ 236

22% off

$182/person

3 Days / 2 Nights

Picturesque Dharamshala 2 Nights 3 Days Package

Dharamshala(2N)

$ 162

28% off

$116/person

8 Days / 7 Nights

Shimla Manali Dharamshala Dalhousie Tour Packag...

Dalhousie(2N) → Dharamshala(1N) → Manali(2N) → Shimla(2N)

$ 325

28% off

$232/person

7 Days / 6 Nights

6 Nights 7 Days Shimla Manali Dharamshala Package

Shimla(2N) → Manali(2N) → Dharamshala(2N)

$215/person

6 Days / 5 Nights

Dalhousie Khajjiar Chamba Dharamshala Tour Pack...

Dharamshala(3N) → Dalhousie(2N)

$ 273

15% off

$232/person

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Dharamshala Travel Essentials

Rating:

4.3 /5 (112 ratings) Rate This Destination

Ideal duration: 2-4 days

Best Time: October to June Read More

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"Dalai Lama’s Home in the Hills"

Dharamshala Tourism

Dharamshala is a beautiful hill town in the Dhauladhar range of Himalayas. It is the winter capital of Himachal Pradesh and is located in the upper slopes of the Kangra valley. Once known as a british hill station during the colonial era, Dharamsala soon became occupied by Tibetan communities and is now home to the greatest Buddhist leader Dalai Lama.

Dharamshala, sometimes overshadowed by the more prominent neighbourhood of McLeodganj, is a more laid-back and tranquil spot to spend a long weekend if you're visiting from nearby cities like Chandigarh, Delhi, Amritsar or Jammu. Apart from Mcleodganj, you can explore the quaint little hippie village Dharamkot that's untouched by crowd of tourists. Hence, away from clamour of other tourist spots, Dharamsala is also known to be one of the top destinations for solo travellers.

Aside the serenity, Dharamsala is flocked by tourists for its thangka paintings, museums, bustling street markets, and cuisine. There are also a number of trekking options in Mcleodganj, that's hardly 3kms away from Dharamsala.

And just like Shimla, Manali and Dalhousie, Dharamsala also experiences freezing winters, making spring and summers (mid-February to mid-July) the best time to experience the rich and regal Tibetan culture in this little Lhasa in India.

Ensure etiquette while visiting monasteries, as photography and visitation are restricted in some areas.
If you're trekking, carry your own water during the trek. You might not get the opportunity to refill your water stock on the way.

Places To Visit In Dharamshala

Dalai Lama Temple

St. John in the Wilderness Church

Dharamshala Cricket Stadium

Gyuto Monastery

Naddi View Point

Dharamkot

View All Places To Visit In Dharamshala

Top Hotels In Dharamshala

More on Dharamshala Travel

Shopping

Dharamshala is a shopping haven for tourists and offers many unique, locally made items. The most famous shopping areas in Dharamshala include the Jogibara Road, and Kotwali Bazaar, both located around McLeod Ganj. McLeod Ganj has a 152-year old shop called Nowrojee & Sons which has many antique items for sale - including British and German relics from the World Wars. Dharamshala offers a collection of Tibetan and Buddhist artefacts like brass artefacts, statues, wall hangings, wooden and stone bead prayers etc. Some of the best shops to scourge for these items include the Divine Buddha Handicrafts, Tibetan Handicraft Centre, and the Semshook Tibetan Handicrafts. The Namgyal Bookstore is also a good place to stop to pick up books on Tibetan and Buddhist culture, as well as others on Himachal Pradesh and Himalayan history.

History

Formerly ruled by the Katoch dynasty for around two millennia, Dharamshala was annexed by the British in 1848. Following this, in 1860, the Gurkhas arrived in Dharamshala. Also called as the ‘bravest of the brave’ the fate and history of this tribe is interminably linked to that of the town. The Gurkhas were originally Nepali soldiers, who were recruited by the British to fight in the World Wars. Their heroic feats during the war are still remembered, and many places in Dharamshala are named in their honour such as - Depot bazaar, Tirah Lanes etc. Dharamshala was a popular hill station for Britishers working in the Delhi region, and they were considering to make it their summer capital until the earthquake of 1905 which left over 20,000 people dead. Shimla was then named the summer capital. The Gurkhas contributed immensely to the rebuilding of the city post the earthquake. Many Gurkhas also played a prominent role in India’s independence struggle as freedom fighters. The Indian National Army’s captain - Ram Singh Thakur, was a Gurkha, and he composed the famous patriotic song - Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja.

Etymology

Dharamshala is derived from the Hindi words Dharam and shala. This roughly translates to mean a spiritual dwelling or a sanctuary. The word dharma holds different significant meanings to different groups, both culturally and spiritually. Commonly, Dharamsala describes a shelter or rest house for pilgrims. There was a pilgrim rest house originally in the town, from where Dharamsala got its name.

Restaurants and Local Food in Dharamshala

One can find a lot of restaurants and cafes here which derve decent food. Being dominated by the Tibetan culture one will mostly find Tibetan cuisine being served. Do try the momos, thukpas and other Tibetan dishes. Another speciality of this place is honey ginger lemon tea which is a very refreshing drink. A lot of cafes also serve English breakfast with Pancakes, Omlettes and Sandwiches. One of the best establishments here are the Green Restaurant and the Herbal Tea Shop. There are a few pubs here as well which serve imported alcohol along with food with music in the background. Momos are a specialty here. Different types of momos locally called as Tingmo, Tibetan type samosa known to be Baklebs and a meal of soup and noodles Thukpas are most common.
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Suggested Itinerary for Dharamshala

Day 1: Arrive at the Gaggal airport, reach your hotel in a cab. Check-in at the hotel. Leave for local sightseeing after some rest. Visit the Buddhist Monasteries in Dharamsala. Visit the famous Tsuglagkhang monastery and Namgyal monastery in McleodGanj and spend some time in peace and tranquillity.
Day 2: Visit the Dharamsala cricket ground and enjoy the surreal view of the Dhauladhar ranges. Then, head to visit the famous Dal lake of Dharamsala. Afterwards, visit the Kangra Fort which is located just 20 km away from Dharamsala.
Day 3: Visit the BhagsuNag waterfall and temple in Mcleodganj. Then, enjoy the short trek of 2-3 hours to Triund in Mcleodganj and back to the hotel.

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Dharamshala Photos

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Things to do in Dharamshala by Neighbourhood

Dharamkot

FAQs on Dharamshala

What are the places near Dharamsala?

The top places near to Dharamsala are Mcleodganj which is 4 km from Dharamsala, Dalhousie which is located 47 km from Dharamsala, Khajjiar which is located 43 km from Dharamsala, Manali which is located 81 km from Dharamsala, Shimla which is located 147 km from Dharamsala

What are the things to do in Dharamsala?

The top things to do in Dharamsala are Dharamshala Cricket Stadium, Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, St. John in the Wilderness Church, Dharamshala International Film Festival 2019, War Memorial, Gyuto Monastery. You can see all the places to visit in Dharamsala here

What are the top hotels in Dharamsala?

There are 335 in Dharamsala which can be booked through Holidify. The most popular hotels in Dharamsala are Hotel Royal Taj, Triund Camps Riverside Resort, Camp Indrunag, Delightful 1BHK Cottage in Dharamshala, Serene 1BHK Home in Dharamshala, Best Cottages 2. You can see all the hotels in Dharamsala here

How much does a package cost for Dharamsala?

The packages for Dharamsala start at INR 9000 which can be further customized based on number of people, days, hotel category, vehicle type and customizations. You can have a look at all packages here

What is the local food in Dharamsala?

What is the best time to visit Dharamsala?

The best time to visit Dharamshala between February to June (spring and summer) when the weather is pleasant with a maximum temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. Winters here are frigid with occasional snowfalls; however, it makes the valley look much more beautiful. Monsoons (July - Early September) can be avoided as it might hamper your travel plans, but this place does not receive very heavy rainfall unlike other parts of Himachal and Uttarakhand.
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Who should visit Dharamsala?

For religious people, people in search of meditation and peace. Also, for the avid trekkers as Dharamsala opens the way for a number of treks.

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Dharamshala Reviews

Your rating

Sonali Garg

7 years ago

I have had two trips to Dharamshala. First, with my family when I was a toddler, and second, with my friends on a school trip, and both the experiences were very contrasting. When I went my family, I (Read More) stayed in a 5-star hotel, visited the monasteries, and went to Bhagsu falls in Mcleodganj. But when I went with on the school trip, I stayed in a tent (a 5 billion star hotel), we slept every night under the open sky, did trekking in the lush green woods, and took river baths. Whichever way you plan to visit, Dharamshala is surely going to give you a lot of memories. The festive crowd of the city will entice you with its culture, and the serene beauty of the landscape will mesmerize you with its exquisiteness.

Rohit Shroff

7 years ago

- If you are planning to drive to dharamshala make sure you are good at it, because there are really sharp cuts around.
- It will be a good idea to include Mcleodganj in the trip along with Bhagsu (Read More). Dharamshala alone is an okayish tourist place, but combined with Mcleodganj, it will be truly worth visiting.
- Have extra days in hand if you really want to get a feel of Dharamshala and Mcleodganj. It is a mini country in itself and sightseeing is not enough. The people and their culture are actually more interesting than the place itself.

ASHWANI SHARMA

4 years ago

Dharamsala is nice place for vacations,nice view and people are also amazing,offbeat camping is trend now and there are lot of adventure camping sites nearby with many activities to cover up your day (Read More)time.

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Dharamshala

Dharamshala Travel Packages

Dharmshala Himachal Pradesh Tour Packages

Dharamshala Dalhousie Sightseeing Package by Volvo

Picturesque Dharamshala 2 Nights 3 Days Package

Shimla Manali Dharamshala Dalhousie Tour Packag...

6 Nights 7 Days Shimla Manali Dharamshala Package

Dalhousie Khajjiar Chamba Dharamshala Tour Pack...