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Let’s go traveling!

The hometown of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, Mcleod Ganj is one of the most influential place and is the second home of Tibetans. It feels I am done with all this hustle-bustle of the city. As the travel industry has also started, with certain guidelines in place. I think its time to leave everything behind and start traveling.

Do you want a perfect budget weekend trip? Go to Mcleodganj, it is home to many maagnificient monasteries, authentic Tibetan cuisines, Dhauladhar ranges, and much more.

Mcleod Ganj, also known as Little Lhasa. Whether you are a nature lover, or are into spirituality, a couple, a solo traveler, or traveling with friends, Mcleod Ganj is a perfect place to visit.

Well, it depends on you and how you manage your trip. If you ask me I would say you can even manage in INR 3000-4000 for 3-4 days. But it varies on the activities you choose to do and the luxury you prefer as well.

If you are planning for a budget trip, keep some important things in mind:

• For traveling in/out of the city always prefer public transport rather than choosing cabs or taxis.
• Eat at local stalls or eateries, which maintain hygiene standards, as it is not worth compromising your health to tingle your tastebuds.
• For stay, you can choose a homestay/doms or low budget hotels. But I prefer homestays because the people are very welcoming and with that, you will get to know their culture.
• If you are traveling from Delhi, instead of taking flights you can either choose a train or bus.

You do not have to worry about the weather of Mcleodganj as the weather remains pleasant throughout the year. During monsoon it does get rainy but, the monsoons bring about a different flavor in itself. You can also check the current weather conditions on the mentioned below link:

http://www.accuweather.com/en/in/dharmsala/188520/weather-forecast/188520

As monsoon progresses, July to September occurs heavy rainfall during these three months. And believe me, rain means here a lot of it which is why the Mcleodganj is one of the rainiest places in the world.

Mcleodganj can be reached easily as the roads are easily accessible and the way is well constructed. You can either choose a bus or train or even a flight.

By Air:- The nearest airport is Gaggal. You can take a direct flight from Delhi and it is very close to the town. Please be aware that in winter and monsoon season flights might get canceled so be prepared for the alternate plan.

By Train:- You can book your train tickets from Delhi to Pathankot and from there you can take a cab or bus to Dharamshala/Mcleodganj. It will take around 3-4 hours to reach Dharamshala from the station.

By Bus:- There are so many options from Delhi to Dharamshala. You can travel by Volvo or can take HPRTC and you could also check with the service providers. Bus services are available 24*7 but prefer to travel in the night as the journey takes around 10-12 hours from Delhi. Also, check the sanitized process of the bus service providers before booking the bus tickets.

IMPORTANT:- Since the coronavirus cases are increasing rapidly and now we have to make this as a part of our lives. To travel with some safety precautions I have put light on some of them.

Also Read:- Travel Safety Precautions During Corona Pandemic

A distance of 473 km is not an easy drive from Delhi to Mcleodganj but the road conditions are very good all along the way. So, if you are planning to drive on your own I suggest starting the journey at night to beat the traffic jams.

You can simply choose the below-mentioned route to reach the place.

Delhi -Panipat – Karnal – Ambala – Rupnagar – Una – Kangra – Mcleodganj

Indeed, the place is a backpacker’s paradise and a perfect weekend holiday trip that fulfills all your desires in a very good budget. There are so many places to visit in Mcleodganj and its neighborhood.

Let’s not waste much time and check out the places that you can visit on foot or at a nominal cab cost.

Also Read: Cafes & Restaurants to try in Mcleodganj

The major attraction is just before 10 km in Dharamshala which is surrounded by the snow-capped Dhauladhar ranges throughout the year. Also, it is the world most beautiful stadium in the world situated in Dharamshala which can be tour at just INR 20.

Maybe some of you must have thought to skip the visit to Tea estates, but it is a beautiful place and very refreshing. I advise you to visit at least once.

You cannot miss the Dalai Lama Temple and the Tibetian Museum which takes hardly 10 min walk from the parking lot of the city. If you are more into spirituality and want to meditate to connect with your soul, this place is perfect to get some rest from the hectic lifestyle.

Once you start walking through the Tibetan Souvenir market you would be able to see the colorful and cheap Tibetan jewelry and art crafts. You will start seeing the mouth-watering Tibetian delicacies, the most famous will be the momos and a must-try.

The famous art gallery featuring watercolor, acrylic, and oil paintings remains closed on Mondays. It is a tribute to this great painter, Alfred W. Hallett. Elsbeth Buschmann. Take a tour of this beautiful gallery and spend an hour to appreciate not just the art but the spirituality that seems to take over your body.

The perfect blend of Indian village and hippie style ambiance. It 1 km away from the Mcleodganj.

A 20-minute walk from the temple to the Bhagsu Fall opens up a refreshing door to the Bhagshu Cafe which is a very creative cafe, with mouth-watering cuisines. A bowl of Maggi near the waterfall will take your breath away as the breezy wind touches your face.

A perfect stop between the drive from Dharamshala to Mcleodganj, Dal Lake in Kangra district. The lake is surrounded by the Deodar trees and is famous for its yellow-greenish watercolor.

One of the splendid views of sunset can be watched from the Naddi viewpoint. The beautiful golden shades of sunset on the Dhauladhars that you would have never seen before.

One of the easy and perfect trek for beginners that not only gives you the unimaginable peace of mind but the most spectacular views after you reach the summit point. It’s a must-do trek with the picture-perfect locations.

So, if you are up for this trek, but this is the first trek you are planning. Don’t worry! Read the complete guide of Trind Trek for beginners.

Are you an adventure lover? Is trekking and camping is always on your list?

Then you are at the right place. There are so many things to do in Mcleodganj, depending upon the time you have you can plan things accordingly.

Camping in Mcleodganj can be your thing, if you want to soak yourself in the peace of nature.

Once you reach the village you will get so many options to the trekking trails with the breathtaking landscapes of Dhauladhar. Some of the best trekking tours are-

1. Triund Trek
2. Kareri River Trek
3. Indrahar Pass Trek
4. Bhagsu Trek
5. Explore Dharamkot

Boat Ride In Dal Lake and visit the sacred temple of Lord Shiva on its banks.

This can be one of the best things to do in Mcleodganj to learn the authentic recipes of Tibetan Cuisine. Take a tour to Lhamo’s Kitchen and Sangey’s Kitchen and take some cooking lessons to develop a new skill.

Numerous Yoga centers in the town will help you bring yourself back to life. Some of them are:- Om Yoga Centre, Universal Yoga Centre, and Tushita Meditation Centre.

Try out the steaming delicious momos & a hot caramel coffee with the outstanding views of the narrow streets of the town.

The best thing to do in Mcleodganj is to spend your day at Bhagsu waterfall and apprize the food served at the nearby cafes.

Also Read: Best Places to visit in Himachal in 2020

When you visit the place you can find a lot of reasons why one should visit Mcleodganj atleast once in a lifetime.

I have visited this place twice and I want to share some of the reasons which may give you an idea why to visit this beautiful majestic hill station in Himachal Pradesh.

• The weather of Mcleodganj remains pleasant throughout the year and easily accessible from Delhi.
• This hill station serves you everything in one frame, like, majestic hills, Tibetan culture, museums, colorful monasteries, waterfalls, lakes, trekking trails, and mouth-watering food.
• The Dalai Lama Temple is one of the most important reason to visit Mcleodganj.
• The colorful shops of the streets do not just attract you but the momos stalls of Tibetan flavors offer you much more.
• You cannot miss out on one of the best treks, Triund Trek.
• One of the world’s most beautiful cricket stadium is here in Dharmshala which is just before 10 km from Mcleodganj.
• The famous world’s highest paragliding site in Bir-Billing is 75km away from the place which hardly takes 2-2.5 hr to reach.
• There are so many options for homestay which you can get at a very good budget that makes your weekend full of memories.
• If you are a big foodie, this is the place which offers you one of the best Tibetan and Chinese food.

I believe these reasons are enough to make up your mind and plan your holiday for the next weekend with all the information you need.

So, start planning your leaves if you are stuck in your 8-5 job and plan a trip to gather new memories and share all your experience with us.

Moreover, if you have any concerns or want to clear your doubts feel free to ask us in the below-mentioned comment section.

Enjoy the journey!

Here are some topics you might find relevant and useful for planning your trip:

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• Register for Travel E-pass Himachal | Jul 2020 
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