Dharamshala
Visiting Dharamshala, situated 514 km from Delhi, 235 km from Chandigarh, 252km from Shimla and 85 km from Pathankot, can be a recreation for those staying in the warmer regions of the world or who wish to explore an indefinable history of a neighborhood in mountains, famous for its scenic beauty. Dharamshala offers a great deal of attractions to plan a 3 days trip to this high altitude mountainous region situated in the heart of Kangra Valley.
HPTDC Hotel
The best way to prepare for Dharamshala is to get the hotel rooms booked in advance. It’s advisable to stay at Lower Dharamshala if you plan to travel by a Volvo (In India the deluxe buses manufactured by Volvo are called Volvo buses or simply Volvo) as the buses stop at Lower Dharamshala and after a night’s journey it’s difficult to get ready for another journey to McLeodganj. It is even more advisable to book an HPTDC (Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation- a government body) hotel as the tariffs are competitive and the service are in no way lesser than that of a three star hotel. The prices vary depending on the facilities in the room (with the best ones being the most expensive).
One shall carry heavy woolens in winters when the temperature can drop down to 6°C whereas in summers light woolens like a sweatshirt or a jacket would do.
Hiring a Taxi for one entire day can be the best mode for sightseeing. It can be booked through the hotel reception, asking the driver to bring it to the hotel at the desired time. Serving as guides, most of the drivers interestingly narrate stories and the history pertaining to the sight one visits. Also their prices are fixed by the Taxi Union but due to high competition they might offer a price lower than the union’s price.
The first day can be dedicated to Naddi Village, St. John Church, Bhagsu Temple, Bhagsu fall and McLeodganj (also called upper Dharamshala). The taxi drivers usually have these places in their sightseeing list and it’s rare that you have to remind them of a place you should visit.
Naddi Village
Naddi village is a tranquil place in the lap of Dauladhar range which doesn’t really have any activity or a monument to offer but it does satiate one’s spirit with its calm scenic view. The place can feed one’s spiritual lust with tranquillity and thoughtlessness. The locals offer a telescope view of a water stream flowing far in the Dauladhar range. One can click photographs of the valley and the mountain range around. Going to the edge of the road, to get a closer glimpse of the nature, is a risky business especially in the absence of a roadside fence.
St. John’s Church
St. John’s church, known for its neo-gothic architecture and its Belgian stained glass windows painted by an Italian artist, is a sight to behold. It has an old graveyard in its backyard. One can sit in the church and then stroll in the courtyard to enjoy seclusion and proximity to nature.
After spending an hour or so at the church one can start for Bhagsu temple. It has a sacred pool which serves as a reservoir for the spring water. The water at Bhagsu temple is considered sacred and is believed to be filled with healing capacity. Another pool, adjacent to the sacred pool, was made later for people to bathe and enjoy. Around 1 km from the temple is the Bhagsu waterfall which people generally walk upto. It is one of the renowned waterfalls of India with a stream of clear and cold water from the mountains.
Dalai Lama Temple
After visiting the above mentioned sights, a major chunk of time, probably more than half of the day should be spared for McLeodganj (also called upper Dharamshala). To plan it this way, it’s best to start the sightseeing a little early in the morning at around 10.00. On the way to Upper Dharamshala, as the road starts looking a little crowded one gets to know that it’s McLeodganj. It was named after the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab, Sir Donald Friell McLeod. The place is famous for the Tibetan markets which sell merchandise with “Tibet” or “I love Tibet” printed on it. Entering His Highness Dalai Lama’s temple (the Tibetan religious guru) evokes a sense of meditative composure among tourists along with a desire of freedom of Tibet from China. McLeodganj is the headquarter of the Tibet government in exile. One sees most of the Tibetans wearing a red robe, which exhibits that they are monks and are in service of HH Dalai Lama. Entry to HH Dalai Lama’s residence, within the temple premises, is prohibited. There is a tight security inside the temple and everyone is checked thoroughly before one can enter the premise (while climbing the stairs). The moment one reaches the main area one observes carpets and mats spread all over the place where the monks and the visitors meditate. The view of the mountains from the temple is picturesque and provides convenient areas to click selfies.
Kalachakra Temple
The other Tibetan temple near the market is the Kalachakra Temple which has a huge “Chakra” (a cylindrical structure with prayers written on it) installed. The Chakra is engraved with Buddhist prayers and it’s considered auspicious to turn it like a wheel. There is a succession of such Chakras all around this temple and other Buddhist temples, which are turned while circumambulating. Upper Dharamshala also has a number of restaurants famous for Tibetan food. One must try Thukpa and momos as no other place can serve Tibetan food better than McLeodganj.