4 / 5 - 2 reviews
How to get there
12 hours by bus from Delhi
When to go
All year round
Minimum stay
1 to 2 days
Dharamsala (India)
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Nina Montagné
Practical information on Dharamsala
Reviews of Dharamsala
Nicknamed the "Little Lhasa", this city perched in the Himalayas has been home to India's Tibetan community for a number of decades.
My suggestion:
Find out about the possibility of meeting the Dalai Lama, who has his residence here.
My review
Arriving in Dharamsala when traveling India is a little like finding yourself in Tibet before the Chinese invasion. Furthermore, many Tibetans these days prefer to go to Dharamsala or Ladhak rather than Tibet, a country they are no longer familiar with.
I have very peaceful, gentle and pleasant memories of this city, perched up in the Himalayan foothills at an altitude of more than 1800 meters. In spring, the surrounding area is covered in thousands of flowers; in winter, it's all blanketed in snow!
Many tourists come to Dharamsala to go on retreat to a monastery or simply spend a few days relaxing at one of the city's numerous guesthouses. You will find Tibetan restaurants serving delicious food more or less everywhere in Dharamsala.
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Nina Montagné
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Kiran Jonnalagadda
The fiefdom of Dalaï-Lama has been in exile since 1959, and numerous Tibetan refugees, this pretty town of Himachal Pradesh is often nicknamed "little Lhasa".
My suggestion:
For sleeping, opt for the villages of Baghsu or Dharamko, a few kilometres into the mountains, or the villages of Dhusalini, below Mc Leod Ganj.
My review
Dharamsala - at least its touristic part - is the kingdom of wellbeing classes of all types . Cooking, yoga, massage, meditation, and I could go on, from one day to several weeks, there is something for every taste.
Given its history, the Tibetan culture has the place of honour in the Mac Leod Ganj region, and good news for the fans, you can even meet the Dalaï-Lama during one of his monthly conferences. An activity advisable for everyone including the place on their trip to India, his character is really incredible (although not always understandable, it is believed that he is a fan of Master Yoda to the extent that he imitates his speech).
But, ironically, you can reproach Dharamsala and its surroundings for lacking authenticity and the nook is touristic and directed towards the tourism industry. I, for certain, really enjoyed this place, its peacefulness and the beauty of its landscapes. A stroll towards the Bhagsu waterfalls or a hike to Triund to recover, a deep Buddhist innovation and that's a full agenda! The Tibetan Medicine Museum and the Norbulingka Institute with its magical garden are also worth a visit. And for the rest... it's up to you to discover!
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Aleksandr Zykov
344 travelers' photos
