TRAVEL GUIDE TO, LITTLE TIBET OF INDIA-MCLEOD GANJ

 Mcleod Ganj is in Dharamshala in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. The little Tibet is much more known as the house of Dalai lama with nuns and monasteries. This place literally makes you feel like you are in Tibet from momos to monk, they are Tibetan souvenir shops around every corner.

This hill town attracts tourists from different parts of the world and is a great spot for weekend gateways too. McLeod Ganj is surrounded by beautiful dense pine and deodar forests.

Best time to visit Mcleod Ganj.

1.Summer- April to June
2.Monsoon- July to September
3.Winters- October to March

Places to visit in McLeod ganj

1. DHARAMKOT.

Dharamkot is a small hippie village near the McLeod area. Dharamkot is the perfect base for multiple treks such as Triund, Illaqua, Indrahar Pass, etc.

This village doesn’t have any roads, except for a single road that leads to it and pretty much ends where there’s a very famous café called “Trek and Dine”. After this café, the road narrows down to a pathway, ideal for aimless walks through the village to various other viewpoints, rocks, waterfalls, and some treks.

It is the place where you can get spiritual, Dharamkot is the perfect little Yoga village and is ideal for a few days’ time off from the real world. Or even months.. if you’re lucky enough to take time off work for that long.

2. DAL LAKE.

Dal Lake Dharamshala is located in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. The name of the lake is inspired by the famous Dal Lake of Kashmir. It is at an elevation of 5,823 feet above the sea level. It is situated near a village called Tota Rani. There is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva at the bank of the lake. Dal Lake Himachal Pradesh is a mid-altitude lake which is surrounded by thick deodar trees. It is at a distance of 11 km from Dharamshala. Taxis are available from Dharamshala and Mcleodganj to reach the lake. Dal Lake Dharamshala is one of the most popular tourist destinations of Himachal Pradesh. Visitors can also enjoy boating in the lake. Special permissions are also granted for fishing. It is a tranquil spot for picnic and photography. A parking space is also available here. The local market is at a distance of 2 km from the lake.

3. BHAGSUNAG FALL.

The majestic bhagsu fall is situated in bhangsunag village which is at the elevation of 7,000 ft. This place is famous for lord shiva temple. And also a perfect spot for nature lovers as it is at high altitudes.

4. ST. JHON IN THE WILDERNESS. 

This church is of north India dedicated to john the baptist built-in 1872, located near Dharamshala, on the way to McLeodGanj, at Forsyth Gunj. The place is fall of deodar forest, and the architecture is in neo-Gothic form, the church is known for its Belgian stained-glass windows donated by Lady Elgin.
Its churchyard is the final resting place of Lord Elgin, who served as Governor-General of the Province of Canada, oversaw the Creation of Responsible Government in Canada, and later, while in China, ordered the complete destruction of the Old Summer Palace. He became Governor-General & Viceroy of India in 1861 during the British Raj, though he soon died at Dharamshala on 20 November 1863, and was buried there.

5. KARERI LAKE.

Kareri Lake is a freshwater, shallow and magnificent Lake in dhauladhar range approx. 9km northwest of Dharamshala in Kangra destruction, Himachal Pradesh. Its surface is 2934 mt above sea level.
The lake remains frozen from early December to March–April. There is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Shakti on a hilltop overlooking the Lake, Kareri Lake.

The temperature at Kareri Lake changes with the seasons. It can go up to 43 degrees during the days in the summer season, while the temperature in the winters hits the negatives. Spring is the best time to take this trek, especially if you wish to see the flora and fauna of the area in full bloom. I'll suggest you to please avoid travel during monsoon season as it is too risky and dangerous to reach Lake. The route may get slippery and may lead to accident.

6. TIBET MUSEUM.

The Tibet Museum is the main museum located near the temple of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tsuglag Khang, in the Dharamshala suburb of McLeod Ganj. It is the official Museum of central Tibetan administration's department of information and international relations.

The main aim of the Tibetan Museum is to disperse the knowledge of Tibetan culture and history, the pristine white interiors are sparingly filled with photographs and Tibetan artifacts. More than a museum, the Tibet Museum is a library of facts, documents, videos, installations, and objects related to the Chinese occupation of Tibet. Huge sepia-tinted photographs tell you how Dalai Lama escaped from Tibet into India dressed like a soldier, the Chinese soldiers stationed at the Lhasa border, and many more poignant scenes. A video made by a documentary filmmaker takes you through the torment the Tibetan freedom fighters live through even today. On the second floor, you'll see images of optimism. All in all the Tibetan museum will take you through history. The people how they hold their true identity.

Best shopping places to buy.

1. Nowrojee & Sons.

2. Thankas and Gifts.

3.The Norbulinka Institute.

4. Palaco Handmade Craft.

5. Shemshook Tibetan handicraft.

6.Lha Tibet Fair Trade.

7. Vintage Trunk.

McLeod Ganj is truly a tourist’s heaven. The weather is awesome,there's culture and heritage is so great,  a great shopping experience. So after the pandemic end .....Plan accordingly. Stay safe stay healthy. And share your tour experience with me on Instagram. If you are still reading, I'd like to say thanks for coming to my blog and staying here until the end of this article. I appreciate if you find this blog post helpful, pin it or like it and follow me on Instagram @roads_never_ends. And don’t forget to share!