Hi, I have a question about Dharamsala

Answered by Manish Chachra , New Delhi, India

Hi Harish,

Dharamsala is divided in two parts, Lower and Upper Dharamsala, with the latter being famously known as Mcleod Ganj. Mcleod Ganj with its its Buddhist culture permeating every nook and cranny of the place, is quite a moving experience.

If you are going to be there during the monsoon season, there is little you can do in terms of activities. But acting touristy would not be difficult. There are amazing places hidden in the corners of the place.

If the weather is clear, do go for a trek to Triund... and if you have the time, make it an overnight stay at Triund and come down the next day. The entire trek is about 12 Kms one way and is worth the effort as you get to see the Mighty Dhauladhar upclose.

For sightseeing, I would suggest Bhagsunag, the waterfalls beyond the temple and then a short outing to Naddi and Talnu... nothing much up there but the view is amazing. Spare about a couple of hours for a visit to the Main Buddhist Temple... grab a bench and see the way the Buddhists pray... Quite a moving experience. if you are lucky and time your visit, you just might get a glimpse of the monks gathering for their prayers.

Another place where you could spend some time is Siddhpur, 6kms short of the main town is the place which houses the Norbulingka Institute of Arts... basically promoting Buddhist Art and Culture.

For eating, if you are a big fan of Tibetan Food, head out to the market which has a plethora of Tibetan joints. If you are in the mood to splurge a little, head out to Pema Thang's, opposite HPTDC's Hotel Bhagsu. Very decent accommodations and an immensely popular food joint, serving continental dishes with a Twist. I would recommend their Pepperoni Pizza, (trust me you would not be disappointed... surprised but not disappointed) or you could have the fried Bananas with Walnut... I tried both and loved them :-)

All in all, roam around, get to know the local populace, talk to people, do some window shopping, some gift shopping, but do not forget to bargain... it is an inherent part of tourist shopping there. if you are a music buff, like I used to be when I first visited the place, you would be amazed at the kind of fusion music available there... some hard to find collections, unheard of in the other parts of the country. Ditto is the case with books.

I can recommend doing this the most: grab a book, go to Pema Thang, order a coffee and some grub, head out to the balcony, grab a chair, relax, read the book and unwind with the views of the beautiful Kangra Valley below. and if you are lucky, you just might get to hear someone strumming a guitar, or you could do so yourself... they have one kept for people who walk into the cafe...

Hope this helps...

Cheers and hope you have a good time in D'sala

Manish