Himachal: Dalhousie, Dharamshala and Kangra
This post talks about Dharamshala things to do, Dalhousie things to do, options from Dalhousie to Dharamshala and more about best things to do in Kangra himachal pradesh.
I still have vivid memories of the fun we had in the plush Dalhousie bunglow (playing cards, movies and an almost home made food), Zorbing, Kangra fort and the wheel separation accident. Amazing trip with an amazing bunch.
March 10th to 16th, 2006
PLACES COVERED: DALHOUSIE, DHARAMSHALA AND KANGRA
Himachal is basically divided in 3 valleys: Chamba, Kangra and Kullu. We visited Chamba Valley (Dalhousie and Chamba) and Kangra Valley (Dharamsala n Kangra). Below you will find more about our route from Dalhousie to Dharamshala.
TRAVEL ROUTE:
21hrs train journey from Lucknow to Pathankot (Jammu Tawi Express)
4hr road journey (60 – 70kms) from Pathankot to Dalhousie
Dalhousie and areas around
Day trip to Chamba and Khajjiar
Dalhousie to Dharamshala and Mcleodganj
Mcleodganj to Pathankot via Trilokpur
Return train from Pathankot to Lucknow (Sealdah Jammu Tawi)
DALHOUSIE Things to do
It is a memorable road journey from Pathankot to Dalhousie with stunning landscapes and dangerously curvy roads. The journey was quite memorable for us for other reasons too: While we were on an ascent, we saw one of the tires of our hired shoddy van, dangerously roll down by our side. Thankfully the driver must have realized it beforehand and hence stopped the van and we managed to relax.
Dalhousie things to do is a long list and make sure you have 2-3 days at hand to enjoy the weather, greenery and sightseeing
Gandhi Chowk, Subhash Chowk, Thandi Sarak (translating to cold road) and Garam Sarak (warm road)
Gandhi and Subhash chowk were sort of a mall road or the market road for Dalhousie. The roads are named Thandi or Garam on the basis of the amount of sunlight and snowfall these roads face. Good for morning and evening strolls.
Dainkund Peak: It was an easy trek with great views from the top. Enroute we saw the Peer Panjal & Mani Maheshwar mountain range.
Panjpula (or Panchpulla): Famous for its natural waterfall and there was nothing much beyond that
Khajjiar: I remember it as a meadow in the middle of deodar forests filled with a woody fragrance. Pooja and I did zorbing for the first time in our lives in such a non descript place 🙂 and actually it was quite an experience.
CHAMBA
Chamunda Devi Temple, Lakkad Bazaar and Chamba Museum
Chamba boasts of the Chamunda Devi temple that was built in 10th century AD and still has some of the shrines dating back to that century. Around this temple were the granaries and other parts of the Chamba fort which now are now in an unkempt condition. Near the temple is also a lakkad bazaar (for buying and selling of wooden logs) and the Chamba Museum that has a great collection of age old paintings and pilar stones of the fort and other nearby monuments. Being a government museum, it closes at 5:00PM. As mountain driving is considered unsafe after sunset, we returned back to our plush abode in Dalhousie to prepare for our departure to Dharamsala the next morning.
MCLEODGANJ and DHARAMSHALA Things to do
Many people make the trip from Dalhousie to Dharamshala during the months of February and March, when Dalai Lama visits Dharamsala for his sermons, it can be a task to find a place to stay. We eventually managed something in Bhagsunath (2km from McLeodganj, which itself is 9km from Dharamsala). There was a well established taxi service from McLeodganj to Dharamsala and I believe it would have gotten better in the last 12yrs.
Dalai Lama Temple Complex and Gyuto Monastery
This temple and monastery complex is on top of the list of Dharamshala things to do. The temple and the monastery complex, are an abode of peace and divinity at the same time. Breathtaking mountain views form the backdrop for the monastery and it just has to be experienced for what they are and what they signify.
Bhagsunath Temple, Dal Lake and St. John in the Wilderness Church
An old temple dedicated to Shivji, probably named after this place 2kms away from Mcleodganj. Visiting the Dal lake enroute, we stopped for just a little bit to see the St. John’s church. I wonder whether it was St. John who was in the wilderness or the person who named it wanted to highlight the environs. This place could qualify for the next horror movie for the sheer eeriness to this one. After this multi religious trip we headed to one of the my favourite places on this trip the Kangra fort.
Bakeries of McLeodgunj
Mcleodganj boasts of good bakery shops (like the Bakery Shop) and tibetian and chinese food joints (like the Hot Spot and others in the main Macleodganj area). We savoured on the pastries and patties the first day along with some really delicious cookies while the next day just the pastries were enough.
Things to do in KANGRA Himachal Pradesh
Kangra Fort
Kangra fort overlooking the valley of Kangra Himachal Pradesh is one fort which has never been conquered.
Kangra valley is formed by the Beas and Banganga rivers and top of the Kangra fort provides one of the most breathtaking views of the same. The fort has a small museum at the entrance which provides a good understanding of the whole area as well as talks about a major earthquake that took place in 1905 and led to a lot of destruction especially of the Fort and the other small sub monuments within it like the Lakshmi Narayan temple. Before the earthquake, this is the only fort (or probably one of the few) in the history of India, that could never be conquered.
Trilokpur Temple: Stalactite and Stalagmite formations
Famous amongst the locals, Trilokpur cave temple is 41kms from Dharamsala on the way to Pathankot. It has a fine display of stalactite and stalagmite formations. Since the whole area is quite mountainous, there were rocks in the stream adjoining the temple, where Anand decided to give rock climbing a last ditch effort. The view of the valley from here too is breathtakingly beautiful.
We then caught our train back to Lucknow from Pathankot, to start a new journey in our lives. (This was a trip after the placements and before our convocation).
Himachal is as much a trekker’s delight as of a photographer’s…
