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The snow-capped Dhauladhar range above the town of Dharamshala

Dharamshala travel guide: tourist places and how to reach

Dharamshala at a glance

Dharamshala is a hill town in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, at about 1,457 m below the Dhauladhar range. Upper Dharamshala, including McLeod Ganj (about 2,000 m), is home to the Dalai Lama’s temple and the Tibetan community in exile. Kangra (Gaggal) Airport is about 15 km away, and the most pleasant months are March to June and late September to November.

Altitude
About 1,457 m (town); McLeod Ganj about 2,000 m
Nearest airport
Kangra (Gaggal) Airport, DHM: about 15 km
Nearest railhead
Pathankot Junction: about 85 km
Dharamshala to McLeod Ganj
About 9 km by road; 1.8 km by the Dharamshala Skyway ropeway (about 5 minutes)
Norbulingka (Sidhpur)
About 7–8 km from Dharamshala town, 12 km from McLeod Ganj
Rainfall
About 3,000 mm a year, most of it from mid-June to mid-September

Places to visit in Dharamshala

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How to reach Dharamshala

  • By air

    Kangra (Gaggal) Airport (DHM) is about 15 km south-west of Dharamshala and 10–15 km from Norbulingka. Taxis wait outside the terminal.

  • By rail

    The nearest broad-gauge railhead is Pathankot Junction, about 85 km away, with buses and taxis onward. The narrow-gauge Kangra Valley Railway also runs through the district.

  • By road

    State (HRTC) and private overnight buses run from Delhi and Chandigarh to Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj. Local buses, shared taxis and cabs connect Dharamshala, Sidhpur and McLeod Ganj.

  • To McLeod Ganj

    The road from Dharamshala to McLeod Ganj is about 9 km. The Dharamshala Skyway ropeway, opened in January 2022, covers 1.8 km in about five minutes, from near Bypass Road to Temple Road.

Best time to visit Dharamshala

  • March to June

    Warm days and clear Dhauladhar views; May is the warmest month, up to about 36 °C in the lower town. Good for Triund and sightseeing.

  • Mid-June to mid-September

    The monsoon: Dharamshala is one of the wettest places in India, with July and August each bringing over 850 mm of rain. Green, misty, and slower going on mountain roads.

  • Late September to November

    Clear skies after the rains and crisp evenings: the best months for views of the snow line.

  • December to February

    Cold, with snow and sleet common in upper Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj and snow on the Dhauladhar; lower Dharamshala rarely gets snow.

Where to stay in Dharamshala

All hotels

Dharamshala: frequently asked questions

What is Dharamshala famous for?

Dharamshala is known for McLeod Ganj, home of the Dalai Lama’s temple complex and the Tibetan community in exile, for the Dhauladhar mountains, the Triund trek, paragliding at Indrunag, the Norbulingka Institute of Tibetan arts in Sidhpur and the cricket stadium.

What is the best time to visit Dharamshala?

March to June and late September to November. Summer days are warm and clear, and autumn has the sharpest mountain views. Mid-June to mid-September is the monsoon, with very heavy rain; December to February is cold, with snow in upper Dharamshala.

How far is McLeod Ganj from Dharamshala?

About 9 km by road. The Dharamshala Skyway ropeway links the two in about five minutes over 1.8 km, from near Bypass Road in Dharamshala to Temple Road in McLeod Ganj.

What is the nearest airport to Dharamshala?

Kangra Airport at Gaggal (DHM), about 15 km south-west of Dharamshala and 10–15 km from Norbulingka.

How do I reach Dharamshala by train?

Take a train to Pathankot Junction, the nearest broad-gauge station about 85 km away, then a bus or taxi to Dharamshala.

Where can I stay near Norbulingka in Dharamshala?

Three Himalayan Brothers hotels are near Norbulingka in Sidhpur: Hotel Buddha House (affordable), Quartz Himalayan Brothers (3-star, mountain views) and Hotel Samdupling (budget rooms and a 14-bed mixed dormitory).

Sources

Road, weather and permit conditions change; check locally before you travel. Our front desks are happy to help.

Dharamshala blogs

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