Planning Phase for McLeodgunj & Dalhousie..

Mcleodgunj & Dalhousie

Best time to Travel: March to June & September to November

Itinerary:  Night1: Delhi to Pathankot (8-10 Hrs by Train),

Day2: Pathankot to Mcleodgunj (2-3 Hrs By Car) (Link to Detailed Mcleodganj Experience)

Day3:  Mcleodgunj to Triund (3-6 Hrs by Foot, depends on you)

Day4: Triund to Mcleodgunj (2-4 Hrs by Foot), Mcleodgunj to Dalhousie (4-5 Hrs by Car)

Day5: Dalhousie – Khajjiar (half hrs by Car) (Link to Detailed Dalhousie Experience)

Day6: Pathankot to Delhi (8-10 Hrs by Train)

Planning for the Trip:

I wasn’t much excited about the journey: one because this would be my 2^nd visit there, two because both are very popular destination and must be crowded because of the extra-long weekend. But my husband (Rahul) wanted to go there so I agreed with few initial reservations. How long my reservations can sustain knowing that it’s a tour and that too, to the mountains with a special attraction of 2 Day Trekking to Triund. So, I started planning for the trip, smartly covering the places which were missed in earlier trip ;-)

First thing I did was to book ticket as it was a long weekend it was very difficult to get tickets for such a popular destination, I could manage to get 2 of the last 5 ticket on the only train left with confirmed booking options. Such a relief!!!

Next was to get our hotels booked, which was again a herculean task on those particular dates, I had to go through to each and every website to get the hotels bookings. The only booking I could get was through expedia for a Hotel,  to our despair 3 days after the booking expedia people called us only to inform that there was some fault in their system and there is no room in that hotel. Finally after a lot of hustle bustle we could get a booking for Hotel Natraj and for Dalhousie I booked "Birds & Chirps" to experience a Homestay for the first time. Next was to make arrangements for a guide, camping at Triund and a cab.

Taxi Services: Rana Travels Pathankot, would recommend NOT TO USE Rana Travels for booking taxi not even as last resort

McLeodGanj & Dharamshala:



Sunrise at top of Triund

Tip: Try to get an accommodation at Jogiwara road or at Rangrik (at the road parallel to jogiwara) instead of Bhagsu or Dharamshala. Trust me it is a different experience altogether, a very different culture and lifestyle compared to other hill station in North India.

Places to Stay: Hotel Moon River, Jogipura Road, Meclodgunj – Awesome Hotel with excellent views & hospitality of the staff

If staying in Triund either you can plan for camping or Forest guesthouse (only 3-4 rooms, need to book in advance)

Main Attractions : Dalai Lama Temple, Bhagsu Waterfalls, Bhagsu Nag Temple, St. John church in the Wilderness, Dal Lake, Roaming and shopping on the market street, Triund Trek, Dharamshala Cricket Stadium

Food: Seed Café (Italian Food + one should go for the view), Nicks Kitchen (awesome Italian & Richard Gere’s Favorite restaurant), Clay Owen (rustic ambiance and good Tibetan, Chinese and Thai food) Tibet kitchen (Tibetan Food), Bakery at Main Square.

Dalhousie:




Beautiful Roads at Dalhousie

Tip(s):

1. You can try your luck for booking the two Government Cottages at Kajjiar.
2. If you have some time you can go to Chamba via Khajjiar and return to Dalhousie via Chamera Dam/Lake.
3. If you are adventurist and have 2 extra days then take an excursion to Sach Pass. Please check its accessibility before going there. 
4. You can also go to Bharmour & Manimahesh, around 60km further from Chamba (108 Kms from Dalhousie). It is a hindu pilgrimage sight AKA land of lord Shiva. The scenery and landscape of these places are also exceptional, which is a bonus..

Places to Stay: Birds & Chirps Homestay, Panchpula, Dalhousie – Home amidst tall trees and chirping birds, its literally Birds and Chirps 

Governement Cottages at Khajjiar

Main Attractions: Khajjiar, Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary, Dainkund Peak, Barkota Hill, SaatDhara (don’t go there), Pachpula Waterfalls, Gandhi Chowk (Market Area), St. John's Church, Chamera Lake (enroute to Chamba), Chamunda Devi Temple, Manimahesh Lake, Sach Pass

Detailed travelogue will follow..