Mcleodganj

The church of St. John in the wilderness is an old Anglican church situated in the beautiful valley of McLeodganj, which is at a distance of about 8 kilometres from Dharamshala. The church was built in the year 1852. It was dedicated to John the Baptist and also one of the viceroys of India, Lord Elgin was buried here in 1863. With its neo-gothic architecture, the church, known for its stunning design is set amidst deodar forests and is full of memorial stones of the British soldiers who were posted here.Nestled in the beautiful picturesque location, St. John Wilderness Church with its quiet and serene surroundings will definitely give you a sense of peace and calm. On the outside, it may look like an old and abandoned structure but the insides are still very well maintained and quite active. The church is known to attract a lot of tourists and visitors on almost all days and especially on Sundays. On the outside, the Belgian stained glass windows are the main attractions of the church while on the inside, the polished wood of the altar railing and old brass oil lamps which are now converted into electric light holders, make it very appealing.Along the walking path in the church, the holy cross symbols are artistically made with colourful stones. The church is usually under close watch by security guards to make sure no damage is caused by tourists and visitors.

Located in Dharamshala, the spiritual dwelling of a huge number of Tibetan monks have come and carved out the heavenly Namgyal Monastery in Himachal. This place was originally a monastery from the palace of Lhasa, which found its new incarnation in Dharamshala. The monastery is known to perform all important Tibetan ceremonies and host Tibetan monks from around the world.It accommodates around 200 monks who are involved in preserving the rare skills, rituals, tantric practices, Buddhist scriptures and culture which they brought from Tibet. The new version of this monastery is also known as Namgyal Tantric College. Known as “the Dalai Lama Temple”, the monastery now acts as a personal monastery for the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. This beautiful monastery built in a calm scenic hilltop in McLeod Ganj has grown in reputation as a tourist hotspot of Dharamshala. Apart from serving as a private place of worship for the Dalai Lama, the serene ambience of the place and the rich history produce a mesmerizing effect on the visitors from around the world. Namgyal had already earned its fame in Lhasa and since its restoration in India, the monastery has spread its wings across the Atlantic. In 1992 the Namgyal Monastery Institute of Buddhist Studies was built in New York, Ithaca, which is directly under the influence of the Namgyal Monastery of Dharamshala.

Chamunda Devi Temple, or the 'Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham,' is one of the most prestigious and renowned holy shrines of the Hindus. It was built during the reigns of Maharaja Umed Singh and is dedicated to Goddess Kali. Chamunda Devi Temple is also known as the abode of Lord Shiva and Mata Shakti and presents the impressive architecture of the old era.The temple is located on the banks of Banganga (Baner) River in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh and is only 10 km from the well-known Palampur city. It is one of the most visited places in Chamba and is full of devotees throughout the year. But, Navratri season is the most bustling time as thousands of devotees come to get the blessings of Chamunda Devi. This 16th-century temple is the unique masterpiece of ancient times and is full of floral and animal carvings on silver sheets. It was built using only wood and gabled roofs. It has a cave-like scoop with structures (Lingam) representing Nandikeshwar (Shiva) and a running water pool with the statues of Lord Shiva and Saraswati at the backside of the temple. Not only this, but the temple complex also houses a handicraft center, which allows visitors to explore the vibrant culture and art scene of the Kangra district through the local artifacts. Visitors can take back souvenirs from a range of items, including wood carvings, wooden toys, handkerchiefs, honey, black pottery, chappals, Kangra tea, and world-famous Kangra paintings, etc. This is the place where radiance glorifies, making everything tranquil and shower fervor.

If you too love to witness the snow-capped nature atop the beautiful scenic mountains, you must add the Indrahar Pass on your bucket list right away! Indrahar Pass acts as a border between the vividly known Chamba and Kangra districts of Himachal Pradesh. It is also amongst the most popular trekking routes from the tourist destinations of Dharamshala. Indrahar Pass offers you the picture-perfect views of the Dhauladhar range amidst the small vernacular settlements in the region.The distinctly varying altitudes of the trekking trail to this mesmerizing location allow you to witness the scenic beauty of various forest ranges. Moreover, you would also be able to spot the Pir Panjal range along with various other smaller ranges which make this trek worth the hard work. Once you reach your ultimate destination, the view from the top would be one of its kind and make you feel out of the world.Indrahar Pass receives a lot of trekking enthusiasts during the trekking season due to the indomitable views of the conifer ranges and the pleasant weather of the region all throughout the trekking season.Moreover, this overwhelming trek also allows you to experience and indulge with some of the tribal settlements of Himachal, introducing you to a whole new face of Himachal's culture, food, and hospitality. Additionally, you need not be a hardcore trekking professional to be able to visit Indrahar pass. It only involves easy to moderate level trekking, allowing even the beginners to enjoy it to the fullest.

Encircled by the enchanting beauty of Dharamshala, Bhagsu Fall is a feast for one's eyes. The serenity and peace bestowed at this place relaxes one’s mind. This famous tourist destination is perfect for picnicking with friends and family. In the proximity of this waterfall Bhagsunath Temple is located that adds a spiritual touch to this location. Bhagsu waterfall originates from the Dhauladhar Valley which is also a religious site. The waves move forward across the Bhagsunath temple and reach the peak from where it freely falls with a rustling sound. The captivating beauty of this fall gets enhanced during the monsoon season when the waterfall resting at a height of 30 feet pours down large volumes of water along with the showers of rain. Sight the gorgeous views as you treat your taste buds with lip-smacking food in cafes and restaurants in the proximity of the Bhagsu Waterfall.The water would lure you take a dip in it but its cold temperature would give you second thoughts. This place is the best hotspot in Dharamshala for nature lovers. Apart from soothing your eyes with the beauty of this waterfall, you can also include yourself in other activities around like trekking which would bestow you with the best scenery of nature.It is advisable to wear sports shoes to keep you from falling on the slippery surface near the waterfall. Sip a hot cup of coffee and enjoy the mesmerizing view of the Bhagsu Falls. Explore this destination which is one of the most iconic tourist spots in Mcleodganj.

Situated close to Manimahesh Kailash Peak in the Pir Panjal Range of Himalayas, Manimahesh Lake is located in the Chamba district and is one of the most important places to visit in Chamba. The lake is located at a height of 4, 080 meters from the mean sea level and has high religious significance after Lake Mansarovar in Tibet. The lake is a major pilgrimage trek, which is carried out during the months of August and September on the eighth day of new moon period, as per the Hindu Calendar and is known as 'Manimahesh Yatra.'

Located near the Police Post and Treasury building in Chamba, Champavati Temple is one of the most religious destinations and best places to visit in Chamba. It was built by Raja Sahil Varman in the memory of Champavati who was her daughter. The temple's Shikhara style and various ornamental stone carvings make it distinguishable from others. It resembles the architectural pieces of Nepal, featuring structures that are cylindrical in shape and are categorized into 5 to 9 parts. The temple holds the shrines of Vasuki Naga, Wazir and Goddess Mahisasuramardini, an avatar of Goddess Durga. The best time to visit temple is from the month of March to June as the climate is so pleasant during this duration. The temple has a great archaeological and historical value and is taken care by Archeological Survey of India. Millions of hindus visit the temple each year, especially during Navratri.

Friendship peak is in the Pir Panjal range in the Beas Kund region and this trek can be undertaken by even persons with limited mountaineering knowledge. The trek reaches a maximum altitude of 5,289 metres.The Friendship peak is situated in the Beas Kund Area which is very popular among tourists for ski touring, ski mountaineering and mountaineering. The trail proceeds via Dhundi and Beas Kund. The ideal time for trekking here is May and June and again in September and October.Best Season: July - OctoberMax. Elevation: 5289mDuration of the Trek: 5 daysDifficulty Level: ModerateClick here to explore more about the trekking tours in McLeod Ganj!