In recent years, Dharamshala became one of the most sought-after holiday destinations for millennials. It got recently declared as a ‘Smart City’ that gained some additional notoriety to this hill station. Many young people from metropolitan cities like Delhi have settled in Dharamshala and are working from here.
Dharamshala or popularly known as ‘Dharamsala’, is home to His Holiness Dalai Lama. Dalai Lama is the political and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. Dalai Lama is a Nobel Peace Prize winner and has been the prime reason for attracting many international tourists from around the world. Dalai Lama holds many teaching based on Tibetan Buddhism which is very popular among international students and people studying Buddhism.
Dharamshala offers great weather during the summers and scenic views of the Dhauladhar mountain range. The road trip to this hill station offers gorgeous views through the deodar tree forest areas. It is a popular road trip destination for tourists from Punjab and Delhi. Every year, the tour agencies and hotels have observed a drastic rise in the number of queries they receive for reservations.
Apart from Dalai Lama’s residence, Dharamshala offers plenty of attractions for a short-term vacation. There are many tourist attractions including monasteries, temples, waterfalls, museums, and trekking sites for tourists of all tastes and preferences. The general spiritual vibe of this place makes it popular for people looking for solitude. The months of March till June is the best time to visit Dharamshala because of the pleasant weather and rich foliage. There are many places to visit in Dharamshala during winters.
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15 Popular Places To See In Dharamshala
Many tourist places to see here have made into the list of the most popular tourist destination. Following are the most mesmerizing places to visit in Dharamshala.
1. Kareri Lake
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This trekking trail through the gorgeous mountains is an unforgettable experience. The lake is located in a village called Kareri with the local people native to the mountains. This village belongs to the shepherd community of the Himalayas. The community is known as the ‘Gaddis’. The ‘Gaddi’ community has a rich history full of traditions and rituals unique to this community.
The most popular tourist activity is camping near the Karerilake and trekking towards the lake. This region in the North-West side of the Kangra Valley and it takes 3 days of trekking to reach the lake. Many regular tour groups are organized by various travel agencies to this popular destination.
2. The Cricket Stadium
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This stadium in Dharamshala is considered to be one of the famous tourist places in Dharamshala. It is one of the highest stadiums in the world. Many international cricket matches have been held here and this is one of the reasons why Dharamshala got its popularity trending among young people. Many international cricket matches attracted many tourists to visit Dharamshala to watch the LIVE sporting event.
Surrounded by the mountains the visit to the stadium is a very pleasant journey. Tourists can visit the stadium at any time from 9 am to 6 pm.
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3. The Kangra Fort
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The fort of Kangra has a rich backstory with the heritage of the Royals who ruled this region. There are various versions of the stories told by the local people about the history of the Kangra Fort.
The fort has an ancient style of architecture and it dates back to the 4 century. Kangra fort can be easily reached by road via Bus or taxi. The timings are from 9 am to 6 pm.
4. Art Museum of Kangra 
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The Kangra art museum is full of exquisite artworks belong to Hindu and Tibetan Buddhism traditions. The artworks are very old going back centuries. The museum can be reached while driving towards the Kotwali Bazar of Dharamshala.
The Kangra art museum is worth visiting just because of the reason that there is a lot of history in this place. The museum houses miniature paintings, sculptures, coins, swords, and many ancient figurines. All the pieces of art give a glimpse into the history of Kangra and its people.
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5. Mcleodganj
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This popular town has been visiting by many celebrities such as Richard Gere. Mcleodganj is the actual place of residence of His Holiness Dalai Lama. Dalai Lama Temple is one of the most popular destinations for foreign tourists. This is the place where Dalai Lama holds his public teaching events.
The town is full of hotels, cafés, and restaurants along with an affluent market with many stalls selling local handicrafts and fabrics. Most of the products are sold by the exiled refugee community of Tibetans. There are souvenirs that you can be purchased from throughout the street leading to the main square. It is also a popular honeymoon destination for couples. There are many Himachal honeymoon packages being offered by the tour agencies here.
6. Bhagsunag
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This little town beyond Mcleodganj can be divided into upper and lower Bhagsunag. The main attractions of this place are the waterfall and Bhagsunag temple.
The temple of Bhagsunag is dedicated to the ‘Vasuki’ snake that is mentioned in Hindu mythology. The Bhagsunag waterfall is a popular attraction for tourists. It is a small trek of a couple of hours to reach the waterfall.
Bhagsu village is full of local shops selling various souvenirs and artwork. Also, many cafés and restaurants are located here as well. Upper Bhagsu is popular among foreign tourists who wish to spend time away from the crowd. Upper Bhagsu contains various cafés and homestay facilities.
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7. Gyuto Tantric monastery 
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This monastery is a beautiful attraction for tourists. The monastery is the home to Karmapa who is another spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism. Karmapa frequently holds public teachings for everyone.
The monastery also houses many monks who are researching Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, the rituals of Tantra, and various forms of Tantric meditations. The monastery is located in the town of Sidhbari which is around 13 kilometers from Dharamshala’s main market.
8. Masrur Temple 
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This ancient temple goes back to the 8th century A.D. The ancient architecture depicts many events mentioned in Hindu mythology on its walls. The temple is significant to the Hindu faith as it is part of the Hindu mythology with significant events associated with it.
Although the temple was previously known only to history enthusiasts in recent years, the overall popularity of Dharamshala has put a spotlight on this temple as well. Once travel goes back to normal after the pandemic, you can expect a steady flow of tourists to this temple.
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9. Triund
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This popular day-trek destination has gained a lot of attention in the last few years. The peak of Triund is at a height of approximately 2800 meters. It is a wonderful trekking trail through the scenic view of the Dhauladhar landscape.
Before traveling you should inform the forest department authorities and register your name. This is to maintain a check of the number of tourists climbing the hill. Also, the trek is rocky and slippery during the rains, the authorities have urged everyone to register their name before trekking to Triund.
Currently, camping activities have been closed for the public. However, you can start early to reach the top to enjoy food and chai from the small cafés and start climbing down before the sunset.
10. Dharamkot
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This place lies beyond the town of Mcleodganj and is the most popular among foreign tourists. The famous trek to Triund starts from the main square of the village of Dharamkot. The place is full of live music and small cafés with an easy-going vibe. Many homestay options are available for tourists. The best time to visit Dharamkot is in April, May, and June.
You can expect to hear spontaneous musical performances from musicians from all over the world. Most of the events that happen in Dharamkot are often unpredictable. Currently, this little gem hidden in the Dhauladhars has made the whole region popular for tourism.
In Dharamkot, you can find many places for Yoga, meditation, and relaxation. You can expect to see people spending their whole day sitting in a café.
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11. The Norbulingka Institute
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This institute is among the most visited place by tourists who are interested in Tibetan Arts and Handicrafts. The institute is home to many Tibetan artists dedicated to the making and selling of art. The art includes the popular ‘Thanka’ paintings and many statues making and sculpting as well.
Many art classes are also given to tourists who wish to learn the Tibetan painting style and sculpting. The Norbulingka Institute is located in Sidhpur which is around 10 kilometers away from Dharamshala’s main market area.
12. Tapovan
This hidden treasure is worth seeing during your trip to Dharamshala. Tapovan is located adjacent to the town of Sidhbari and Parliament is located in this town. The road leads down through a serene forest and a beautiful view of the Dhauladhars to the Chinmaya Ashram.
Another popular attraction is the meditation complex in the Chinmaya Ashram and the huge statue of the Hindu deity called Hanuman. Recently, cyclists found this road to be very good for their hobby. There are also some organized cycling groups traveling down this road leading to the village of Kaned.
This road is a great experience for the people who wish to trek on this during sunrise and sunset.
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13. Jwala Devi Temple
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This important Hindu temple is dedicated to one of the incarnations of the Hindu Goddess Shakti. The temple is one of the many goddess temples in the state of Himachal Pradesh.
Jwala Devi temple is visited by hundreds of devotees of the Hindu faith. The temple is located around 50 kilometers away from Dharamshala. The major attraction for this temple is because of flames that appear to have no source of fuel. This phenomenon has also been the reason for the popularity of this temple.
14. Saint John’s Church
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This church can be reached by road from Dharamshala to Mcleodganj. The church was constructed in the year 1852 and its architecture is based on Neo-Gothic style. The church has stained glass windows with beautiful artwork.
Domestic Indian tourists visit this church on their way to the famous town of Mcleodganj. It is a common sight to see tourists engaged in posing for photographs in front of the church gate. This hidden destination is worth your time.
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15. Lahesh Cave
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This trekking trail is popular among adventurous travelers who take their trekking game to the next level. The caves are located at the height of around 11,000 feet from sea level. The trek to Lahesh Cave is a very rewarding experience.
It offers a beautiful view of the forest and the mountains. It is best to avoid the trek during the monsoon seasons since it is very slippery to trek during that time. People trekking to Triund sometimes decide to extend their journey by going through the Indrahar Pass and to Lahesh caves. Although a little challenging for the non-trekkers, this trail is worth trying.
The above-mentioned 15 places are truly mesmerizing. Dharamshala has a lot to offer when it comes to its many tourist destinations. It is one of the most affordable vacations you can take during your weekends.
Dharamshala continues to gain popularity due to its buzzing art scene and many art-centric events being held here. Some of these events were also the reason Dharamshala was put under the spotlight. Events such as TEDx Dharamsala and DIFF (Dharamsala International Film Festival) have been successful with international visitors.
After being announced as a part of the Smart City Project Plan of India, many sustainable projects are being developed. Some of the sustainable tourism projects include waste management, water management, and biodiversity preservation. Local communities also came forward to contribute to maintaining the cleanliness of the mountains and rivers. Under these initiatives, one of the major steps people took was to ban plastic bags in all shops and vendor outlets. This was because of the impact plastic has on the health of the river system of the region.
The city will continue to evolve and increase its modernity with the growing new tech sector. Technology companies related to software development and digital marketing are modernizing the outlook of Dharamshala to the rest of the world.
