Dharamshala

Dharamshala rises in tiers on a spur of the Dhauladhar range in Kangra district. Lower Dharamshala (Kotwali Bazaar) is the administrative town; above it, McLeod Ganj and Gangchen Kyishong house the 14th Dalai Lama, the Central Tibetan Administration and a large Tibetan community settled here since 1960. The town is Himachal's declared second capital and hosts winter sessions of the state assembly. Its stadium, one of the highest first-class cricket grounds in the world, has a Dhauladhar backdrop. Trails from the ridge lead to Triund, Kareri Lake and the Indrahar Pass.

1. Fly to Gaggal (Kangra) airport, about 13 km, or take the train to Pathankot and drive (~85 km).
2. Overnight buses run from Delhi and Chandigarh to Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj.
3. Local buses and taxis connect lower Dharamshala with McLeod Ganj (about 9 km, 30 minutes).

March to June and September to November. The monsoon here is among the heaviest in the state; winter is cold with occasional snow at McLeod Ganj.

• Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj are separate places at different heights — book where you actually want to stay.
• Monsoon rain is very heavy from July to September, with landslide risk on hill roads.
• Parking in McLeod Ganj is limited; consider staying below and taking local transport up.

Individual pages for these are added as they are reviewed.