McLeod Ganj sits on a ridge above Dharamshala in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, with the Dhauladhar range rising straight up behind it. The Kangra district administration calls it “Little Lhasa” for its large Tibetan population, and it is home to the Tibetan government-in-exile. Most visitors come for the Tsuglagkhang temple complex, the cafes and markets, the short walk to Bhagsunag waterfall and the Triund trek. This guide covers the main places to visit in McLeod Ganj and lower Dharamshala, with distances from the district’s own table and ideas for one, two or three days.
Know before you go
- Where: Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, about 10 km above Dharamshala by road.
- Altitude: about 2,082 m (6,831 feet), per the Kangra district administration.
- Nearest airport: Gaggal (Kangra) airport, about 10 km from Dharamshala, with flights from Delhi.
- Nearest broad gauge station: Pathankot Cantt (Chakki), about 91 km from McLeod Ganj.
- From Delhi: roughly 500 km by road; overnight buses and taxis run the route.
- Top sights: Tsuglagkhang complex, Bhagsunag temple and waterfall, Triund, Dharamkot, Naddi, Norbulingka.
- Last checked: 2 November 2026 on Kangra district.
In this Article
Getting to McLeod Ganj
The district page lists three ways in. Gaggal airport is about 10 km from Dharamshala and has flights from Delhi. The nearest broad gauge railway station is Pathankot Cantt (Chakki), about 91 km from McLeod Ganj, and the narrow gauge Kangra valley line stops at Kangra Mandir. By road, McLeod Ganj is roughly 500 km from New Delhi, with overnight Volvo buses and taxis on the route.
From Dharamshala, local buses and taxis climb the 10 km to McLeod Ganj. The roads in the upper town are narrow and steep, and much of it is easiest on foot.
Tsuglagkhang complex
The Tsuglagkhang complex is the main Tibetan temple in McLeod Ganj and the heart of the town. It houses the Namgyal monastery, and visitors walk among monks, prayer wheels and butter lamps. Dress modestly, take off your shoes where asked, and keep your voice low inside the halls.
A walking path, the kora, loops around the complex through the forest, lined with prayer flags and small stupas. Many Tibetans walk it in the morning. It takes well under an hour at an easy pace.
If you hope to attend a public teaching by the Dalai Lama, check the schedule on the official website well in advance, as dates are announced there.
The main square and markets
The main square and the streets leading off it are packed with cafes, bakeries, bookshops and stalls selling Tibetan jewellery, prayer flags, singing bowls and woollens. It is a good place for momos and thukpa. Bargain politely at the stalls.
Bhagsunag temple and waterfall
Bhagsunag is about 11 km from Dharamshala by the district’s table, and an easy walk or short taxi ride from McLeod Ganj. The temple is an old shrine to Lord Shiva and the serpent deity Bhagsunag, with a spring-fed pool in front where devotees bathe. The district page notes separate areas for men and women.
The waterfall is 500 m to 1 km behind the temple, a walk of 15 to 30 minutes on a partly paved path with small cafes on the way. It is about 20 to 30 m high. The district notes that it is strongest in the monsoon, July to September, and shrinks to a trickle in late winter.
Triund trek
Triund is the classic hike from McLeod Ganj, a grassy ridge with the Dhauladhar on one side and the Kangra valley on the other. The district describes the trail as fairly easy for the first five kilometres, through oak, deodar and rhododendron forest, with a harder final kilometre known as the “22 curves”. There are small tea shops along the way. Its distance table puts Triund 16 km from Dharamshala, and its How to Reach section says 11 km from McLeod Ganj, so the figures depend on where you start.
Many people go up and back in a day, and some camp on top. Start early, carry water and warm layers, and turn back if the weather closes in. In winter, the upper trail can have snow and ice.
Dharamkot and Naddi
Dharamkot, 11 km from Dharamshala by the district table, is a small village above McLeod Ganj known for guest houses, cafes, and yoga and meditation courses. It is also one of the starting points for Triund.
Naddi is a little further along the ridge, with wide views of the Dhauladhar. On the way is Dal lake, a small lake ringed by deodars, about 12 km from Dharamshala. It should not be confused with the Dal lake in Srinagar.
St John in the Wilderness
This old stone church sits in the deodar forest on the road between Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj, about 8 km from Dharamshala. The quiet churchyard and the trees around it are worth a short stop.
Lower Dharamshala: stadium and war memorial
The cricket stadium in Dharamshala, 3 km from the town by the district table, is known for the snowy Dhauladhar behind the pavilion. On non-match days, ask at the gate whether visitors are allowed in.
Nearby is the Himachal Pradesh State War Memorial, also about 3 km from Dharamshala. According to the district, its foundation stone was laid in 1972 and it was inaugurated in 1977. Three curved black marble walls carry the names of soldiers from Himachal who died in India’s wars.
Norbulingka Institute
The Norbulingka Institute is at Sidhpur, near Dharamshala. The district page says it was founded in 1995 to preserve Tibetan arts and crafts, with workshops, a temple and a doll museum, set in Japanese-style gardens. You can watch artists at work on thangka paintings and wood carving, and there is a shop.
Other places nearby
From the district’s distance table, all measured from Dharamshala:
| Place | Distance from Dharamshala |
|---|---|
| Kunal Pathri temple | 3 km |
| Chamunda temple | 15 km |
| Kareri | 22 km |
| Palampur | 45 km |
| Baijnath Shiv temple | 54 km |
| Bir | 65 km |
McLeod Ganj places to visit in one, two or three days
One day: Tsuglagkhang and the kora in the morning, lunch in the main square, then Bhagsunag temple and waterfall in the afternoon.
Two days: add the Triund hike on day two, starting early.
Three days: spend the third day lower down, at St John in the Wilderness, the cricket stadium, the war memorial and Norbulingka.
If you are touring more of Himachal, see our Shimla Manali itinerary, the Manali and Atal tunnel guide, our Shimla guide and the Kasol and Kheerganga trek guide.
FAQ
### How far is McLeod Ganj from Dharamshala? About 10 km by road, according to the Kangra district administration.
### What is the altitude of McLeod Ganj? About 2,082 m, or 6,831 feet.
### Which is the nearest railway station to McLeod Ganj? Pathankot Cantt (Chakki) is the nearest broad gauge station, about 91 km away. Kangra Mandir is on the narrow gauge line.
### How long is the Triund trek? The district describes about five easy kilometres and a harder last kilometre, around 6 km in all from the usual trailheads above McLeod Ganj. It also lists Triund as 11 km from McLeod Ganj by its own measure.
### What is the best time to visit McLeod Ganj? March to June and September to November usually bring clear views. The monsoon, July to September, is very wet but the waterfalls are at their fullest. Winters are cold, with snow on the high trails.
Official resources: Kangra district: McLeod Ganj; Kangra district: Triund; Kangra district: distances from Dharamshala
Photo credits
Featured image: Mohitb1991 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Tsuglagkhang complex: Jmacleantaylor / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0; Tsuglagkhang complex: Wulmer / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0; The main square and markets: Sridhar Rao / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Bhagsunag temple and waterfall: Bana1989 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Bhagsunag temple and waterfall: Nidhi Chaudhry / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Triund trek: Alok Kumar / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Dharamkot and Naddi: Tanvi.sharmaaa / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0; Dharamkot and Naddi: Kiran Jonnalagadda from Bangalore, India / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0; St John in the Wilderness: Gerd Eichmann / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0; Lower Dharamshala: stadium and war memorial: BibhasCD / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0; Norbulingka Institute: Sridhar Rao / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
