Top 15 Tourist Places in Dharamshala

Famous Places Around Dharamshala

Dharamshala is a scenic and panoramic hill station, tucked away in the Himalayas. With the Dhauladhar ranges and thick deodar forests in the background, Dharamshala has become an important highlight in most Himachal tour packages. As the place of residence of His Holiness – the Dalai Lama – this picturesque destination is not only popular among tourists but among spiritual seekers and religious travelers. Dharamshala boasts of jaw-dropping backdrop, stunning lake, vibrant monasteries, colorful temples, sparkling waterfalls, and vintage forts & museums. To make your trip to Dharamshala more fascinating and organized, here is the list of places to visit in Dharamshala. And don’t just visit them; take time to explore and discover their real beauty and charm.

Baijnath Temple: The Baijnath Temple is located 16 km from Palampur in the Beas valley and is dedicated to Lord Shiva.The ancient Baijnath temple is constructed in the Shikhara style and is located within a well maintained complex of gardens, lawns and pathways in a single walled courtyard. The outside of the temple is beautiful with some exquisitely carved floral pattern and images of deities.

Chamunda Devi: Just 24 km from Kangra and 15 km from Dharamshala is the famous temple of goddess Chamunda Devi.The temple is located on the bank of the Banner River. The locals believe that offering prayers in this temple helps to attain salvation or moksha to the ancestors.
Mcleod Ganj : The arrival of the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, along with thousands of refugees to Dharamshala in 1959 made the life here more active. A number of tibetan settlements with religious education and other rehabilitation centres mushroomed all over the Mcleadganj. As Dharamshala became the headquarter of the Tibetan Government in exile, headed by Dalai Lama, it gained prominence all over the world and prominent personalities started arriving here. Mcleadganj emerged as a major Buddhist centre.
Bhagsunag Fall ( 11 km. from Dharamshala town ) Known for its old temple, a fresh water spring, water falls and slate quarries. Bhagsunag canbe approached by road. The Bhagsu fall is one of the main attractions of Mcleodganj. You can take a dip in the chilly water of fall. There are some trek routes to Triund near the fall. The fall forms a small stream.
St. John's Church : ( 8 km. from Dharamshala town ) The church lies in the forest between Mcleod Ganj and Forsyth Ganj. It has a monument dedicated to Lord Elgin, one of the viceroys of India, who died at Chauntra ( Mandi district ) and was buried here in 1863 A.D. The Church has lovely spotted glass windows and there is a Christian cemetery around it. It is ideally situated in the majestic 'Deodar' forest. 

Dharamkot : ( 14 km. from Dharamshala town ) It is situated on the crest of a hill, this favourite picnic spot affords a panoramic view of the kangra valley and the Dhauladhar ranges. One can reach Dharamkot by a simple trek from Bhagsu. Various small restaurant type of shops are situated in the path for a quick relaxation and bevarages. The scenery from Dharamkot is simply breathtaking and you also meet the Gaddi folks.
War Memorial : Situated in Dharamshala town. The memorial is situated near the entry point to Dharamshala commemorates the memory of those who fought valiantly for the honour and defence of the mother land. The place is ideally located in the pine forest and offers a very enjoyable walk through pine forest. Near War Memorial is the beautiful GPG College Dharamshala made during the British Era. There is also a cafe just close to War Memorial serving fast food and baverages.
Triund : 17 km. from Dharamshala town, at an altitude of 2,827 metres. The snowline starts just 5 km. from Triund and affords a breathtaking view of the snows above and the valley below. It is a popular picnic and trekking spot. Those who want to do a return trek in one day are advised to start early. Is is the famous trek route for local people as well as for tourists.
Kunal Pathari : 3 km. ) from Dharamshala ( Kotwali Bazar ). A level walk from Kotwali Bazar leads up to the rock temple of the local goddess. Temple is related to a legend dating back to centuries. Located near the beautiful tea gardens, Kunal Pathari Temple offers good view of the Dhauladhar Range. Because of high altitude, Kunal Pathari area greets the visitors with refreshing winds. It is a very ideal place for having a memorable walk and the blessings of the mother goddess. 
Kareri : ( 22 km. ) Altitude 2,166 metres. Kareri lake is surrounded by green meadows, Oak and Pine trees, making it an idyllic place to visit.
Dal Lake : Lies amidst hills and deodar tress and is 11 km. from Lower Dhramshala. It is a starting point for excursion and trekking and is located next to Tibetan children's village. You can have a memorable walk around the lake. Held sacred, this has a small Shiva temple on its banks. The banks of the lake are enlivened every September by a fair attended - amongst others- by a large number of migrant Gaddi folk.
Norbulingka Institute  : The Tibetan Institute is the premier institute in the world which offers courses of study for Tibetan culture and arts. Situated near the residence of His Holiness Dalai Lama, Norbulingka Institute has been long established in the hill station since 1754. The institute derives its name from the summer residence of Dalai Lama Norbulingka meaning 'Jewel Garden'. The Norbulingka Institute houses three academies namely 'The Centre for Arts', 'The Academy of Tibetan Culture' and 'The Literary and Cultural Centre'. The institute is famous for producing Tibetan gift items, paintings, woodworks, metalwork, fashion accessories, silk paintings, furniture, Buddhist artifacts and muchmore.
Dip Thekchen Choeling Monastery  : The Dip Thekchen Choeling Monastery is the best place if one intends to know deeply about the Buddhist faith. The monastery stands tall in the pine forests and is visible from a distance due to its golden roof. The first floor of the monastery is a museum with bronze figures, Buddhist images and a collection of mandalas. The library within the monastery has an exhaustive collection of ancient manuscripts, books on Buddhist philosophy, archival photographs on Tibet, prayer scrolls and sacred texts.

Khabru Waterfall - highest waterfall in Himachal : When you are at the lap of Boh Valley, you can never miss out the Khabru Waterfall. The waterfall is nestled in between the dense forest and amid the lush green hills. Being located at the Kangra district, the Khabru Waterfall is like something out of a fairy tale. From the regular hustle-bustle of the heavy traffic, Khabru Waterfall is a real solace.If you walk or trek from the Boh Village to the Khabru Waterfall.

Distance from Boh Valley  6 km.

Boh Valley:  The Boh valley located at the foothills of the Dhauladhar mountain range in the Shahpur area of Kangra district is a picturesque valley comprising grasslands, green fields and natural rivulets flowing from mountains. However, located at a distance of 30 km from Shahpur town, the valley is difficult to approach. The road to the area suffers landslides in monsoons and is at times cut off from the mainland.