Top 10 places to visit in Dharamshala

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Ayush Kumar

Updated: Jan 07, 2025 11:39:00 IST

Published: Jan 05, 2025 10:38:00 IST

houses surrounded by green trees with snow capped mountains in the backdrop

When counting on the best places to visit in Himachal Pradesh, Dharamshala is one of the places that you should consider. This beautiful hill town is settled in Kangra Valley & is the reservoir of several tourist attractions, including ancient temples, colourful monasteries, amazing tea gardens, & imposing trekking spots. If you want to visit for your weekend trip, let us brief you on top ten sightseeing spots in Dharamshala that are worth exploring.

Gyuto monastery

gyuto monastery building with snow capped mountain during daytime
Gyuto Monastery

Gyuto Monastery is one of the top tourist attractions in Dharamshala, famous for its Buddhist philosophy, Tantric meditation & Tantric rituals. The structural detailing of this amazing divine complex has been meticulously designed to complement the Tibetan style.

The Monastery was built in memory of Tibetan soldiers who lost their lives during Tibetan freedom struggle. The magnificent snow-clad Dauladhar forms the backdrop to the Monastery, thereby giving it an appealing look.

Tourists, spiritual seekers, nature lovers, adventure seekers and families will find a visit to the Gyuto Monastery ideal.

Triund

a person standing on a rock with snow covered mountains in the backdrop
Triund

In Dharamshala Triund is a famous scenic place to experience amazing views of Dhauladhar Hills & Kangra Valley. Not just for nature lovers, but it is also the best place for adventure seekers as they have the opportunity to experience trekking to reach Triund Hill.

If you have this dream of gazing at the starlit sky at night with your beloved partner, then Triund is the right place for you. Travellers must be familiar with the fact that Triund is an ecological zone, hence, they must refrain themselves from leaving plastic waste here.

Dharamshala Cricket Stadium

cricket stadium in dharamshala with  brown mountains in the backdrop on a cloudy day
HPCA Stadium (Dharamshala Cricket Stadium)

Dharamshala Cricket Stadium is an ideal travel spot for all cricket fans coming to Dharamshala. Here, you can view live cricket matches as the spectator sitting in the colourful seats. This stadium is worth visiting with its stunning mountain view at its backdrops. Even if there are no matches, still, you can have a sightseeing tour here.

One of the most beautiful thing about the Dharamshala Cricket Stadium is its architecture, which is inspired by the Tibetan style buildings. The stadium is painted in vibrant colors reflecting the rich history and culture of Dharamshala. Against a thick cloudy backdrop of the Dhauladhar range, the stadium offers breathtaking views to its visitors.

Bhagsu Waterfall

bhagsu waterfall in dharamshala
Bhagsu Waterfall

Bhagsu Falls, a series of waterfalls located very close to Mcleod Ganj, a neighborhood of Dharamsala. This lovely waterfall carves this region into a distinct hillside and rocky pool at the base. Both tourists and locals alike enjoy the cool water, religious undertones and natural setting at Bhagsunag Falls.

Apart from watching the waterfall, you can also dip in the cold water of its naturally formed pond. You can visit the nearby Bhagsunag Temple, a holy spot dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Kalachakra Temple

a view of kalachakra temple in mcleod ganj
Kalachakra Temple, McLeod Ganj (Dharamshala)

The Kalachakra Temple is a spectacular example of Tibetan architecture, with its complex murals, colourful paintings, and complex prayer wheels. The main shrine room of the temple contains a magnificent statue of the Buddha, lined with images of Guru Rinpoche and other Buddhist deities.

The main attraction of Kalachakra Temple is the Kalachakra Mandala, a holy sand Mandala that symbolizes the wheel of time, representing the cyclical nature of existence.

The temple complex also contains a museum which is filled with a collection of Buddhist aircraft, historical relics, and religious manuscripts. It offers a glimpse into the ironic cultural heritage of Tibet and offers a deeper understanding of the effort and spirit of the Tibetan people.

Dalai Lama Temple Complex (Tsuglagkhang)

tsuglagkhang complex
TsuglandKhang Complex

Dalai Lama Temple Complex is famous for its beauty. There are many large statues of Buddha, Avaloktwshwara, Pamasambhava and others. You can also find numerous ancient books related to the religion. The temple is open from 8 am to 8 pm. People of all religion and creed can visit this temple.

Dalai Lama visits the temple at specific dates. If you are visiting during one of those days, you need to purchase a ticket to watch the teaching.

Within the temple complex, you can find a small museum. It holds rare photograms of Dalai Lama, Tibetan culture, martyrs and others. This museum is found near the entry gate. There are also pictures of how Dalai Lama escaped from Tibet. A short video about the culture is played in the museum.

War Memorial

war memorial in dharamshala
War Memorial (Dharamshala)

To honor the remembrance of those who sacrificed their lives to defend our homeland, the War Memorial in the Dharamshala forests was built.

You will get to see the massive battle tanks, armaments and other paraphernalia here.

The War Memorial is bordered by the beautiful pine trees of Dharamshala and connected by a charming walkway to verdant gardens. Keep an eye out for the warrior’s names engraved on the stone panels.

St. John in the Wilderness Church

a view of st john in the wilderness church in dharamshala
St. John in the Wilderness Church, Dharamshala

Located amid thick lush green forests on the way toMcLeodganj, St. John Church in Dharamshala is an important historic attraction.

The church is a great spiritual as well as a famous tourist attraction in Dharamshala for its natural beauty. Its magnificent architectural works and the surrounding lush green forests make everyone visit the place for sure. Let’s have a look at the church to know in detail about the beauty of St. John.

The peacefulness of this place will make you feel relaxed. Being a pilgrimage site it is very popular among the pilgrimages of the world. It is also a heritage site. The stunning view of this place attracts the tourists the most.

Bhagsunag Temple

hot water spring near bhagsunag temple
Bhagsunag Temple

Bhagsu Nag Mandir is an ancient temple believed to have been built by King Bhagsu from Rajasthan. It is also popularly known as Bhagsunath Temple, and is highly revered by the local Gorkha and Hindu community.

The grand temple is also surrounded by major tourist attractions, such as the Dal Lake and the Kotwali Bazaar.

The Bhagsunath Temple is situated on the way to the famous Bhagsu Waterfalls, and thus tourists make it a point to stop by at the temple and seek the blessings of the Almighty before they proceed further on their journey.