A Spiritual & divine tour of Dharamshala, Mclodganj with Devi Darshan, Baijnath Temple, Mahakaleshwar Temple, Bir & Billing

A Spiritual & divine tour of Dharamshala, Mclodganj with Devi Darshan, Baijnath Temple, Mahakaleshwar Temple, Bir & Billing: Overview

Summer is the perfect time to visit a hill station. So, if you have holiday plans to visit the most beautiful hill stations pilgrimage centers of Indian sub-continent, then Holiday Travel India Pvt. Ltd offers a golden opportunity for you in which you will cover most famous Hindu Pilgrimage temples of North India along with Buddhist Tibetan monasteries of Himalaya.

This most pious tour takes the devotees to the Himalayan holy temples includes Buddhist temples of Dharamshala, Mclodganj and Hindu sacred devi darshan, Baijnath Temple, Mahakaleshwar Temple. They can fill their minds with utter spirituality in a short span of time along with various other destinations for a spiritual experience. You can also enjoy the adventurous activity in bir billing with Palampur famous sightseeing.

What is unique in “A spiritual & divine tour of Dharamshala, Mclodganj with Devi Darshan, Baijnath Temple, Mahakaleshwar Temple, Bir & Billing” package?

You can actually avail a holistic retreat by paying a visit to the land of various religious beliefs. This 7 Nights and 8 Days spiritual & divine tour offers to explore various religious destinations such as Tibetan monasteries of Dharamshala, Mcleodganj with Bir Monastery. On the other hand Hindu religious devi dashan like Chamunda Devi, Brajeshwari devi, Jwala ji, Chintpurni, Nainadevi temples in Kangra and ancient Baijnath & Mahakaleshwar temple.

The tourists can unmatched opportunity to carry out the religious memories by experience the ultimate soul-quenching peace. All these things made this package are so unique and must visit once in life.  

A spiritual & divine tour of Dharamshala, Mclodganj with Devi Darshan, Baijnath Temple, Mahakaleshwar Temple, Bir & Billing: Highlights

• Local Tour of Dharamshala, Mcleodganj, Palampur, Bir – billing & Kangra

• Explore ravishing Palampur sightseeing’s like Tea estates, Saurabh Van Vihar, & Nevgal Khad

• Pious trip of Chamunda Devi, Jwaladevi Temple, Chintpurni Temple, Nainadevi Temple

• Take pleasure of stunning Kangra Fort, Bhagsu Nag Water Falls & Naddi view point

• Grab adventurous activities in Bir billing like paragliding

• Baijnath Shiv Temple, Mahakaleshwar temple, Brajeshwari devi temple

• Visit St. Johns Church, Dalai Lama Temple, Bhagsu Nag Temple

Tour Inclusion

• Daily breakfast & Dinner

• 7 Nights Accommodation in Standard/Deluxe Hotel

• 2 Nights stay in Dharamshala

• 1 Night stay in Bir

• 1 Night stay in Palumpur

• 2 Night stay in Kangra

• Pick up & drop from Chandigarh airport/Railway station.

• All Transfers & sightseeing in private Cab / Car

• Private Taxi (swift dzire) from Chandigarh Airport/Railway station for 8 days

• All Toll taxes, Parking, Driver night hault

• All Taxes

Tour Exclusion

• Any personal expenses like laundry, telephone calls, beverages, gratuities etc

• Entrance Fees and Camera fees at temples and other places of interest

• Personal expenditure like soft drinks, mineral water, tips, porter age etc

• All extra activity Charges

• Peak season surcharges if applicable

• Any item not mentioned in the inclusions

• Travel insurance

Dharamshala tourism best time visit

Dharamshala has a cool climate all through the year but the best season to visit Dharamshala is from mid-September to June.

Winter (December to February): Winter is chilly and freezing. During January the mercury dips below -1 °C. Snowfalls in winters (especially January) are ideal for enjoying honeymoon but extra care needs to be taken. It is advisable to carry woolen clothes.

Summer (March to June): Summer  is warm with temperatures between 22 °C to 38 °C. Trekking enthusiasts prefer this season.

Monsoons (July to mid September): Monsoons  with heavy rainfalls can be messy. The months of July and August witness heavy and are avoided by tourists. From the mid of September, rainfall stops.

Autumn (mid-September to November): Autumn is beautiful and is ideal for sightseeing and adventure activities.

While winters are ideal for spotting snow capped hilly areas, summer is best for all kinds of tourist activities including trekking in the hilly terrains. The months from September to November are ideal for sightseeing, temple visits, and outings and trekking. July to August is not the best time as heavy rainfall can causes road blocks.

How to go to Dharamsala

By Air: Kangra airport (a.k.a. Gaggal Airport) is the nearest airstrip from Dharamshala, situated at the distance of 21 km. Jagson Airline has flights every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from Delhi to Kangra airport. Once you arrive in Kangra, make use of the buses and taxis, available easily, for traveling to Dharamshala.

By Rail: Pathankot is nearest major railhead from Dharamshala, situated at the distance of 76 km. There are many trains running from Pathankot station (a.k.a. Chakki Bank Station) to different cities of India. For instance, it is connected to Delhi by the Jammu Express and to Kolkata by the Jammu Tawi Express. From Pathankot, you can take the narrow gauge railway line train to Kangra, for further expansion of experience, and either take a bus or hire a cab from there, for reaching Dharamshala. Though time consuming, such a journey would surely leave you mesmerized.

By Road: Dharamshala has an excellent network of roads that links with almost all the major cities of the country. The place is situated at a distance of 516 km from Delhi, 268 Km from Chandigarh, 195 km from Amritsar and 283 km from Shimla. Once you arrive at any of these places, you can opt for buses as well as taxis for reaching Dharamshala.

In case you plan to drive down to the place from Delhi, take NH1 and NH21 for reaching Kiratpur and from there drive to Una and then to Kangra. From there, McLeodganj is 31 km. From Chandigarh, you will have to take NH21 to Kiratpur. From Shimla, drive to Bilaspur and then to Mandi. From there, take NH20 to Dharamshala.

Tourist places in Dharamshala Himachal Pradesh

St. John's Church: The church is small in size and was built in 1852 in the Gothic style. Its tapering high windows, the front and back sides of its building all seem to be in perfect harmony with the deodar grove which is a home to lots of monkeys, baboons and birds. In 1905 earthquake, the belfry of the church was completely destroyed. However, the rest of the building escaped damage. A new bell (built in 1915) was brought from England and installed outside in the compound of the church. The church witnessed a special event in 1992 when visitors from 39 countries participated in its service.

Bhagsu nag temple: The temple of Bhagsunag is dedicated to Lord Shiva of Hindu religious. This ancient temple is located 2 kms away from Mcleodganj. This is a beautiful and famous ancient temple of Lord Shiva with full of natural scenes having a cold running water tank and springs.

Naddi view point: Situated At 2,000 meters above the sea level and about 1.5 kilometers from Dal Lake a modern picnic spot is developing fast at Naddi. It is the only place in Dharamshala from where an open view of mountains and wide valleys on Dhauladhars southern side can be seen. It is also a starting point for a trek to Kareri Lake, Guna Temple and Triund.

Dalai Lama Temple: The Dalai Lama temple is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places in Himachal Pradesh. It is just a short walk from the McLeodGanj bus stand and is quite accessible from the major parts of the district. The whole vicinity is decorated with colorful prayer flags and this makes it perfect for long serene walks. You will find a lot of good statues and the atmosphere is something which lures people to come back again and again. The sight of monks meditating peacefully and chanting verses is something that everyone must experience.

Bhagsu Nag Water Falls: Bhagsunag Waterfall is Situated at walking distance of 1.5 Kms from Hotel Triund, Bhagsunag Waterfall is at its pristine glory during monsoon. The view of unsullied water gushing out of the waterfall and the mist emanating from the fall about 20 feet is indeed a delightful experience. It is a marvelous location to live with nature enjoying the Himalayan serene nature and rejuvenating soft but cool breeze.

McLeod Ganj: With an average elevation of 2,082 meters above sea level, McLeod Ganj is named after Sir Donald Friell McLeod who was the Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab under whom the area was developed. The place is known for its various attractions including the residence of the 14th Dalai Lama. The place is one of the most frequented spots in Dharamshala and is famous for its Tibetan culture, handicrafts and temples. The Hanuman Tibba is the highest peak at the height of 5,639 meters above sea level and can be viewed from McLeod Ganj.

Kangra Fort: Kangra Fort was the seat and residence of the one of the oldest existing dynasties in the World. The Katoch rulers of Kangra belong to the lineage of the rulers of Trigata mentioned in the Hindu Epics Ramayana and Mahabharatha and also in Alexander the Great War records. The fort complex contains several well detailed halls and watchtowers along with a couple of temples that date back to the 9th century AD.

Baijnath Temple: Located at a distance of 16 kms from Palampur, Baijnath is a pilgrimage center of the Hindus in Kangra Distt. Here one finds the oldest existing Shiva temple in the country, believed to have been originally built by the Pandavas close to the Binwa Khad.

Jwalamukhi Temple: 30 km. from Kangra and 56 km. from Dharamshala. This place is famous for Jwalamukhi, the 'Flaming Goddess'. It is one of the most popular Hindu temple in Northern India. There is no idol and the flame is considered a manifestation of the Goddess. The eternal flame issues from the rock sanctum and is constantly fed by the priests. Two important fairs are held during the Navratras, in early April and in mid October.

Bir billing

Bir, surrounded by tea gardens and an amphitheater of low hills, is an ideal landing around for Para-gliders. Bir has Buddhist Monasteries that are worth visiting. Fine Tibetan handicraft is also produced here. Billing is up in the hills 14 kms from Bir with an arena of 200 kms. For high altitude and cross country flying, is one of the best aero sports sites in the country.

Jwala Devi Mandir

Jwala ji Temple is located 30 km. from Kangra and 56 km. from Dharamshala. This place is famous for Jwalamukhi, the 'Flaming Goddess'. It is one of the most popular Hindu temple in Northern India. There is no idol and the flame is considered a manifestation of the Goddess. The eternal flame issues from the rock sanctum and is constantly fed by the priests. Two important fairs are held during the Navratras, in early April and in mid October

Mata Naina Devi

The Temple of Shri Naina Devi Ji is situated on a hilltop in the Bilaspur Dist. Of Himachal Pradesh Shri Naina Devi Temple is also known as Mahishapeeth because of defeat of demon Mahishasur by the Goddess. According to the legends, Mahishasur was a powerful demon that was blessed by the boon of immortality by Lord Brahma. Devi defeated the demon and took out both his eyes. This urged Gods to happily applaud "Jai Naina" and hence the name.

Chamunda Devi Temple

 Chamunda Devi temple is 17 kms from Dharamshala, dedicated to Goddess Durga or Chamunda, the surroundings of the temple provide an excellent venue for meditation prayers and spiritual attainments. It is an enchanting and charming spot with fascinating view of the Dhauladhar Mountains, rivers and forests. The location of temple was used as a cremation ground by the people of 22 villages and supposed to be a place of solace, spiritual attainments. The temple has artistic carvings on its lintel, pillars and the ceiling. A large number of devotees travel to this place for worship and to attain spiritual peace for their ancestors. The 700 years old temple, Chamunda Devi comprises of big complex with a ‘Kund’ (pond) in it.  There is a cave-like scoop located at the back of the temple, representing the stone lingam (embodiment of Shiva).

Festivals and Events in Dharamshala

There are various festivals and events in Dharamshala that are celebrated with great enthusiasm and fanfare.

The festival season begins with the two-day Haldi Festival that involves dancing, family gathering and sitting around the bonfire, made of cedar twigs. Lohri or Maghi, an agricultural festival is held in mid-January. Traditional folk dances and songs mark the celebrations of Lohri festival.

The Losar Festival or the Tibetan New Year is one of the main festivals Dharamshala, celebrated in the months of February and March. Tourists can visit this place during this time, when people in McLeodganj are in a festive mood.

Shopping & Things to do in Dharamshala and Mcleodganj

• McLeodganj is famous for various authentic Tibetan products like carpets, thangkas, jewellery, and other knick-knacks. Just a kilometer away from McLeodganj is the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) where you can find musical, dance, and theatrical traditions of Tibet.

• Visit Losel Doll Museum which is located in the Norbulingka complex to explore the history of Tibet. The museum showcases elaborately detailed beautiful dolls that depict the costumes of each region of Tibet. You can also visit Museum of Kangra Art at Kotwali Bazaar. The museum has a rare collection of miniature paintings from the Kangra School, in addition to local jewellery, traditional wood carvings with some of the exhibits dating back to the fifth century.

• If all that sightseeing has made you hungry then you can just drop in to one of the restaurants or café scattered around McLeodganj for some traditional Tibetan, Israeli or even a German cuisine.

• The main shopping area in Dharamshala is in McLeodganj, offering range of handicraft items including woollens, carpets, metal ware, Thangkas, and jewellery.

• The handicraft items sold in Dharamshala are created by the local artisans; these products reflect excellent craftsmanship and artistic calibre of the people.

• The Kotwali Bazaar is the prime shopping destination. The Tibetan carpets and rugs sold in this market are worth buying. The vivid colours, traditional motifs and unique artwork on the carpets depict the Tibetan culture.

• You may also like other Tibetan handicrafts including hat, the Chubas (traditional outfit of the Tibetan women) and bags that make for some great souvenirs as well. Don’t forget to buy Thangkas, as your r shopping in Dharamshala will be incomplete without buying them.

• Easily available in almost all the shops in Dharamshala, Thangkas are brightly coloured cloth paintings depicting Buddhist culture, fair and festivals. Kangra Style of paintings depicting the court scenes or the love story between Radha and Krishna of the mythological era, are other must-buy items in Dharamshala.

• Wooden carvings on bamboo are popular among tourists visiting Dharamshala. Tourists can visit Norbulingka Institute on Khanyara Road to check out the artwork. Silk and woollen woven scarves, embroidered kurtas are also worth including to your shopping list. Don’t forget to add Kangra Valley Green Tea as well to the shopping list.

Tour of Beautiful Bollywood Movie Locations in Dharamshala 

Bollywood Rockstar Movie Shooting Location in Norbulingka Institute, Dharamshala Scene: "Sadda Haq" song at Norbulingka Institute at Himachal Pradesh, India and Ranbir Kapoor known as Jordan, sings 'Sadda Haq.

Lunchbox Movie Shooting Location in, Dharamshala Scene: Starring Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, the film will be presented at the festival by producer Guneet Monga.The Lunchbox' to open Dharamshala

Mary Kom Movie Shooting Location in Mcleodgunj,Dharamshala Scene: Film ‘Mary Kom’ in Manali now the Bollywood Diva Priyanka Chopra can be seen while shooting in beautiful hills of Dharamshala. During this week the whole unit shot scenes of the film at different locations, including McLeodgunj, Masrur Temple, Khaniara, Fatehpur and Sidhbari. She appeared in different costumes to shoot scenes of the film. For locals this is a big opportunity to meet their favorite star in their own town. Some scenes of the film like the actress’s marriage and her school days’ scenes were also shot here.

Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat with Vijay Singh one of 3 finalists in The Bachelorette Show shooting at Dharamshala

Top Recommended Restaurants in Mcleodganj

McLlo Restaurant Mcleodganj

Location: - City Centre Bus Stand

Price Range of Mcllo Restaurant: - Rs 75-195

Restaurant Timings: - Hours 10am-10pm

Holiday Travel review for McLlo Restaurant: - Cheap & Best, Recommended to visit for a casual drink/dinner., Good Ambiance, Great variety of Food Menu including Indian, Chinese cuisine, Italian Food including Pizza and Pasta.

Holiday Travel Recommendation: - Butter Chicken with Butter Nan

Taste of India Restaurant Mcleodganj

Taste of India Address: - Jogibara Rd

Price range of Taste of India Restaurant: - Rs50-100

Holiday Travel review for Taste of India: - Not Very Clean but Food is tasty and Spicy. Not to be visited with Family. Good for back packers.

Holiday Travel food Recommendation for Taste of India: - Tandoori Chicken, Indian Lentil, Dal Fry

Oogo’s Cafe Italiano Mcleodganj

 Holiday Travel review for Oogo’s Cafe Italiano: - Suitable for Light Snacks and Italian Dishes. Enjoy meals with Books.

Lung Ta Restaurant Mcleodganj

Lung Ta Address: - Jogibara Rd

Lung Ta Price range: - Rs30-50

Lung La Opening Hours: - Noon-8.30pm Mon-Sat

Holiday Travel Review for Lung Ta: - Best and only Japanese Cuisine Restaurant in Himachal Pradesh and Mcleodganj. Must Visit for enjoying Japanese Cuisine

Recommended Hotels

Hotel Surya Resort

The property has neat and spacious interior with its pastel decor that creates an inviting and homely atmosphere. The hotel has 53 elegant guest rooms and suites and the rooms feature facilities like coloured TV, attached bathroom with running water, room services etc. one can enjoy the in-house multi cuisine restaurant overlooking valley and the well-stocked bar. Other amenities are money exchange facility, laundry service, parking lot, elevator, car rental, multipurpose hall for conference and parties.

Hotel Royal Palace

Hotel Royal Palace is located amidst an exclusive rural setting within urban Mcleodganj and is situated near Bhagsu Nag temple and waterfall. It is just 5 minutes walk from the Dalai Lama temple. The hotel provides high quality accommodation with 32 beautifully furnished and spacious rooms which have wooden flooring and the variety includes Royal suite, Suite room, Super Deluxe room and deluxe rooms. These rooms are well-equipped with attached bathroom, bath-tub, shower, colour TV and telephone. The property has a multi-cuisine restaurant as well.

Hotel Asia Health Resorts

You can check out Hotel Asia Health Resorts, nestled in the foothills of the Dhauladhar the hotel offers 20 lavish rooms and five apartments with a mini bar in each room and apartment. The resort provides all modern amenities and features a multi-cuisine restaurant as well as a bar namely Tavern that is located on the roof top. The property has facilities like computers, safe deposit, laundry service, money exchange, refrigerator in every room and a swimming pool.

Dal Lake Resort

Dal Lake Resort situated close to Dalai Lama's residence also features an in-house restaurant, high-speed Internet access, grocery/convenience store, laundry facilities, and a safe deposit box at the front desk. This is a smoke-free property and the rooms open to balconies. You can also check-in Himgiri Resort that offers all 2-star facilities.

Dalai Lama Temple mcleod ganj Dharamshala

The town of McLeod Ganj in Upper Dharamshala is known worldwide as His Holiness the Dalai Lama Buddha Temple resides here and is also known as Little Lhasa of Tibet. The main temple is where His Holiness the Dalai Lama gives teachings several times a year. His Holiness’ residence is located near the main temple and the headquarters of the Tibetan Government in Exile is located just below McLeod Ganj.

The Tibetans settled in Dharamshala in 1960, as His Holiness the Dalai Lama had to flee Tibet in 1959 and the Prime Minister of India allowed Him and some of His followers to settle in McLeod Ganj, a colonial British summer picnic spot is the most sacred monument in McLeod Ganj. The temple houses larger than life statues of the Buddha, Padmasambhava and Avaloktwshwara. The temple also houses one of the largest collections of sacred Tibetan texts. It is 10 minutes walk from the guess house. You can meditate or you can t ake a serene morning or evening walk around the temple.

Current Mcleodganj tourist places 

Triund Hill: Triund Hill is located at a height of about 2,842 meters above sea level and with a distance of about 9 kilometers from McLeodganj (located at height of 2,082 meters above sea level) and 17 kilometers from Dharamshala.

Tibetan Museum: Located near the Main Temple of His Holiness the Dalai Lama (Tsuglag Khang). Tibet Museum exhibit Tibetan history and ongoing movement through huge collection of photographs and documentaries.

Naddi View Point: Naddi is a small village in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. The Village is very scenic and is just 3 or 4 kilometers away from Mcleod Ganj, the headquarters of the Tibetan government in Exile. There are several points like Sunset point, Eco point and View Point. The sunset point really does offer beautiful sunset views. From the View point one can see the whole of the Dhauladhar mountain ranges.

Nechung Monastery: Nechung Dorje Drayang Ling Monastery has an important place in Tibetan history as the seat of the State Oracle of Tibet. Nechung monastery in Tibet lies just below Drepungmonastery, four miles west of Lhasa, the country's capital. Nechung originally came to Tibet with a descendant of the Indian sage Dharmapala.

Dharamkot: Dharamkot is a beautiful hill station, situated on the crest of a hill, around 14 kms away from the main town of Dharamshala. This stunning spot provides panoramic views of the Kangra valley and the Dhauladhar ranges.

Weather of Chintpurni

Best time to visit Chintpurni & Climate in Chintpurni

The best season to visit Chintpurni is the winter season. The temperature remains cool and comfortable and is apt for sightseeing. The best months to visit are April, May, June, July, August and September.

Winter: approach Chintpurni in October and lasts till February. The climate is pleasantly cool and the temperature ranges from -5°C to 22°C. Woollen clothes are preferred to take while going for Chintpurni during winter season.

Summer: Summers of Chintpurni are pleasant. The temperature ranges from 13°C to 20°C in the months of April to June. The temperature is comfortable with gentle breeze in the evening.

Monsoon: July marks the beginning of Monsoon season in Chintpurni and lasts till September. Infrequent rainfalls relieve Chintpurni and its people from summers.

Dharamsala to Chandigarh

Distance between Chandigarh to Dharamshala is 243 km by Road along with an aerial distance of 174 km.

By bus: Direct bus between Chandigarh and Dharamshala is available. Best to take State Transport Bus from Chandigarh to Dharamshala

By train: No direct train between Chandigarh and Dharamshala is available. Best to take Uhl Janshatabdi from Chandigarh to Una then take a taxi from Una to Dharamshala

Chandigarh to Dharamshala by bus

There are Volvo buses that run from Chandigarh to Dharamshala, which takes 5 hours and 30 minutes to reach Dharamshala. There are ordinary and deluxe / Volvo bus services available from Chandigarh bus stand. They are run by HRTC and private bus operators. The timings of these buses are between 11 p.m and 11.45 p.m

Places to visit in Palampur

Baijnath Shiva temple: Baijnath is famous for its 13th-century temple. The temple attracts a large number of tourists and pilgrims from all over India and abroad throughout the year. Special prayers are offered in the morning and evening every day besides on special occasions and during festive seasons.

Chamunda devi temple: This temple is situated in Jadrangal village in Kangra area, the temple is located on the right bank of Baner Khad which is a tributary of Beas River. This is a famous Hindu religious temple, dedicated to Goddess Chamunda, offers enchanting views of the Dhauladhar Mountains. The Baner Khud which flows alongside the temple, and the Pathian and Lahla forests.

Kangra Art Museum: Museum is a treasure house of rich heritage of the valleys art and culture, located near Kotwali Bazaar at DharAmshala. Museum is still in infancy but now the collection is increased to 1500 art object comprising miniature paintings, textiles, sculptures, jewellery, coins and objects of cultural anthropology.

Kangra fort: It is also known as the “Nagar Kot”, which is situated just 42 Kms from Palampur on the convergence of the Rivers Banganga and Manjhi and. The two entrance gates of the Fort have a beautiful courtyard in between them. It is presently preserved by Archaeological department.

Andretta: This gorgeous place is located at 13 km. from town Palampur. It is the home of the famous artist, late Sardar Shobha Singh and late play writer Norah Richards. This presents an excellent view of the Dhauladhar Range.

Tea gardens: Palampur is famous for its beautiful tea gardens which are spread in the entire Palampur area. Palampur is produced the highest tea production of Himachal Pradesh. In which Bundla tea estate is so popular here.

Dhauladhar National Park: Located at a distance of 13 km from Palampur, this national park is one of the major attractions of the destination. Dhauladhar National Park, also known as Gopalpur Zoo, is one of the chief attractions that draw attention of wildlife enthusiasts.

Saurabh Van Vihar: In order to enable the visitors to enjoy the nature & make them aware of the importance of nature & environment, a nature park namely "Saurabh Van Vihar" at Palampur over 13 hectare areas has been established. It is located on the right bank of Neugal Khad near Kandi Bridge in the lap of Dhauladhar ranges, in village Kwat, 4 km from Palampur town.

Dharamshala airport to Mcleodganj

The distance between Dharamshala airports to Mcleodganj is 18.0km. To reach there it takes approx 1.0 hour by road.