Little Lhasa of India

With its majority of people from Tibet, the hilly town above Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, Mcleodganj is known for Tibetan culture, cuisine, crafts and way of life.

In 1959 when Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, fled to Mcleodganj in India after a failed uprising against Chinese government , he might not have imagined that the hill station would be known for being the centre of Tibetan government-in-exile, Tibetan culture and monasteries.

Today the town boasts of every other attribute Tibet was hitherto famous for. It buzzes with Tibetan monks wearing maroon robes. There is Dalai Lamaand#39:s temple called Tsuglag Khang.

Tibetan Government-in-Exile ---:

The Tibetan government-in-exile including the Prime Minister and the parliament are housed here. So is Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts, a centre, located on top of Mcleodganj where frequent cultural programmes are organised.

It is dotted with monastries and Buddhist temples including a temple dedicated to Gautama, the Buddha. It is full of Tibetan restaurants which serve Indian and Chinese cuisines. The delicacies mainly comprise non-vegetarian stuff.

Mcleodganj is full of small shops where Tibetan handicrafts, carpets, garments, antiques, curios and souvenirs can be bought. The shops are lined on the both sides of the slope which links Dharamshala which leads to Mcleodganj.

With colourful motley flying on their roofs, the buildings [built in monastic-style of architecture] in Mcleodganj look very pretty from any vantage point. Since at least a couple of Himachali hamlets are located on top of the town and accessible by motorable road, finding a high point is no big deal.

Summer Retreat ---:

The best thing about the town named after David Mcleod, a Lieutenant Governor of Punjab during the British rule is that despite rapid pace of development, it has retained its salubrious environs and hill-station appeal. Even during peak summers, Mcleodganj enjoys a pleasant weather.

In fact, it witnesses the highest number of tourists during the summers because people from the plains flock to it to escape from the sweltering heat. The town is located at a height of 1800 metres, 550 metres higher than Dharamshala. The summers are best for trekking.

In winters, the town presents a beautiful sight as snow-capped Dhauladhar range of outer Himalayas towers over it. The temperature in cold season at times touches freezing point.

Mcleod Gunj is surrounded by pine, Himalayan oak, rhododendron and deodar forests. It rains very frequently here and it is advisable to carry an umbrella during the visit.

Mcleodganj is an extremely peaceful area with Tibetan refugees living in perfect harmony with the local Indians.

1. How to reach: Mcleodganj is accessible by road. The nearest airport, Gaggal airport, is about 20 kilometres from it. The nearest railway station from Mcleodganj is located at Kangra, a town around 25 kilometres from here. Kangra is connected to Pathankot, the nearest railway junction, by a toy train.
2.When to Visit: It is best to travel to Mcleodganj in summers between April to July when the weather is very romantic.
3.Where to Stay: There are umpteen number of lodges and economic hotels in the town. One also has the option of taking accommodation on rent.