Dharamshala and McLeodganj 5-Day City Experiences in May 2023

  1. Day 1: St. John in the Wilderness Church
    20 minutes (5km) from Dharamshala

    Explore the beautiful St. John in the Wilderness Church which was built in 1852 in the neo-Gothic style. You can see beautiful stained glass windows and the graveyard with tombs from the British era.

  2. Day 2: Gyuto Monastery
    15 minutes (4.3km) from McLeodganj

    Visit the Gyuto Monastery which is the temporary residence of the 17th Karmapa, the spiritual head of the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism. The main attraction of the monastery is the magnificent statue of Lord Buddha made of pure gold.

  3. Day 3: Kangra Fort
    1 hour 10 minutes (27km) from McLeodganj

    Kangra Fort is a famous historical site located in the outskirts of the city. It was built by the Rajput family of Kangra State which traces its origin to the ancient Trigarta Kingdom mentioned in the Mahabharata.

  4. Day 4: Masroor Rock Cut Temple
    1 hour (35km) from McLeodganj

    The Masroor Rock Cut Temple is a unique archaeological site which was constructed in the 8th century AD by the Katoch Dynasty. You can see beautiful carvings on the rock and the temple complex itself is an engineering marvel.

  5. Day 5: Namgyal Monastery
    10 minutes (2.7km) from McLeodganj

    On the last day of your trip, visit Namgyal Monastery which was established by the 3rd Dalai Lama in 1575. It is the largest Tibetan temple in McLeodganj and also serves as the residence of the Dalai Lama.

Time and Costs Estimates

  • St. John in the Wilderness Church (1 hour, Free)
  • Gyuto Monastery (2 hours, Free)
  • Kangra Fort (2 hours, INR 150)
  • Masroor Rock Cut Temple (2 hours, INR 20)
  • Namgyal Monastery (1 hour, Free)
  • Total Estimated Costs: INR 170

Useful Tips

If you have more time, you can explore the nearby Bhagsunag Waterfall and Bhagsunag Temple or add a trek to Triund Hill. If you have less time, you can skip Kangra Fort and Masroor Rock Cut Temple.

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