Amritsar with Dalhousie and Dharamshala: The Perfect Himalayan Trip

Amritsar is a very colourful city. It is the city of the gorgeous Golden Temple, the Flag Retreat at Wagah border and bears testimony  to India’s struggle for independence (Partition Museum and Jallianwala Bagh). It is home to the energetic and fun-loving Punjabis.

Dharmashala, also known as Mcleodganj, on the other hand, is an abode of peace and tranquility. It is known for its distinct Tibetian culture. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama resides here. It is the perfect mix of spirituality and cafe culture of India. 

Dalhousie is a typical Himalayan hill station, known for its beautiful lakes (Chamera Lake), picturesque meadow (Khajjiar), a memorable nature trail through tall and dense deodar trees (Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary) and milky waterfalls (Satdhara falls). Dalhousie enchants you with its beautiful scenic views, picturesque snow-capped mountains, Victorian style majestic British mansions and its mesmerizing natural beauty. 

Khajjiar Lake and Chamera Lake of Dalhousie. Get Best of Amritsar, Dalhousie and Dharamshala Tourism. Exploring the Interesting Dharamshala Visiting Places

The best part is that all these places are near to each other. They can be covered in just half a day – within  4 to 5 hours by car. Just like when you visit the famous Golden Triangle ( Agra, Jaipur and Delhi) and cover all the three places in one trip. Likewise, you usually want to club these three places because of their proximity and the fact that each of them has something unique to offer.

Khajjiar Lake and Chamera Lake of Dalhousie. Get Best of Amritsar, Dalhousie and Dharamshala Tourism. Exploring the Interesting Dharamshala Visiting Places

Two of these three destinations have airports – Amritsar and Dharamsala. So either you start from Amritsar, then go to Dalhousie and then Dharamshala or you can do the other way round. Dharamshala has limited air connectivity. You will find more flights to and from Amritsar. So, choose the way you want to explore these three places

In Amritsar you can stay in branded 4 or 5 Star hotels within the city limits or in any farm house on the outskirts of the city. Dalhousie offers a very contrasting experience wherein you can check in to luxurious Himalayan resorts and enjoy the view of the grand Himalayan mountain range. Same with Dharamshala. In fact, if you’re looking for more diversity in your stay, you may as well stay amidst the tea gardens of Palampur. Palampur is about an hour’s drive from Mcleodganj….Not only will you experience a different stay, but also a different landscape with lush green tea plantation!

Khajjiar Lake and Chamera Lake of Dalhousie. Get Best of Amritsar, Dalhousie and Dharamshala Tourism. Exploring the Interesting Dharamshala Visiting Places

Both Amritsar and Mcleodganj are food lovers’ paradise. In Amritsar you get the authentic Punjabi tikkas and kebabs, desserts and sweets. In Dharamsala, you have the cafe culture and a variety of authentic Tibetian food. Heritage walks in both these places are memorable experiences. It is unbelievable how two cities separated by only a hundred miles can be so different!

There are a lot of diverse activities that you can do in this trip…For example, in Amritsar you can do the street food walk and heritage walk or enjoy the “langaar” for lunch and the “Palki ceremony” late evening at the Golden Temple. When in Dalhousie, you can enjoy the boat ride and nature trails. In Dharamsala, you can go for short treks (Triund Trek) or a walk through a typical Himalayan village (Naddi Village). If you are interested in heritage sites, you can even go for a day trip to Kangra Fort and famous Rock-cut Temples at Masroor from Dharamsala.

In just one trip, spanning about a week, you can do so many things…

Khajjiar Lake and Chamera Lake of Dalhousie. Get Best of Amritsar, Dalhousie and Dharamshala Tourism. Exploring the Interesting Dharamshala Visiting Places