A lot of people get really confused choosing amongst two top destinations of India i.e., Dharamshala and Dalhousie. On what factors these two places are different and the same matters a lot. A few months ago I wrote a travel story of my Dalhousie trip and also how I traveled solo to Dharamshala. Being a traveler in both these places, I believe I can give you some reasons here!
To tell you honestly, choosing depends a lot on you too. What type of person are you, what’s your budget, likings as well as your priorities. Both places are good stands at their paces. But as we mentioned earlier, we’re also going to talk about what separates them? Let’s go!
Some Quirky Calculations…
What Dalhousie has to offer? Here are the important and remarkable ones: Khajjiar, Chamera Lake, Dainkund Peak, Ganji Pahadi, Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary and some itty bitty!
What Dharamshala/McLeodganj has to offer? Here are the noticeable ones: Triund Trek, Dalai Lama Temple & Monastery, Dharamkot village, St John Church in the Wilderness, Bhagsu Waterfalls.
Dharamshala and McLeodganj are situated at a mere distance of 5.5km approx and well connected via bus. Dalhousie, on the other hand, is at 115km approximately from Dharamshala.
Now if you look closely since Dharamshala/McLeodganj (I’ll mention both names interchangeably) is home of His Holiness Dalai Lama. It is a peaceful place and is not crowded as much as Dalhousie is. Dalhousie receives lots of visitors throughout the year, maybe rainy seasons would be an exception to count, as rain causes frequent landslides in Dalhousie.
In terms of attractions and points of interest, I’d liked McLeodganj more than Dalhousie simply because I like being at peaceful places which are more close to nature. On the other hand, Dalhousie has a lot to offer for people who simply want to enjoy and have fun.
Why I would choose McLeodganj over Dalhousie?
I’ll mention a few points…
- It is way more peaceful and spiritual place,
- Less crowded,
- Cheaper than Dalhousie (as in terms of taxi fare, accommodations),
- So many cafes to choose from (Illiterati and Shiva Cafe are ones among the best),
- Snow peaked mountain views of Dhauladhar ranges,
- Triund trek(7 km), a beginner level trek, starts here,
- Dharamkot village, 3 km from McLeodganj square,
- Can spend peaceful time with me at Dalai Lama Temple
Why I would choose Dalhousie over McLeodganj?
It’d be because…
- Khajjiar (mini Switzerland of India, though mostly crowded)
- Chamera dam and lake
- Panchpula waterfalls
- Khajjiar trek (12 km)
- Dainkund peak
One interesting thing I found out is that both Dharamshala and Dalhousie(in Panchpula, 3.5 km from Dalhousie) have ‘Shiva Cafe’, though I wasn’t able to find out if they fall under the same umbrella or it was just a coincidence to have the same name.
In the end, I’d say that again, choosing between the two depends majorly on you and your priorities. Both are good destinations and would suit for you if you’re traveling just to untangle your neurons but if you are a hardcore traveler and have your priorities set straight, things can be different. This was just my personal opinion.
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