Incredible India
7 Things to Do in McLeod Ganj, Home to the Dalai Lama in Exile
A hill town above Dharamshala has been home to the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration since 1960, giving it a monastery-and-mountain character unlike anywhere else in Himachal Pradesh.
Sep 24, 2026 · BigTravel.in
McLeod Ganj sits in the hills above Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, at around 2,080 metres, and has been the seat of the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration in exile since 1960. That history gives the town a character distinct from other Himachal hill stations: prayer flags strung between pine trees, a large Tibetan refugee community, and the snow-lined Dhauladhar range rising directly behind the rooftops. Here are seven things to do, each with a direct map link.
1. Tsuglagkhang Complex
The Dalai Lama's residence and main temple complex, Tsuglagkhang holds a large gilded Buddha statue and serves as the spiritual centre of Tibetan Buddhism in exile. The complex also includes the Tibet Museum, documenting the 1959 exodus from Tibet, and is open to visitors except when religious ceremonies or teachings are underway.
2. Triund Trek
A roughly 9-kilometre trail from McLeod Ganj climbing to a ridge at about 2,850 metres, Triund is one of the most accessible Himalayan viewpoints in India, manageable as a long day hike or an overnight camp with the Dhauladhar peaks rising directly above the grassland.
3. Bhagsunag Waterfall and Temple
A short walk from the village of Bhagsu, just outside McLeod Ganj, this seasonal waterfall sits beside an old Shiva temple and is busiest, and most impressive, during and just after the monsoon months.
4. Church of St John in the Wilderness
A neo-Gothic Anglican church built in 1852 amid tall deodar forest, this stone church survived the major 1905 Kangra earthquake that destroyed much of the surrounding area, and its stained glass and quiet graveyard, including the grave of Lord Elgin, a Viceroy of India who died at Dharamshala in 1863, make it one of the more atmospheric colonial-era buildings in the region.
5. Norbulingka Institute
Set in lower Dharamshala, this Tibetan cultural institute trains artisans in traditional thangka painting, woodcarving and metalwork, laid out around formal gardens and a temple hall, and offers a quieter, more contemplative counterpoint to McLeod Ganj's busier lanes.
6. Naddi Viewpoint
A short drive or walk beyond McLeod Ganj, Naddi village offers one of the more open, unobstructed views of the Dhauladhar range, especially near sunset, and has grown into a quieter base of its own for travellers wanting fewer crowds than the town centre.
7. Dal Lake
Not to be confused with the larger Dal Lake in Srinagar, this small forest lake near Naddi sits amid deodar trees and holds an annual fair each September, offering a peaceful short walk away from McLeod Ganj's main market.
Traveller tips
- The nearest airport is Gaggal (Kangra) Airport, around 15 kilometres away; Pathankot is the nearest major railhead, roughly a 3 hour drive.
- Teaching schedules at the Tsuglagkhang Complex vary and can close parts of the complex to visitors; checking ahead is worthwhile if the Dalai Lama's temple is a priority.
- March to June and September to November offer the most reliable trekking weather; the monsoon months bring heavy rain but the fullest waterfalls.
- McLeod Ganj's steep lanes are best explored on foot; parking in the town centre is limited, and many travellers base themselves in Dharamshala below and commute up.
Where this is
McLeod Ganj, Himachal Pradesh