Dharamshala Holidays

Experience Buddhist culture in Dharamshala on this full-day tour, with visits to Tibetan temples, nunneries and the Dalai Lama’s monastery complex. Start with a Kora around the residence of his holiness, this is a Tibetan Buddhist ritual of walking in a clockwise direction around a sacred site. You’ll see prayer flags and old ladies spinning prayer wheels and chanting – the views of the mountains are also spectacular and, if the weather is clear, you can see the Kangra Valley below. You will get to visit the main temple where the Dalai Lama conducts his teachings as well as the Kalachakra temple with its murals of tantric deities.

If you’re lucky, you might even get to watch a debate taking place. From there you will be driven to the Gyuto Tantric Monastery where around 700 monks live, it was founded by Tibetans who fled to India. A highlight is watching the monks in yellow hats chanting in the so-called Tantric Choir.

The Buddhist circuit continues at the famous Norbulingka Institute where you’ll learn about their work preserving Tibetan art and culture. They hold workshops in painting, appliqué and wood carving. Lunch will be at the Humming Bird Café, (guest to pay directly) which serves Tibetan cuisine like momos, mutton dishes and vegetable noodle soup. The tour ends with a trip to the Dolma Ling Nunnery, which is the first institute for the higher education of Tibetan Buddhist nuns.

Visit forts, temples and ride a train through Himalayan landscape on this day out in the Kangra Valley. The tour can be taken from either Dharamshala or Palampur and starts with a drive to the Kangra Fort, the oldest fort in the region that was built in the 4th century.

It’s also the largest in the Himalayas and has stood through invasions and the earthquake of 1905, which destroyed much of the area. The fort is set on a steep rock where the Banganga and Patalganga rivers merge, on a piece of land shaped like an ear, hence the name: kan means ear and gra means fort. To reach the main courtyard there’s five different gates to cross. The view is incredible from here, you can see the entire Dhauladhar mountain range which is covered in snow during winter and spring. Next, board the Kangra Toy Train, which was constructed by the British in 1927 to build a hydroplant near Palampur. During the hour-long journey, you get to relax and take in views of the mountains, hills and valleys.

Enjoy a traditional Indian lunch at the heritage hotel Taragarh Palace before the final visit of the day, to Baijnath Temple. This Shiva temple was built in the 12th century and has legendary stories attached to it, with amazing architecture. The detailed stone carvings are the most preserved in the valley. Baijnath a living temple that’s been in use for 900 years, so you’ll see priests and devotees from around the country worshiping there, it’s a unique, spiritual experience.

Discover Himalayan village life and Tibetan culture on this morning walk. Visit Naddi village, which lies about 2,000 metres above sea level, surrounded by mountains. Your guide will explain about the semi-nomadic life of the shepherd tribes. This tour gives a good insight into rural life in the mountains.

You will start at 8.30am with a drive to the Tibetan Children’s Village, a boarding school that was set up by the eldest sister of the Dalai Lama in 1961. A member of staff will show you around and talk about their inspiring work educating nearly 1,600 Tibetan kids who wouldn’t otherwise have access to education.

Then you will make your way on foot to Naddi village where the views are amazing. Your guide will explain about the semi-nomadic life of the shepherd tribe that lives in Naddi and how they travel with flocks of sheep and goats crossing high passes and travelling long distances according to the different seasons.

The walk continues through a pine and cedar forest, where you’ll find hidden caves and temples where monks come to meditate. You’ll stop at one called Golu Mata, where locals come to worship daily. There’s time for a tea break at a café before making your way down the other side of the mountain to Dharamkot. This is home to the Vipassana Centre, which offers courses in meditation and yoga based on Tibetan Buddhism.