McLeod Ganj, the upper reaches of Dharamshala, is the seat of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile, its streets filled with maroon-robed monks, Tibetan prayer flags and a dense concentration of Tibetan restaurants, monasteries and craft shops. The Tsuglagkhang Complex, including the Dalai Lama's residence and the main temple, is the spiritual centre of the town, open to visitors when the Dalai Lama is not holding private audiences.
Beyond its Tibetan Buddhist character, McLeod Ganj has also become a significant hub for trekkers heading up toward Triund and the wider Dhauladhar range, giving the town a dual identity as both a pilgrimage-adjacent cultural destination and a launching point for mountain trekking.
McLeod Ganj takes its name from a British colonial lieutenant governor, but its modern identity was entirely reshaped after 1960, when it became the centre of the Tibetan exile community, transforming what had been a quiet colonial-era settlement.
March to June, and September to November.
About 10km above Dharamshala, easily reached by taxi or a scenic uphill walk.
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