A Day in Little Lhasa : Mcleodganj.

After 2 days of sightseeing in Shimla , Little Lhasa was our last stop in Himachal. It was just a day that was spent here and we made maximum use of it.

A suburb-Mcleodganj is comfortably within reach from Dharamshala. The small hill-station of McleodGanj has its fame worldwide for the residence of his Holiness The Dalai Lama. A hub for the Tibetan ethnicity, traditions and Buddhism. Mcleodganj has an exquisite ambiance that makes your trip to this place etched in your mind forever. Mcleodganj is a perfect dwelling for countryside enthusiasts.

On reaching very early in the morning we directly checked into our stay and hit the bed. Sometime around 9 in the morning started to explore this beautiful suburb. We decided to walk around and not take any public transport. The roads are uphill and downhill. We walked around for a bit and also managed to get some insights of the place from the locals.

Finally ended up in this café called Illterati Books and Coffee for breakfast. Having breakfast in this place which is overlooking the mountains gave a great kick start to the day, and the bacon the best I had in a long time.

Not that there is nothing to see in McLeod Ganj. I would recommend visiting these places:

Started off with The Dalai Lama’s temple,He came to India and made Mcleodganj his home. The temple also houses one of the largest collections of sacred Tibetan texts. You can meditate or you can take a serene morning or evening walk around the temple. The Peace in this temple is just not explainable, you have to be there to experience it.

Namgyal Monastery : This is where the Dalai Lama stays. You can get an audience with him if you are lucky. The place is generally milling with people, tourists and locals alike. It's a good place for those looking for inner peace.

After some lunch and roaming the colorful streets, came in for some rest. Early in the evening we ventured out again and decided to walk to my favorite spot -St. John in the Wilderness: The Church dates back to the 19th century, and is a must visit. Set amidst a thicket of deodar trees, its peaceful tranquility is welcoming. It's an Anglican Church built in honour of St. John the Baptist, and is a marvelous structure, designed in the neo-Gothic style of architecture. The Church is situated close to Forsyth Ganj, a hamlet near McLeod Ganj. The stunning stained glass windows are the main attraction of the Church. They were especially brought in from Belgian, when the Church was first constructed. So, they've been there for over 150 years. They create a vivid display of colours when sunlight shines through them. The Church is said to have survived a massive earthquake that struck the region in the early 20th century. Though, the original bell tower was destroyed in the quake, another bell sourced from England was replaced. Its churchyard is the final resting place of Lord Elgin, who served as Governor General. The graveyard in the Church compound. Don't let it spook you,it is one of the most peaceful (pun intended) places on earth. There are lot of other beautiful grave stones can be found here, dating back to the 1800s.

Next stop was Naddi –To catch a glimpse of the Dhauladhar mountain range, Go to Naddi, situated 2 kms away from the hustle and bustle of McLeod Ganj. And on the way the auto driver gave a pit stop at Dal lake nothing great about it expect the fact the will be iced during winters, which sadly we dint witness.

Bhagsu waterfall: You have to climb a mountain to see this waterfall and it is rather steep so be prepared. The waterfall is spectacular and the hike is worth it because of the beauty of the mountains. It also has a stunning view of the Dharamshala Cricket ground. We got a nice view of it because of the floodlights as there was a Match that evening vs New Zealand. And also we visited few temples around.

Done with the sightseeing bit, now headed to some of the best cafes in Mcleodganj, hopped around ate some good food and ended up in a beautiful rooftop restaurant for dinner called “Indique”. I must tell, loved the outdoor seating it had a homely feeling to it.Good food Good music added with lovely ambiance. A must visit when in Mcleodganj.

The night was not over yet in Mcleodganj, the heavy thumping of music went on till extents of the night.The parties seems to be a great entertainment in this place of peace.

All in all it is a backpacker’s paradise, you find people from all around world in this small town feeling comfortable like the locals. Mcleodganj doesn't disappoint you in anyway. Though our stay was very short it left an everlasting impression. I would visit again to trek this mountain range. Will see you soon.