Things To Do in Dharamshala

Norbulingka believes in the preservation and continuation of Tibetan art through self-sustaining means. Under the guidance of talented masters, we endow artists and craftspeople with ancestral knowledge, providing jobs to a community of over 300 Tibetans. We invite visitors to come and explore our beautiful campus and witness firsthand the splendor of Tibetan art.

Replete with Tibetan culture, the Dalai Lama Temple, also known as Tsuglakhang Temple, is a politico-religious centre in Dharamsala. Ideal for peaceful meditation and religious rumination, the temple is full of lamas at all points of the day chanting on prayer wheels or beads. The majestic temple is in close vicinity to the abode of Dalai Lama and is frequently visited by him to preach and conduct prayer meets. Popular for its beautiful setting, the temple complex has become a revered pilgrimage site for the Buddhists. In addition to this, peaceful environs and ataraxy attracts tourists from all over the world.

The gigantic complex houses massive statues of Avalokiteshvara, Padmasambhava and several other Buddhist monks. The main attraction of Dalai Lama Temple is the enormous idol of Buddha sitting on an elevated pedestal. The chief prayer wheel is also located here, at the centre of the temple which is plated in gold and has chants of ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’. Pilgrims walk around the pedestal to pay homage and rotate the prayer wheel. It is believed that by rotating the wheel, the merit is multiplied and the devotees are blessed enormously. The large hall adjacent to it accommodates thousands of people to meditate and spend a few moments of quietude. There are also a few tiny shops within the premises which sell books on religion, peace, meditation, Nirvana and the like; in addition to little souvenirs and knick-knacks. Calmly hushed between the idyllic mountain peaks, the glorious Dalai Lama Temple offers solitude and serenity like no place else.
Timings : 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Museum Timings- 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Closed on Mondays
Time Required : 1 - 2 hrs
Entry Fee : No Entry Fee
Museum Entry Fee - INR 5

At a distance of 9 km from Dharamshala and 16 km from McLeod Ganj, Aghanjar Mahadev Temple is situated in the Khaniyara village at the foothills of Dhauladhar. This temple is believed to be five hundred years old.
The Aghanjar Mahadev Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is believed that once upon a time when Arjuna, one of the Pandavas from the Mahabharata, was on his way to the Kailash Mountains, Lord Shiva appeared at this spot and blessed him with the boon of victory over the Kauravas. There are several idols of Lord Shiva and a Lord Hanuman statue.
The temple is surrounded by forests, mountains and a little waterfall is situated behind the temple with continuous flow of water. There is also a small cave with Shivlinga near the temple. This Shiva temple and its surroundings offer a great relief. This is a beautiful place to relax and capture the beauty of nature and surrounding mountains.

St. John in the Wilderness is a Protestant church dedicated to John the Baptist. It was built in 1852 and is located near Dharamshala, India, on the way to McLeodGanj, at ForsythGunj

The distance between Dharamsala and McLeod Ganj in Himanchal Pradesh will shrink drastically as a ropeway will now connect the two tourist hotspots in this mountain destination. Recently inaugurated by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, the 1.8 km-long ropeway is aimed to be the solution for the increasing traffic on the road that connects the two places. Called the Dharamshala Skyway, the ropeway has the capacity to transport 100 people in one hour in one direction. The 207 crore project has 10 towers and two stations and covers the distance in just five minutes. The top station of the ropeway is in front of the Dalai Lama Temple in McLeod Ganj. The ropeway is constructed using monocable detachable Gondola technology. The fare is fixed at Rs 300 per person for a one-way trip and Rs 500 per person for a round trip.