Dharamsala accommodation this June

Hi folks,
I am going to Dharamsala this June for the Dalai Lamas teachings. Given that the Dalai Lama is in town ans the season, do you think I should prebook a guesthouse? I dont need something very nice, but I prefer budget accomodations that are clean ( around 300-600 Rs ). Or should I just show up? Any recommendations on prebooking or good guest houses are welcome! Thanks!

I can't speak for when the Dalai Lama does public teachings here, but guest houses do tend to fill up with big events. I heard the cricket match in Dharamsala this weekend made finding accommodations very hard.

I really recommend Pawan House on Jogiwara road. Very reasonably priced, very clean, nice staff, and great views.

Definitely pre-book! Have a great trip: Dharamsala is lovely in June.

Soapwater, thanks for he recco of Pawan House. It looks great. I dont think it was there yet, when we visited (june 2010)
We stayed at Chonor House, more expensive )-: but with lovely restaurant, and right across road from Dalai Lama's enclosure and the big temple.

Goingto, here is some info for you:

http://pawanhouse.com/rooms_tariffs.php

Another place i heard favorable about while we were in Mcleod Gang is Hotel Akash, more a sort of "hippy " hangout place., etc, if that affects where you prefer to stay.

thanks soapwater and rebeccam! Yes, any contact information is much appreciated. Although there seem to be many guest houses in dharamsala, it seems like only the expensive ones respond to email or have email addresses...

How many days prior to the teachings will you be arriving in McLeod Ganj? If you are arriving a few days early you should me able to find a room without much difficulty. If you are arriving right before the teachings I would suggest pre-booking. There are always rooms available somewhere, but finding on can be tiring if most of them are full.
Pena Thang, Annexe, Pink House, and Eight Auspicious Him are four more good ones that take reservations, but I don't believe that they have rooms for under Rs600.
If you decide not to pre-book and you arrive by bus at the last minute, there will be representatives of various guesthouses waiting at the bus stand in the morning. Ask them if their guest house is in McLeod Ganj (Bagsu and Dharamkot are a long walk), the price including private bathroom with hot water and if you care ask if it has a view. There are a number of places that are not in the guide book or are off the main streets, which find customers in this manner. It is a bit of a craps shoot, but competition is stiff so the rooms and prices are often good. If you don't like the room you can always move.

Thanks for the great info, Cardinal Divide. I am actually arriving a full week before the first day of the teachings, so I am hoping that it won't be a problem to find a room.