mcleodganj-dharamshala trip

fanofu2 · Oct 27th, 2009, 03:43

hi all,

had been using this forum for advise for a long time.. thought i might join after all!! hopefully will add at least a fraction of the value i gain from it...

am in mcleodganj with wife in nov and staying at chonor house.. my dates are 15th nov to 19th nov... what would be the best itinerary if the idea is to have a relaxed holiday to unwind after an year of stressful recession??

Thanks

Arsonic · Nov 1st, 2009, 22:37

would help to clarify: how do you want to relax? by going on treks, by just putting your feet up...how?

fanofu2 · Nov 2nd, 2009, 04:04

well, we are there for 4 nights 5 days... i guess we can do 1-2 days of trek and the rest would fall in the "putting up our feet" category...

bigjed · Nov 2nd, 2009, 05:13

that's a good amount of time to spend in the area - it's fun just walking around McLeod Ganj doing very little. Walk to Baghsu, maybe a trek in the hills - hire a car and driver for an afternoon and see the fort at Kangra...

Cardinal Divide · Nov 2nd, 2009, 06:04

You are staying at a great hotel if you want to relax! I hope the weather is great so that you can enjoy sitting out in the garden admiring the view.
Hire a taxi and spend the day or part of a day at Norbulingka http://www.norbulingka.org/ Have your hotel check to see that it is open before you go. There is a nice restaurant at Norbulingka in the Japanese style gardens.
If you like you can book a day long tour which will take you to Norbulingka, Kangra Fort and several other great places.
If you go to Bagsu be sure to walk up to the waterfall.
Walk to the Church of St John in the Wilderness.
You are staying a few minutes walk from the main temple. It is a great place to visit. The Kora is also just minutes walk away as well. The Kora is a lovely path through the forest which circles the main temple and the Dalai Lama’s residence. Walking the Kora is a form of prayer for Tibetans so be respectful and only follow the path in a clockwise direction. Tourists are welcome there and photography is just fine.
There is an excellent guide to the area here: www.mcllo.com

McLeod Ganj is also a foodies paradise. There are dozens of Tibetan and Indian resturants. There is a great Japanese restaurant down Jogibara Road called Lung Ta. Hotel Tibet is great for Chinese and Tibetan food. Kokonor has really good Italian food. Jimmy's serves Italian and more. It is similar to The Big Chill in Khan Market. So many more great places to eat in McLeod those are just a few of them.
Chonor House where you are staying has a great restaurant and you can walk up the hill behind the hotel to Pema Thang for pizza made in a wood-fired oven.
The great thing about McLeod is that everything is within walking distance.
Have a wonderful time!

Cardinal Divide · Nov 2nd, 2009, 06:06

Do bring warm clothes!

fanofu2 · Nov 3rd, 2009, 01:19

thanks cardinal for the detailed response... have heard a lot about the trek to triund... would u recommend it?

Also, is it advisable to drive down from Delhi? Was thinking I could even drive out to Chamba / Dalhousie from McLoedganj since a couple more days to spare in my (hard earned) week long vacation...

bigjed · Nov 3rd, 2009, 01:23

I visited Dalhousie in OCtober of last year - didn't find anything there of note! Afterward I though perhaps Chamba would have been a better bet. Hell if you can drive you should do it! We took trains from Amritsar to Pathankot and then a car and driver from there to Dalhousie and from Dalhousie to McLeod Ganj. Our first trip in 2006 a train from Delhi to Kalka and then a taxi to Shimla and another to McLeod Ganj.

fanofu2 · Nov 3rd, 2009, 01:31

thanks bigjed... what about road conditions? is there a source where there is updated road condition info? thanks

bigjed · Nov 3rd, 2009, 01:41

I've heard the road between Dalhousie and Chamba is a little dodgy but it has to be better than putting your life in the hands of a pan chewing bus driver... Personally I'd never drive on Indian roads and would always get a driver who knew the roads inside out.

fanofu2 · Nov 4th, 2009, 02:01

guys - never use makemytrip for your bookings... i have just had a very bad experience.. they confirmed my Chonor House booking and even sent me a confirmation voucher by email and sms. 10 days later, i get an email saying that the hotel is not available!!! not a really good start to a holiday i am so looking forward to...

anyway, which is the next best place you would recommend??

thanks

bigjed · Nov 4th, 2009, 02:14

I was booked at Chonor house last year - contacted them directly booked no problem - but if they're full, they're full... plenty of places to stay - we stayed at a couple of flasher hotels on Bagsu Rd - but there are heaps of hotels budget to at least 2.5 stars

all over the place. HOTEL HIM QUEEN was one - it wasn't terrible... and the Surya was one of the best in McLeod Ganj.

delhiwala · Nov 4th, 2009, 17:02

Bhagsu & Dharamkot have plenty of hotels.....

Cardinal Divide · Nov 4th, 2009, 22:50

Annexe Hotel and Pema Thang are both great. They are both on a nice quiet street in the centre of town. Both are very close to Chonor House.
Annexe doesn't have a fancy website but it has a great reputation and the beds are supposed to be really comfortable. There are reviews on India Mike
http://www.himalayafunandtours.com.p.../gallery01.php

Pema Thang is a Tibetan style hotel. I loved the wood floors and the great view from my balcony. Ask for a room with a view! I could have lived there forever, really!
www.pemathang.net/index.html
I don't think you would be disapointed with either place and you can always pop over to Chonor House and have a meal or coffee and relax in the garden.
Triund is a great hike. It took me about 12 hours round trip with lots of breaks. You can catch a rickshaw to the top of Dharamkot and shave off a couple of hours. There are several chai shops along the way with simple but hearty food. The prices go up the higher you go so bring some extra rupeees.

fanofu2 · Nov 5th, 2009, 01:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigjed

I was booked at Chonor house last year - contacted them directly booked no problem - but if they're full, they're full... plenty of places to stay - we stayed at a couple of flasher hotels on Bagsu Rd - but there are heaps of hotels budget to at least 2.5 stars

all over the place. HOTEL HIM QUEEN was one - it wasn't terrible... and the Surya was one of the best in McLeod Ganj.

right i should have booked with them directly... that works better than makemytrip... the people at chonor were polite and friendly... apparantly makemytrip scr**ed up by giving me a confirmation even when the hotel was full...

him view looks awesome... i guess i will go for it...

Oct 27th, 2009, 03:43	#1
fanofu2 Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: delhi Posts: 25	mcleodganj-dharamshala trip hi all, had been using this forum for advise for a long time.. thought i might join after all!! hopefully will add at least a fraction of the value i gain from it... am in mcleodganj with wife in nov and staying at chonor house.. my dates are 15th nov to 19th nov... what would be the best itinerary if the idea is to have a relaxed holiday to unwind after an year of stressful recession?? Thanks

Nov 4th, 2009, 02:01	#11
fanofu2 Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: delhi Posts: 25	:( guys - never use makemytrip for your bookings... i have just had a very bad experience.. they confirmed my Chonor House booking and even sent me a confirmation voucher by email and sms. 10 days later, i get an email saying that the hotel is not available!!! not a really good start to a holiday i am so looking forward to... anyway, which is the next best place you would recommend?? thanks

Nov 4th, 2009, 17:02	#13
delhiwala IM what IM Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Indeyah ! Posts: 4,817	Bhagsu & Dharamkot have plenty of hotels..... __________________ Travel only with thy equals or thy betters; if there are none, travel alone. - The Dhammapada

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Nov 1st, 2009, 22:37	#2
Arsonic Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 4	would help to clarify: how do you want to relax? by going on treks, by just putting your feet up...how?

Nov 2nd, 2009, 04:04	#3
fanofu2 Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: delhi Posts: 25	well, we are there for 4 nights 5 days... i guess we can do 1-2 days of trek and the rest would fall in the "putting up our feet" category...

Nov 2nd, 2009, 05:13	#4
bigjed Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Burkina Faso Posts: 134	that's a good amount of time to spend in the area - it's fun just walking around McLeod Ganj doing very little. Walk to Baghsu, maybe a trek in the hills - hire a car and driver for an afternoon and see the fort at Kangra...

Nov 2nd, 2009, 06:04	#5
Cardinal Divide Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 202	You are staying at a great hotel if you want to relax! I hope the weather is great so that you can enjoy sitting out in the garden admiring the view. Hire a taxi and spend the day or part of a day at Norbulingka http://www.norbulingka.org/ Have your hotel check to see that it is open before you go. There is a nice restaurant at Norbulingka in the Japanese style gardens. If you like you can book a day long tour which will take you to Norbulingka, Kangra Fort and several other great places. If you go to Bagsu be sure to walk up to the waterfall. Walk to the Church of St John in the Wilderness. You are staying a few minutes walk from the main temple. It is a great place to visit. The Kora is also just minutes walk away as well. The Kora is a lovely path through the forest which circles the main temple and the Dalai Lama’s residence. Walking the Kora is a form of prayer for Tibetans so be respectful and only follow the path in a clockwise direction. Tourists are welcome there and photography is just fine. There is an excellent guide to the area here: www.mcllo.com McLeod Ganj is also a foodies paradise. There are dozens of Tibetan and Indian resturants. There is a great Japanese restaurant down Jogibara Road called Lung Ta. Hotel Tibet is great for Chinese and Tibetan food. Kokonor has really good Italian food. Jimmy's serves Italian and more. It is similar to The Big Chill in Khan Market. So many more great places to eat in McLeod those are just a few of them. Chonor House where you are staying has a great restaurant and you can walk up the hill behind the hotel to Pema Thang for pizza made in a wood-fired oven. The great thing about McLeod is that everything is within walking distance. Have a wonderful time!

Nov 2nd, 2009, 06:06	#6
Cardinal Divide Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 202	Do bring warm clothes!

Nov 3rd, 2009, 01:19	#7
fanofu2 Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: delhi Posts: 25	thanks cardinal for the detailed response... have heard a lot about the trek to triund... would u recommend it? Also, is it advisable to drive down from Delhi? Was thinking I could even drive out to Chamba / Dalhousie from McLoedganj since a couple more days to spare in my (hard earned) week long vacation...

Nov 3rd, 2009, 01:23	#8
bigjed Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Burkina Faso Posts: 134	I visited Dalhousie in OCtober of last year - didn't find anything there of note! Afterward I though perhaps Chamba would have been a better bet. Hell if you can drive you should do it! We took trains from Amritsar to Pathankot and then a car and driver from there to Dalhousie and from Dalhousie to McLeod Ganj. Our first trip in 2006 a train from Delhi to Kalka and then a taxi to Shimla and another to McLeod Ganj.

Nov 3rd, 2009, 01:31	#9
fanofu2 Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: delhi Posts: 25	thanks bigjed... what about road conditions? is there a source where there is updated road condition info? thanks

Nov 3rd, 2009, 01:41	#10
bigjed Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Burkina Faso Posts: 134	I've heard the road between Dalhousie and Chamba is a little dodgy but it has to be better than putting your life in the hands of a pan chewing bus driver... Personally I'd never drive on Indian roads and would always get a driver who knew the roads inside out.

Nov 4th, 2009, 02:14	#12
bigjed Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Burkina Faso Posts: 134	I was booked at Chonor house last year - contacted them directly booked no problem - but if they're full, they're full... plenty of places to stay - we stayed at a couple of flasher hotels on Bagsu Rd - but there are heaps of hotels budget to at least 2.5 stars all over the place. HOTEL HIM QUEEN was one - it wasn't terrible... and the Surya was one of the best in McLeod Ganj.

Nov 4th, 2009, 22:50	#14
Cardinal Divide Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 202	Annexe Hotel and Pema Thang are both great. They are both on a nice quiet street in the centre of town. Both are very close to Chonor House. Annexe doesn't have a fancy website but it has a great reputation and the beds are supposed to be really comfortable. There are reviews on India Mike http://www.himalayafunandtours.com.p.../gallery01.php Pema Thang is a Tibetan style hotel. I loved the wood floors and the great view from my balcony. Ask for a room with a view! I could have lived there forever, really! www.pemathang.net/index.html I don't think you would be disapointed with either place and you can always pop over to Chonor House and have a meal or coffee and relax in the garden. Triund is a great hike. It took me about 12 hours round trip with lots of breaks. You can catch a rickshaw to the top of Dharamkot and shave off a couple of hours. There are several chai shops along the way with simple but hearty food. The prices go up the higher you go so bring some extra rupeees.