McLeod Ganj or McLeodganj, A Perfect Weekend Getaway is a small town near Dharamshala in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh named after Sir Donald Friell McLeod, a Lieutenant Governor of Punjab in British rule. At an average elevation of 6,831 Ft. It is situated on the Dhauladhar Range. also known as Little Lhasa or Dhasa That means dharamshala a shelter or rest house for spiritual pilgrims in Tibetan language because of its large population of Tibetans.The Tibetan government-in-exile has its headquarters in McLeod Ganj.

In 1905 The town was destroyed by the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake, approximately  19,800 people were killed and thousands were injured in the Kangra area. Kangra, Dharamshala and Mcleodganj were completely destroyed in this earthquake. After the earthquake most of the administration offices were shifted to lower parts, 

In March 1959, The 14th Dalai Lama, came to India after the failed revolution against the Chinese Communist Party. India helped and offered refuge to The Tibetan community in Dharamshala and It became the official residence of Dalai Lama and Then he set up the Government of Tibet in exile and Mcleodganj is now home to several Buddhist monasteries and thousands of Tibetan refugees.

Some Other hill stations around mcleodganj are Dharamshala, Palampur, Kangra, Machhrial, Sidhbari, Tatwani and Famous Hindu Pilgrimage is Chamunda Devi Temple.

 Mcleodganj Economy is majorly dependent on Tourism, Handicrafts, Carpets, garments and hand made souvenirs. People interested in Buddhist culture visit Mcleodganj to study Tibetan Buddhism.

Mcleod Ganj is connected by very good roads and is about 9 km from Dharamshala and around 485 km from Delhi. It takes around 10 to 11 hours to reach From delhi. Major State transport of many states provide bus service to Mcleodganj by normal and Volvo buses. Nearest railway station is Kangra connected by narrow gauge line. Kangra also has a small airport. 

Mcleodganj is at an altitude of 6,831 Ft it is a perfect hill station to visit in summers. Weather is always pleasant and awesome. Especially in monsoons the beauty of mountains is mesmerising but due to landslide prone areas it is not advised to visit in the rainy season. Winters are a bit cold and you can witness snowfall also. Best time to visit mcleodganj is February to June and September to december. September to December is recommended due to the off-season, one can enjoy nature at its best because of a lesser number of tourists and also hotels and transportation are available at reasonable prices. 

Church is historical and located in the forest near Forsyth Ganj. Lord Elgin, the British Viceroy of India died at Dharamshala while on a visit to mcleodganj and a memorial in his memory is built at church. 

Lake is about 3 KM from the town and there is an old temple along a small spring. A perfect place to enjoy nature and spend some time in the lap of nature.

An old temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is at a walking distance from Mcleodganj A Perfect Weekend Getaway is a must visit destination.

Bhagsu Falls, a waterfall about 20 metres tall, is about two kilometres from McLeod Ganj. After a small trek there is a cafeteria next to the falls. You can reach Shiva Cafe by crossing these falls and climbing further.

The Tibet Museum, established in 1998 and inaugurated by the 14th Dalai Lama on 20 April 2000, has a collection of Tibetan artefacts and photographs showing Tibetans’ struggle to preserve their way of life against oppressive forces.

The museum displays over 30,000 photographs. The entry fee is Rupees 10.

A perfect place for shopping and food lovers. As almost every city in Himachal Pradesh has Mall roads. Mcleodganj is no exception. Mall Road is a perfect place to stay as You will find Many luxurious and good hotels. Mall road also has many modern and traditional food joints like Dominos, Pizza Hut and many more. Shopping is also an option on mall road where you can buy local handicraft, garments, carpets and artefacts at reasonable rates. it makes Mcleodganj a perfect weekend destination.

An easy trek of around 9 km to explore the beauty of himalayas and capture some amazing picturesque views of dhauladhar range.Triund is a beautiful hamlet situated at an altitude of 2828 metres near mcleodganj. 

This beautiful monastery is also the personal monastery of the 14th Dalai lama. Tibetan Architecture and construction of the monastery is simply amazing.

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Do’s And Don’t for your next trip To Mountains.

• Carry a refillable water bottle- due to scarcity of drinking water in these villages, it’s better to carry your own water, and avoid packaged drinking water to minimise plastic waste.
• Buying food and Beverages from locals – local food and drinks can also help you to acclimatise to high altitude weather, and can provide support to the livelihood of locals.
• Use Dustbins to dispose of garbage- The government of himachal pradesh and some local NGOs have set up dustbins at every important location for proper waste management. So use these dustbins and help to keep mountains clean.
• Acclimatise yourself – Before visiting such high altitudes. Get yourself acclimatised with the harsh weather and high altitude. Due to lack of air pressure and thin oxygen it can result in altitude sickness and spoil your trip. 
• Carry and wear enough warm layers- Before you plan, The first thing you should do is buy some warm layers of clothes. Weather on mountains can be very harsh and cold and it is very unpredictable.

Don’t.

• Don’t interfere with the lives and privacy of local residents- surviving in these harsh mountain conditions is already very tough. So try to avoid interfering and disturbing the locals. Respect their feelings and culture.
• Don’t Click pictures without permission– try to ask politely before clicking pictures of any person or place. If they agree you can do so. At Some of the religious places photography is prohibited, so respect the feeling and emotions of people living there. 
• Avoid single Use plastic- Waste management is a bigger concern in the mountains. Try to avoid single use plastic, and carry reusable bottles and tiffin boxes. If you have some plastic waste try to dispose of the same at designated places or dustbin.
• Do not drink liquor – Try to avoid drinking while you are visiting these destinations. Some of them are also of religious importance. it is also dangerous for your health to drink at high altitudes. It may cause dehydration and result in AMS.