In and around Mcleodganj – A photolog – Part 1

Day 1 – 12 March 2011

After attending Sakshi’s wedding on 11th March 2011 in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, Adhiraaj and i left for Mcleodganj the next morning. It was 6.30 am when we reached Hoshiarpur bus and boarded the Punjab Roadways bus to Dharamshala. As we zoomed past the city, in the fields of Punjab and soon after entered the Himachal Border. The hills, the clean fresh air and the curvy roads were back. After covering a distance of 128 km in approx. 4 hours and 2 stops, we reached Dharamshala around 11 a.m.

On the way to Bhagsu Waterfall

Another 9 km bus ride took us to Mcleodganj. The frequency of the local buses plying between Dharamshala and Mcleodganj is 15-20 min. After reaching Mcleodganj, the first thing that greeted my eyes was the busy Mcleodganj Square. I read a lot about Mcleodganj and the nearby places in previous Ghumakkar posts and Wikipedia articles. So i knew about the places to visit. Due to some reasons our plan of camping at triund didn’t happen. So we decided to visit Bhagsu Waterfall, Dalai Lama Temple on the same day and Naddi, St. John Church the next day.

View from the hotel...

We checked into a hotel near Dalai Lama Temple and after some rest we went to the Bhagsu Waterfall. As the distance from Mcleadganj Square to Bhagsu Waterfall was only 3 km on motor-able road and then 1 km uphill trek, we decided to walk instead of hiring an auto.

Tibetian Architecture

Prayer Wheels...

Dharamshala Cricket Ground as seen from Mcleodganj

Please Help!!!

Bhagsu Waterfall

Another View

As i was clicking pictures at the Bhagsu Waterfall, i noticed some people standing further up the hill and i noticed a way going up some 10 mtrs before the waterfall. So, we decided to go up and thought of finding the origin of the waterfall but instead we found Shiva Cafe. A place in the wild of what we later found out was the hangout zone of hippies. A place popular among foreigners and Indians alike for smoking weed and some other things.

In the wild...

Committing sins in the name of God...

One of the best i saw up there

In the name of God....

During Sunset...

The End…

10 Comments

  • Sandeep Sehgal says:

    Amazing pics! Shiva Cafe is a discovery for me, I was in McLeodganj in Oct 2010 and did not come across this place. Thanks for the info.

  • Saurabh Saxena says:

    Nice pics! Will definitely plan a visit to McLeodganj

  • Aditya

    We are getting to read your travel posts one after the other as you have been hanging around from place to another frequently. I envy you for this…

    I wish I could have got these kinds of opportunities to travel around. You are very lucky…

    Liked this post too…Pics are mind blowing…

  • Nandan says:

    Shiva cafe is a Khoj. Been to similar (at a much lower scale though) cafes on the trek route between Bhagsu and Dharamkot. Mcleod, Dharamkot and Bhagsu make a terrific walking triangle.

    I might drive all the way there, just for Shiva cafe :-) .

  • toral says:

    i went o dharamshala in 2009 july n i enjoyed my stay immensely but didnt come across shiva cafe……n m dying to wait go back all way to dharamshala from gujarat…..i loved the place an nice pics….

  • guneet says:

    Hi…
    Im from spiceroute(inflight magazine of Spicejet) . We are looking some fantastic cover options for Dharamshala and mcleodganj. would you be able to share some shots with us on this email id at the earliest – guneet@maxposure.in

  • Rajat Kumar says:

    Hi Aditya
    How did you manage to capture the stadium from Mcleod Ganj?
    I must also try the next time I am there.

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