McLeod Ganj or Mcleodganj, also known as Upper Dharamsala is a suburb of Dharamsala in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is known as "Little Lhasa" due to its large population of Tibetans.
mcLeod Ganj
Himachal Pradesh • India |
| Nickname: Little Lhasa |
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Coordinates:  32°15′N 76°19′E / 32.25, 76.32 |
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Area
• Elevation |
• 2,082 m (6,831 ft) |
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McLeod Ganj is named after David McLeod, the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab.During the British rule in India, the town was a hill station, where the British people spent hot summers.
In 1959, Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama was offered refuge in McLeod Ganj when he fled to India after the failed uprising in Tibet lead by his brother against the Communist Party.
Himalayan View, McLeod Ganj.
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Transport The nearest airport is Gaggal Airport, near Kangra. The nearest narrow gauge railway stations are Kangra and Nagrota. The nearest broad gauge railhead is Pathankot. The town is connected by road to Delhi the capital of India and major cities of Himachal Pradesh.
Place to Visit
The most important Buddhist site in the town is Tsuglagkhang or Tsuglag Khang, the Dalai Lama's temple. It has statues of Shakyamuni, Avalokiteśvara, and a statue of Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche).
Other Buddhist and Tibetan sites in McLeod Ganj include the Namgyal Monastery, the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts. Gompa Dip Tse-Chok Ling (a small monastery), the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Gangchen Kyishong, Mani Lakhang Stupa, Nechung Monastery, Norbulingka Institute,
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Other places The major tourist centers near McLeodganj include Dharamsala, Palampur, Kangra, Tatwani and Machhrial. Other tourist spots include:
TriundA tourist spot on on the foothills of Dhauladhar range, located 9 km from Mcleod Ganj St. John in the WildernessAn Anglican church located in the forest near Forsyth Gunj. The neo-Gothic stone building of the Church was constructed in 1852. The site also has a memorial of the British Viceroy Lord Elgin, and an old graveyard. The Church building is also noted for its Belgian stained-glass windows donated by Lady Elgin. BhagsuA small village that is now almost a part of Mcleodganj, Bhagsu is about 15-20 minutes of a walk from Mcleod. It has plenty of small cafes and diners that serve pretty good food actually. Beware of the spurious and ubiquitous alternative healing and cooking classes that you might be tempted to try.Strongly recommended is a visit to the community pool besides an ancient temple and the waterfall.When at the waterfall, follow the painted signs and trek about 15 minutes up the mountain to Shiva Cafe. Is you're a marijuana aficionado, it is recommended that you buy your own hash before heading over to Shiva Cafe - all said and done, its a wonderful place to enjoy a taste of Himalayan nature and calm. Dal LakeA scenic lake, located around three km from McLeod Ganj, next to the Tibetan Children's Village. An annual fair is held here in August-September, and is attended mainly by the Girths and the Gurkhas.
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