Dharamshala Dalhousie Tour

Delhi to Dharamshala. Leave Delhi at dawn and cross Haryana and Punjab on the highway, with a lunch halt near Jalandhar. After Pathankot the road turns into the Kangra valley and climbs to Dharamshala by evening, about 10 to 11 hours in all. Check in and spend the evening at leisure.

Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj sightseeing. Begin at the Tsuglagkhang complex in McLeod Ganj, which houses the Dalai Lama's temple, the Namgyal monastery and the Tibet Museum. Walk or drive to Bhagsu Nag temple and on to Bhagsu waterfall, a short uphill path from the temple. In the afternoon come down to lower Dharamshala for the HPCA cricket stadium, one of the highest in the world, and St John in the Wilderness church at Forsyth Ganj. The Tibetan market on Temple Road is a good end to the day. Overnight in Dharamshala.

Dharamshala to Dalhousie. If Day 2 ran late, the morning can be used for the Norbulingka Institute at Sidhbari, where Tibetan crafts are taught and made. Then drive out through Kangra and Nurpur to Banikhet and up to Dalhousie, about 4 to 5 hours. Check in and take an evening walk around Gandhi Chowk. Overnight in Dalhousie.

Dalhousie sightseeing with Khajjiar. The morning outing is to Khajjiar, 22 km away, where a grass meadow with a small pond sits inside a ring of deodar; zorbing and pony rides are on offer in season. Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary lies on the same road and is worth an hour on its forest trails. Back in Dalhousie, the afternoon covers Panchpula and St John's Church, and if time and legs allow, the Dainkund ridge walk from Lakkar Mandi. Overnight in Dalhousie.

Dalhousie to Delhi. Descend through Banikhet to Pathankot after breakfast and take the highway across Punjab and Haryana. Allow about 12 hours with a lunch stop; the tour ends at your drop point in Delhi in the evening.