
Located at the entry to Dharamsala town, the Dharamsala War Memorial is a memorial constructed to honor the brave men and women who died in service to our country post Independence. The memorial is located amidst beautiful scenery and is a monument that represents bravery and sacrifice.
The monument has the names of
all the soldiers and martyrs, who died in the
1947-48, 1962, 1965, and 1971 war and peacekeeping
missions. This is a structure that holds much importance. The sacrifices of
soldiers are often forgotten in popular media and structures such as these
remind and inspire one to remember and keep fighting the good fight. When here,
do keep this in your list of things to do in Dharamsala.
Best time to visit: All throughout the year.
Jwalamukhi Devi Temple is located in Jwalamukhi town, approximately 55 kilometers from Dharamsala in Kangra district. It’s dedicated to Jwala, a Hindu Goddess associated with fire and burning gas. The temple was built by Raja Bhumi Chand Katoch and is another monument in Dharamsala that traces its origins to the Mahabharata era.
The most unique part about this
temple is that there is no deity inside the temple. Instead, the flames that
emanate from within the rocks through fissures in the ground are worshipped as
they are considered to be the Goddess manifesting herself. The temple is
identified as one of the 52 Shakti Peethas from Hindu mythology and is a
revered religious site that attracts thousands of pilgrims every year.
Best time to visit: All throughout the year.

Mani Lhakhang Stupa is located in Uprali Barol, approximately 5 kilometres from Dharamsala city. This Stupa is also known as the prayer wheels monastery. It was constructed in 2001 under instructions from Dalai Lama as part of 5 small stupas that could survive a natural calamity.
This beautiful Stupa houses a gold plated statue of the
Buddha in his signature lotus position. The Stupa has a lot of prayer wheels
that you can spin for good luck. It is easy to get to from Dharamsala as you
can get a lot of transportation to this place. In the evenings, one can indulge
your senses in the hymns sung by the monks that are sure to make you want to
come back here time and again.
Best time to visit: All throughout the year.
Palace Hotel

Built and previously owned by
Bhupinder Singh, Maharaja of Patiala in 1891 and later purchased by heritage
hotels, The Palace Hotel, Chail claims to be one of the finest Heritage Hotels
and rose to fame with it’s sprawling landscape of around 75 acres of land
standing at an epitome of old-time elegance and beauty.
Indulge in antique charm at this stunning destination set amidst abundant greenery and panoramic views of beautiful landscapes surrounding it along with a serene atmosphere.
Stay at The Palace Hotel in Chail or definitely squeeze in a visit to this destination while it takes you back in time. Each guest room has antique furniture, period interior, wall-to-wall carpeting and a charming fireplace to keep you warm. Don’t be fooled by the quaint antiqueness of the palace as this hotel is equipped with every modern amenity that can come to your mind catering to all your whims and fancies.
Facilities: Facilities include an amazing open air cafe; Cafe Palace, Kings Dining a multi cuisine restaurants with ornate decor, an all purpose gift shop, a sprawling lawn tennis court, Billiards room, Badminton court and a charming children's park.
Approximate Price: Pricing per room ranges from 2400 INR onwards.

Sherbling Monastery is located in Keori, Himachal Pradesh approximately 60 kilometers from Dharamsala. It was established in 1975 in a space in a protected pine forest by the 12th Kenting Tai Situpa’s disciples. The monastery has been constructed in typical Tibetan architectural senses and uses the ancient sciences of geomancy.
There is room for 500 monks inside the monastery and it
has a lot of shrine rooms and halls for meditation and worshipping purposes.
It’s an important structure in Tibetan Buddhist practices and has a large
number of followers and pilgrims visiting this structure every day. The
monastery is the holy abode of Tai Siti Rimpoche, a much respected figure in
the Buddhist sect. The monastery will fill one with a lot of peace and
introspection amidst the tranquility and serenity inside.
Best time to visit: All throughout the year.

Location: Placed beautifully in the lap of Himalayan terrains, the Manjathal Sanctuary is situated on the Shimla-Bilaspur Highway at Solan district (Shimla).
Highlights: This sanctuary attracts a number of nature lovers from across the country and is a home to several endangered animal species. One amongst them is the Goral that is a distinct type of mountain goat as well as the Cheer Pheasant that is believed to be vulnerable by the International Union of Conservation of Nature.
Best Time: The best time to visit the Manjathal Sanctuary is during winters.

Previously a hunting ground for the
Maharaja of Patiala, Chail Wildlife Sanctuary is amongst the lesser known
wildlife sanctuaries in the country. Situated 63 km from Shimla in Himachal
Pradesh, it’s unmistakingly one of the most well conserved wildlife sanctuaries
and is home to a opulent collection of flora and fauna.
Situated in the Himalayan ranges at a height of 7152 feet, Chail Wildlife Sanctuary boasts a pleasant climate, magnificent views and a rich abundance of greenery. The sanctuary is a paradise for nature lovers and bird watchers.
Chail Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a variety of fauna and flora. Some of the most popular animal species of the park includes European red deer, wild boar, goral, spotted deer, sambar, common langur, Himalayan black bear, flying squirrel, Indian porcupine, etc. The flora it hosts include the native Pine and Deodar trees.
Best time to Visit: March to October.
Tea Gardens

Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water. Almost 80% of the world’s population consumes tea and India is the second largest producer of tea in the world with a whooping 900,094 tonnes of tea produced per year.
In Dharamsala,
one can visit the tea plantations on the Dharamsala-McLeod Ganj road. While not
as big as the plantations in Assam or the North East states, the plantations
are large enough to keep one engaged for a couple of hours. The plantation
mostly caters to local export i.e. consumption within the Indian
Peninsula. The aromatic mist of tea
along with the greenery all around is sufficient to mesmerize and should be on
your list of things to do in Dharamsala.
Best time to visit: All throughout the year.