Walking up from Clouds End Villa you will enter the gate to “Kangchen Kishyong”, the administrative office of the Tibetan government-in-exile. Visit the Tibetan Library and Archives, the museum and the picturesque Nechung monastery with a stunning view on the mountains.

Next stop is the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute, “Men Tsee Khang” with a museum on Tibetan herbal medicines, a shop that sells books on medicinal plants, incense, ointments, beauty creams and herbal teas.

Follow the tour by foot or take a taxi to Namgyal monastery and “Tsuklakhang” the residence and temple of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who with his infinite wisdom and compassion guides the Tibetan people, as their spiritual and worldly leader. Walk upstairs to the main temple with the giant Buddha statue behind the throne, light a butter lamp and circumambulate the Kalachakra temple while turning the prayer wheels.

In the afternoon the monks gather in the courtyard to test their knowledge of the Buddhist philosophy texts. Fiery debating in Tibetan language.

H.H. Dalai Lama's books and tapes to get in the temple bookshop.

Inside the temple compound is the small but impressive Tibet Museum that presents the recent history of Tibet and its people in their strive for freedom.

Walk up the Temple Road to the famous Tibetan market in lively McLeodganj with the many Tibetan and Kashmiri shops and global cuisine restaurants. Tibetan momo's and noodle soups, Japanese sushi, Nick‘s brownies and pasta's, fresh tofu, Korean bbq and authentic Thai food.

On every street corner is a cybercafe. Book shops and tea stalls. Great buys: Tibetan jewellery, brocade, scroll paintings (thangka's), brass statues and T-shirts with quotations by H.H. Dalai Lama or .

No nightlife in Dharamsala but a few local beer bars. After dark, only barking dogs and lost cows.

From McLeodganj it is an easy walk to the ancient Shiv temple and waterfall at Bhagsunag. The ice cold water in the basin inside the temple complex is a great attraction for all, Tibetans and Indians alike. Monks wash their robes in the weekends, leaving a trail of red squares along the waterfall.

Neo Yoga meditation center and German bakery, chakra massage and sitar classes.

Good and cheap restaurants, thanks to Israeli tourists. Menu's as well as keyboards in Hebrew.

Avoid going to Bhagsu by car during the weekends in the summer season. The narrow roads cannot digest the caravans of busloads of pilgrims and tourists from the planes in their big cars.

Another road leads to Dharamkot, a quiet village known for its beautiful views of snow peaked mountains, the Vipassana courses and the Tibetan Buddhist Tushita Meditation center. Less quiet during a full moon when the rave parties are on in lower Bhagsu. From Dharamkot you can trek to Triund in 3 hours. It takes 4 hours going down from Triund back to Clouds End Villa.

Further up from McLeodganj lays the sacred Dal lake, a shallow artificial lake full of fish used by the British for their favorite pastime punting. Walk around the spotless clean TCV school (Tibetan Children Village) visit the endearing children in their neat ‘houses' and buy a carpet at the Tibetan Handicraft Center for a cause.

Follow your trip up to Nadi village, the top of the hill with a spectacular view over the Dauladhar range and glaciers. Silence and the sound of sheep in the distance. A nice walk to the river below.

Down in the valley, a 20 minutes drive from Clouds End Villa is the Norbulingka Institute, the famous Tibetan Arts and Craft center which shows painters and other craftsmen and women in training at work. Magnificent scroll painting and wood carved furniture of top quality mastership are a few of the skills taught there.. A metal workshop is in the back of the temple. Ask in the office for a guide. Free. The garden is an oasis of peace and quite and the architecture and lay out of the complex is extraordinary beautiful. The place has also a Tibetan temple, a doll museum, shops and a vegetarian restaurant. Try cheese momo. (INSET PICTURE)

Close to Norbulingka is Gyuto monastery the temporary residence of H.H. the 17th Karmapa, the head of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, who as a 14 year old boy escaped in 1999 from his by Chinese controlled monastery at Tsurpu, Tibet into India.

H.H. Karmapa is holding public audience on most weekends. Bring an ID for registration and a white silk Tibetan scarf (Katha) for offering.

The leisure walk through the Kangra Tea Gardens and a visit to the tea factory is another enjoyable experience.

Shopping In Kangra
Kotwali Bazar and McLeodganj are major shopping areas. McLeodganj Bazar has numerous shops selling Tibetan handicrafts including woollen carpets, metalware, jewelry, jackets, handknitted cardigans, gloves etc.

Chamunda Devi Temple
The famous Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham is an abode of Shiva Shakti since the saga of Puranas. According to a legend, the Goddess Chamunda was enshrined as chief Goddess with the title of Rudra in the battle between demon Jalandhra and Lord Shiva which made this place famous as “Rudra Chamunda”. Another legend has it that “Savarni Manamantra” battle between the gods and demons, Chamunda emerged as Chandika from an eyebrow of Goddess “Kaushiki” and was assigned the task of eliminating the demons “Chand” and “Mund”. Chandika fought a fierce battle with these two demons and at last killed them. Goddess Chandika took the slain heads of the two demons “Chand” and “Mund” to the Goddess “Kaushiki” who being immensely pleased, blessed Chandika and bestowed upon her the title of “Chamunda” ,the name which is famous all around the world.

Jawala Mukhi Temple
Another famous century old temple, Jwalamukhi is located at a distance of 30 km from Kangra. Famous for the colorful fair, Navratra is held every year between the month of March- April and September- October. The attractive temple is built against a wooded spur in the Indo-Sikh style.

Baijnath Temple
The Baijnath temple has been continuously under worship ever since its construction in 1204 A.D. by two local merchants named Ahuka and Manyuka. The two long inscriptions in the porch of the temple indicate that a temple of Shiva existed on the spot even before the present one was constructed. The present temple is a beautiful example of the early medieval north Indian temple architecture known as Nagara style of temples.

The temple consists of an 'Adytum' surrounded by a spire of the usual conical shape with a 'Mandap' covered with a low pyramid shaped roof. The 'Adytum' contains the Lingam. There is fine sculpture work to be associated with Ravana, who worshipped Shiva at this spot and gained immortality. Baijnath is one of the 'Twelve Jyotirlingams'. Shivratri of Baijnath is a well attended fair.

Masroor Temple
Located at a distance of 15 km from the city of Kangra, Masroor temple is famous for its fifteen richly carved monolithic rock temples. Situated in the intervening portions of the rocks, the temple is a unique structure attracting huge number of tourists from all over India and world. From the foreign tourists point of view it is a famous excursion site best suited for the trekking and mountaineering.

recommended for fishermen are the Beas river in Barot, Triveni, and the Pong Dam lake as excellent fishing spots. Please visit www.lodgeatpong.com for more details on angling and water sports.

- Barot /Anglers Lodge - Triveni
- Pong Dam

Most of the treks start from Dharamsala, Palampur or Baijnath and takes 5 to 8 days for completion. There are number of passes and ranges located in and around the above location that gives an excellent venue for trekking and mountaineering. These treks are operational from May to October and the regional mountaineering center provides technical know-how and equipments.

Some of the known treks from McLeodganj are to Triund, Kareri and Dharamkot. These are relatively easy treks, though it is advised to go trekking with a local as your guide.