Amritsar, Dharmasala, Mcleodganj, Dalhousie Trip

We started our trip to Amritsar, Dalhousie and Dharmsala, McLeod ganj tour

 We are 

Travellers: 4 Adults(1 Male, 3Female) and 2 kids (9yr)

Amritsar

Day1: 26Apr24

We reached Amritsar on 27th Apr 2024 around 12pm. There is a free Yellow Bus seva is there from Amritsar railway station to Golden temple

(distance is 2.4 km, 10min).

We booked Hotel Golden Residency (near Golden temple) for 2 days (1000rs per night). After freshen up we hired an Auto for to and fro journey to The Wagah – Attari Border (1 hr) for 900rs. You can get a seat at shared auto at 150rs also.

 The Wagah – Attari Border Closing Ceremony

We booked our entry by providing our details on below link. please book your tickets 24 hours prior. At the security check you need to show it.

https://attari.bsf.gov.in/bsf/

Once we reached there auto driver asked us to deposit our bags including small ladies purse. Charges were 100rs. We did not carry any big luggage. also did not deposit small purse as well. Small ladies bags are allowed inside. From the baggage counter you can walk, no need to take another rickshaw.

Attari Wagah Border to enjoy lowering of Flag ceremony. The whole parade is an exquisite experience.

The retreat ceremony starts at 5:15 PM in summer and 4:15 PM in the winter season. Please make sure to reach 1hr before to be able to enjoy the patriotic music and impromptu dance that happens with the public involved.

It is a different feeling to see Border gates of both nations and different parade rituals.

Ceremony ended by 6:30pm. There is a good eatery place outside where you can eat. We started back from there at 7pm

We came back to golden temple campus around 8pm.

At night we roam around Heritage Street of Amritsar which is one of the oldest streets located between the Golden Temple and the Town Hall.

Day2 27Apr23

We hired a electric taxi for 5hr local sightseeing (Durgiana Temple, Ramtirth mandir, Vaishnodevi Temple) for 500rs.

Shri Durgiana Temple, Amritsar

Ramtirth mandir

Kids fed puffed rice to fishes and enjoyed.

Vaishnodevi Temple

Jaliyawala baug

Digamber Jain Temple

Golden temple

We reached Golden temple around 10:30pm, at that time temple closing ceremony was going on. we got to known that at 11pm temple will be closed and it will be opened again at 2am. So went and had langar prasad. After this we waited there in queue for darshan. Once gate opened it took us 45mins for darshan. We had famous and delicious 'Kada Prasad'. Flour, ghee, sugar, and water are the ingredients used to make this prasad.

Temple complex consists of a sacred lake, called the Amrit Sarovar, which surrounds the gilded temple. You can spend about an hour here, also paying respects to the Akal Takht and the ber trees of spiritual significance.

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Day3 28Apr24

We booked a Eartiga for 5 days tour (20k rs) to

 Dharmasala, Mcleodganj, Dalhousie.

We started from Amritsar at 8:30am towards Mcleodganj (approx 200km). We visited Kangda Devi, Chamunda Devi shanki peeth.

Note: The five Shakti Peeths in Himachal Pradesh are Jwalaji, Chintpurni Devi, Naina Devi, Brajeshwari Devi, and Chamunda Devi.

Dharamsala and Macleod ganj

We reached Macleod ganj which is sub city in Dharmasala around 7pm. We stayed at Hotel Mountain Trail near Bhagsunag Temple. Bhagsunag temple is walking distance from here.

Day4 29Apr24

At 9:30pm We went to Bhagsunag Temple and after that started towards Bhagsunag waterfall. It is a easy 1km trek from temple. Near waterfall we enjoyed Momos and tea from local eatery.

Namgyal math (also know as Dalailama temple)

(4.8km from Dharmasala)

Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, is believed to have his abode at Namgyal Monastery in Mcleodganj which is also the largest Tibetan temple outside Tibet.

It has a tibbatian market. In this mini market only there is a Buddhist monastery.

5:40pm we reached Naddi (highest point of McLeod ganj)

We watched various view points using telescope.

Day5 30Apr24

Church of St. John in the Wilderness

11:45am reached, spent arohnd 15mins.

Norbulingka Institute

Himalayan brew tea garden, Dharmasala

Day6 1May2024

Dalhousie 

We stayed at Hotel Galaxy 1.

Nearest railway station : Pathankot

Pathankot to dalhousie-85km, 3h

Dalhousie mall road (gandhi market) - very few shops. Nothing much to do.

Dainkund Peek trek (pohlani mata mandir, manimahesh peak view point)

The trek is easy, It's approx 2 kilometres. We covered it in about 40mins one way. The trek leads to the Pohlani Mata (Kali Mata) Temple. Local says one upon a time there were witches (Dain) which were freed by Kali mata so villagers established Kali temple. The tall and beautiful Deodar trees, calm forests, colorful flowers, and green valleys are the reasons why people are so fond of this place. The views were breathtaking and the weather perfect.

Jai jagdambe temple Khajjiar has Bhagwan Shiva's 81ft copper statue.

Mini Switzerland park was lish green. Kids did zorbing at 250rs each.

Mini Switzerland Park Khajjiar

Kids enjoyed Zorbing (250rs per person).

Beejis park (2.5km from Subhas chawk) where war tanks and aircrafts are there. Entry is free. 30mins is enough. It is on the way to Khajjiar from Dalhousie. Flowers on the sides of the road makes it more scenic. Tankers, missiles and jeep arouse a patriotic feeling as well as gives a good background for photography. Nearby there is DPS school.

Day7 2May2024

Panchpula has some touriat activity. Zipline (1km long) 1k charge. Small zipline 250rs charge. Has a very small waterfall. It is a popular picnic spot in Dalhousie, located at a distance of 3.5 km from Gandhi Chowk in Dalhousie. Literally translating to "Five Bridges".

It is best known for Saptdhara Waterfall, the starting point of the Ganji Pahari trek and activities like Ziplining, and Burma Bridge. A Samadhi (monument) is built near Panchpula in memory of the great revolutionary, Sardar Ajit Singh (Uncle of Martyr Bhagat Singh), who breathed his last here.

Also it is base for Ganji pahadi trek. Ganji Pahadi trek is one of the most beautiful trek. This climb is about 3.5 kilometres and offers a beautiful view of the natural landscape that surrounds Ganji Pahari. There is a mud house cafe on the way.

Mukteshwar Mahadev Temple, Pathankot

The temple exudes serenity and spirituality, making it a must-visit destination. Approx 150 stairs down and up. Mukteshwar dham mandir is situated on the banks of River Ravi at the border of Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab (cave temple is on Punjab side). According to the tales this temple is believed to be constructed by Pandavas during the period of their agyatvas. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and situated in a cave which is an important feature of this temple. 

This temple campus is getting renovated so couldn't spend much time.

Just before 3km there is a Ranjit Sagar dam view point from where we can adore the beauty of water flowing from dam.