Team-BHP - Delhi to Dharamshala/McLeodganj road trip

Hi all,

Planning a road trip to Dharamshala on a Honda Civic from 21st may till 28th May with 3 other friends on-board.

Also plan to stopover at Shimla &/OR Timber trail on our way back.

Really need info on the prevelant road conditions & suggestions for the most leisurely/scenic route to & fro.

Please help @ the earliest buddies.

Thanks in advance.

Anuj

Heylos,

Is Dharamshala too off the beaten track guys?? No one here has responded till now. Me really surprised.

Anyhow, a crucial update/edit -------->

The mode of transport has been upgraded from a Honda Civic to a brand new spanking shiny glittery white HONDA CRV:Cheering: :Cheering: .

Bhai logs, pls pour in your suggestions/ideas/thoughts at the earliest.

Waiting in anticipation (actually can't wait enough for the new CRV).

Regards,

rev_hard

Shimla is not really in the way,
You will pass through chd, or you can go through Phagwara too. Timber trail is a 1km detour from Chd.

With the state of Ambala chd highway lately, I would recommend the Phagwara route.

Also the chandigarh to Anandpur Sahib highway is two lane and till Ropar its madness.

The site MapmyIndia - India's First Interactive Mapping Portal will show you both routes.
Type in New Delhi - Dharamshala for first(through chd), and phagwara to Dharamshala for second.

Recently a friend went and roads are in okay shape. Don't expect the smooth tarmac as in Chd-shimla highway, but road is okay.
HPTDC volvo has daily service to Dharamshala from New Delhi, so I guess CRV can manage it pretty well.

As for Delhi to Phagawa is comfortable doable in 5-6 hours(From Noida). A lot depends on how big of a jam is in the GT road junction at north delhi.
I would suggest that you start at around 7am, reach Phagwara by 12pm, and then its just 3-4 hours to Dharamshala.

Hi Anuj

My home town is Dharmshala. Go ahead buddy and don't worry the road may not be that smooth but is not that bad either. Thetre are 2 ways to reach Dharmshala
1) delhi-chandigarh-chintpurni-kangra-dharmshala
2) delhi-pathankot-gaggal-dharmshala
you wil take nearly 10 hrs drive ( take any rout) the first root is more picturious. and stay in maclodgunj. nice place or in bhagsunath, it is 10-12 km from dharmshala.
If you have some time do trakkinging till Triunt, nice place on top of hill.
Contact me if you need any info : 9811171231

-Bruty

Thanks for all your replies. A few q's though:

1. Start @ 7 am as suggested by tanveer OR start @ midnight to do majority of the highway driving @ night time.

2. Suggestions for places to stopover @ enroute.

3. Suggestions for place/s to stay in Dharamshala/McLeodganj.

4. Since we will be there for 5-6 days, suggestions for day trips in/around that region.

5. Places to chill @ dharamshala/mcleodganj.

6. Should we carry booze because i've heard its expensive up there?

Thanks in advance again guys.

rev_hard

NH1 is pretty busy so I've always started in the night - helps avoid the time spent on negotiating the local traffic around Chandigarh - also can then then reach Dharamsala by afternoon - so there's some part of Day 1 still left!
Mc Leodganj is full of stay options - depends on what you're looking for - a decent no frills option is Hotel Green near the bus stand - has a nice restaurant & even net access! Chonor House is more expensive & stylish. Dharamkot (about 2 km above Mc Leod ) is also a peaceful place to stay with great food options
I personally did not think much of the Bhagsu Falls. The monastries should be a must do - you could even check on the Norbulinka (hope the spellin is not too awry!) Institute's performances. I would strongly suggest a day trip to Triund, if not the snowline.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruty (Post 427195)

Contact me if you need any info : 9811171231

-Bruty

Thanks a lot Bruty. I might actually call upon you by this weekend for some more information ( there are some things only a person living there would know;) )

Thanks again

You can google the weather. In my experience the snowline is actually most accessible from Mc Leod - it involves a hike upto Triund (takes about 4 hrs from Dharamkot) & then another slightly shorter (but doesn't seem so at that point!)hike upto Ilaqa which is where the snow line starts.
Of course, when I went to Triund in January there was 3 feet of snow half way to Triund - tho snowfall has been decreasing in the Dhauladhars..

Quote:

Originally Posted by rev_hard (Post 427351)

1. Don't start before 2am, you will spend most of the time in a traffic jam at Delhi border
2. You can eat at the dhabas just before Karnal(Zilmil and the one before that) or you can have good paranthas after you enter punjab at shambhu border
3. Look at the web. Asia health resorts is a very comfortable luxury option. Rooms are 2500/night
4. Kangra valley, go as far as you dare
5. No idea
6. You wont save much. Avoid taking booze, can be trouble at checkposts

Another note, a week ago 23rd apr whereabouts it was very very hot in mcleodganj(30-35 degrees).
If you are going for the purpose of escaping heat, Dharamshala is not the place right now. If its cloudy then its a different story.
Otherwise Dharamshala is a very very nice and entertaining place to stay.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruty (Post 427195)

Hi Anuj

1) delhi-chandigarh-chintpurni-kangra-dharmshala
2) delhi-pathankot-gaggal-dharmshala

man take the first route the roads ain't great but not to bad you have a crv so y worry

and if you have any problem you can pm me when you are in or around chandigrah

Quote:

Originally Posted by navdeep (Post 427234)

you can add 15 mins more to it if you are fortunate enough to ride smoothly through Kalka :)

man come with me 45 mins falt to Timber trail from chadigarh and that to in an alto