Dharamshala to Goa

About the city:

About the city:Beautiful palm fringed beaches, Portuguese architecture, a happening nightlife and peace and tranquility- that’s Goa for you. One of India’s most popular holiday destinations, Goa has something for everyone.

Airports and Railways: The Dabolim Airport lies 29 kilometers away from the state capital of Panaji. The airport is well connected by regular flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kochi. The two main railway stations in Goa are the Madhgaon Junction (39 kilometres from Panjim), Vasco- Da- Gama Railway Station (28 kilometres from Panjim) and Dabolim Railway station (25 kilometres from Panjim). All these stations are well connected by trains from the rest of the country.
There are various public as well as private bus operators in Goa that provide inter-state and intra-state connections. KSRTC, MSRTC and KTC are some of the government transport corporations that operate from Panaji, Madgaon and Vasco Da Gama. There are also many private bus operators such as Neeta Tour and Travels, Paulo Travels and Naik Tours and Travels that operate bus services to and from cities like Mumbai and Pune.

Hotels and Restaurants: Some of Goa’s finest hotels include Estrela Do Mar Beach Resort, Deltin Suites, Neelam’s The Grand and Resort De Alturas. All these hotels provide comfortable accommodations along with scenic views.Goa is a food lovers’ paradise and is particularly famed for its fresh and delicious seafood. Some of Goa’s most popular restaurants include Mum’s Kitchen, Fiesta, Britto’s and Alfama to name a few. Some of the dishes you must try in Goa include Pork Vindaloo, Crab Xacuti, Kingfish Curry, Goan Prawn Curry and Bebinca.

Markets: Goa has many interesting options for shopping and some of Goa’s popular shopping haunts include Mapusa Market (for spices, fruits and homemade pickles), Anjuna Flea Market (for clothes, footwear, beachwear and local handicrafts), Arpora Saturday Night Bazaar (for spices, carpets and embroidered textiles) and Calangute Market Square (for sarongs, trinkets, metal, leather and clay items).

City Transportation: Taxis are a great way of getting around the city. You can either hire a cab in advance, or book one directly from the airport, or railway station. Another popular way of getting around Goa is by hiring bikes, scooters, or cars. Vehicles for hire are easily available all through Goa and all you need is an ID proof to hire one.

Must-See Places: Some of the places you must visit on your Goa trip are Baga Beach, Anjuna Beach, Basilica of Bom Jesus, Fort Aguada and Chapora Fort.

Climate of Goa: Mid-November to Mid-February are the winter months in Goa and is the most pleasant time to visit. March to May are the hotter months and not many tourists visit during this time. June to October are predominately the monsoon months.

About the city:

About Dharamshala

Dharamshala, locally spelled as Dharamsala, is a winter wonderland and home to the 14th Dalai Lama of the Tibetan Buddhism. Recently, on 19th January 2017, the city was named the second state capital of Himachal Pradesh. The Tibetan settlement in Dharamshala started in 1959, when His Holiness the Dalai Lama fled Tibet; the then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, gave him and his followers permission to settle in the upper part of Dharamshala, known as McLeod Ganj, which was a former colonial summer vacation spot. The refugees readily established their “Government in Exile” in 1960. The famous Namgyal Monastery was also constructed later during the year. This hill station is the epitome of peace, religious secularism and natural beauty.

How to reach Dharamshala

• Dharamshala By Air

– One can get to Dharamshala either by flying to Chandigarh and then taking the road, or flying directly to the Kangra Airport, which is in Gaggal. Gaggal is 8 km from Kangra and 12 km from Dharamshala. The Kangra Airport is one of India’s highest constructed airports. The take-offs and landings here are as good as curated flying experiences, with high rolling hills and snow covered peaks around. Certain domestic carriers operate direct flights to Dharamshala, although from Dharamshala, they fly only to Delhi.

• Dharamshala By Rail

– The nearest major railway station to Dharamshala is at Pathankot, 85 kilometres away from the city, where numerous trains towards Jammu and Kashmir halt. Once at Pathankot, one can find regular buses and taxies towards Dharamshala. Kangra Mandir Railway Station is the closest to Dharamshala, about 22 kilometres from the town, although none of the important trains halt here.

• Dharamshala By Road

– Dharamshala is well linked to adjacent states through a network of national highways and expressways. One can easily drive or take a bus from Delhi via Chandigarh, Kiratpur and Bilaspur, which should take around 12–13 hours. Delhi and Shimla offer luxury bus services that ply regularly to Dharamshala. This is also a great option for solo travellers.

What to do in Dharamshala

In Dharamshala, walk among thick Deodar Cedar forests, with the beautiful Dhauladhar Ranges in the backdrop. Do the Triund trek or go parasailing at Bir Billing. Given the Tibetan settlement in these parts of the state, the food and culture have a lot of Tibetan influence, which is a stark contrast to any other hill station in India. The city receives both domestic and foreign tourists. Dharamshala also has a Vipassana Centre, often visited by those who seek inner peace and enlightenment. The Buddhist Losar Festival takes place in February or March, which is one of the more festive and lively periods to visit Dharamshala. From March to mid-July, the summers are in full swing at Dharamshala. And as hard as it may seem to believe, the temperatures at the hill station go up to anywhere between 22°C and 35°C. But the summers are also the perfect time to trek up to Triund, or hike up the surrounding scenic trails. However, as it is a tourist season, the place will be crowded. During the monsoons, from mid-July to mid-September, one can enjoy the lush greenery of the hills, with the rainfall making everything all the more beautiful. This is also, however, a peak time for landslides; hence, one can expect regular roadblocks. From September onwards, the weather becomes clear and pleasant; however, the evenings become chilly. But this is also off-season, and a great time to explore the place without the thronging crowds. Winters make Dharamshala look white-washed. From December until February, one can enjoy freezing temperatures and the sights of snow-white mountains. The temperatures then tend to go below -1 °C; it is advisable to carry lots of woollens and enough protection against chilly winds. Dharamshala, known for its characteristic mix of the Kangra and Tibetan culture, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in India. The place is also nicknamed “Little Lhasa” because of the huge number of Tibetan settlement in the area. The following places are a must-see in this area.
• Tsuglagkhang Complex
• Namgyal Monastery
• Masrur Temples
• McLeod Ganj
• Kareri Lake
• Gyuto Monastery
• Dal Lake, Kangra
• Other attractions include Bhagsunag Temple, Jwalamukhi Devi Temple, Norbulingka Institute, and Tea gardens.

Major Airports in and near Dharamshala

The main airport in Dharamshala is the Kangra Airport, where all flights to Dharamshala and from Dharamshala operate; it is located in Gaggal, which is near the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. MakeMyTrip offers a wide range of flights to Dharamshala. One can easily use the website to book a flight to Dharamshala or from Dharamshala, with the major airport being a hub to domestic and international airlines. MakeMyTrip flights to Dharamshala can be availed at highly discounted rates during festivals and off seasons.