Dharamshala to Jaisalmer

About the city:

Jaisalmer is the largest district of Rajasthan, which is visited by several tourists year-round. It is home to several architectural marvels, museums and natural attractions, such as the Jaisalmer Fort, Salim ji ki Haveli, Nathmalji ki Haveli and Tazia Tower. Tourists can plan excursions to Gadsisar Lake, Akal Wood Fossil Park, Ludarwa, Amar Sagar, Desert National Park, Sam Sand Dunes and Mool Sagar, to name a few interesting places. Besides, visitors should not miss camel safari, shopping for local handicrafts and Desert Festival (January-February) while in Jaisalmer. Travellers can reach the destination by availing flights to Jodhpur as there are no direct flights to Jaisalmer available. The Jodhpur airport is situated at a distance of 285 km from Jaisalmer and can be reached by road or rail.

Due to the absence of Jaisalmer flights, tourists can take flights to Jodhpur that are offered by both government and private airlines. Air India, Jet Airways and JetLite, among others, offer regular flights at different time slots from different parts of the country. There are flights available to Jodhpur from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Goa and various other cities. It is always beneficial for travellers to make a flight booking in advance as they can get cheap air tickets to Jodhpur. For best airfare deals, tourists just have to log on to www.makemytrip.com.

Jaisalmer is the desert city of Rajasthan. The airlines flying to and from Jaisalmer have connected it to the major cities of the country. The flights from Jaisalmer connect it to Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Mumbai. The Jaisalmer airport is 5 km away from the city center and is basically an Indian airport base. There are many cheap/budget and luxury hotels available near the Jaisalmer airport.

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.