Home, away from home, that is what this amazing suburb spells out for me whenever the name is even mentioned; McLeod Ganj! Even though it has been close to a 3 year old history that I share with this amazing destination, it seems that I have always known this place in the back of my mind and heart.

This quaint suburb located in Dharamshala in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, this beautiful hill station is also popularly known as Little Lhasa because it also is home to a large population of Tibetians. Trust me when I tell you that the aura of this brilliant place is something that most of us have not ever experienced!

This is truly where India meets Tibet!

I try to make a trip to this paradise once every year, and this year I got the opportunity via the amazing OYO Hotels & Homes, and I definitely did not want to say no! And so there I was, back in my own paradise on earth and I would not have it any other way!

The Stay:

Even though I have stayed in different places when I have been here, this stay was definitely one that I will keep in mind for a long time! For one thing, the main thing that has always attracted me to this wonderland is the brilliant scenery and wonderful view of the valley it offers. SO I knew I HAD to have a room that offered a splendid view of these amazing visages.

Luckily, I got a room that overlooked the breathtaking valley in the most majestic way possible, and I still cannot thank OYO Hotels & Homes enough for being so considerate and accommodating this unsaid wish of mine!

With large windows and a brilliant balcony to enjoy a hot cup of steaming coffee in, everything seemed to just freeze in that moment and it felt like absolute heaven on earth. Charming is what I would call my room, because it truly did end up charming me by the end of the trip. I really could not have wished for a better host than OYO Hotels & Homes, without a second thought.

The Place:

When you are out and about to explore the brilliance that is McLeod Ganj, it is always better to know the brilliant history that the place boasts of. For example, did you know that McLeod Ganj actually happens to be the very residence of His Holiness, The Dalai Lama? It is like each and every time I visit this suburb, I end up learning something new about it!

This time around, I ended up discovering a beautiful little shack that served the best food and overlooked the brilliant valley! Upon taking a path not taken, this is what it had in store for me and boy was I stunned and awe-struck! I don’t even know if I will remember the route to this place next time I am here, but I am glad I found it this time!

When here, you also definitely need to visit a few places without a doubt! The Tsuglagkhang Complex is one such place that is a monastic village and home to the Dalai Lama. The Kalachakra Temple and the Tibet Museum too are a must visit too!

The Food:

McLeod could very well be classified as a vegan’s paradise because there are a ton of restaurants that serve wonderful vegan food. Even if you are not a vegan per say, trust me, the food here, might just end up converting you into one!

Try out the Miso Soup offered here or even the Okonomiyake, which is essentially a vegetarian omelet and you will always remember the taste of the food you decided to indulge in here!

I can never get enough of McLeod Ganj, but this time around, a wonderful host like OYO Hotels & Homes made the trip even better for me! So the next time any one of you decides to travel to McLeod, you know where to stay to keep it affordable and gorgeous at the same time!