A Quiet Eco-Friendly Cottage Stay near Shimla

Located at the entry to Dharamsala town, the Dharamsala War Memorial is a memorial constructed to honor the brave men and women who died in service to our country post Independence. The memorial is located amidst beautiful scenery and is a monument that represents bravery and sacrifice. The monument has the names of all the soldiers and martyrs, who died in the 1947-48, 1962, 1965, and 1971 war and peacekeeping missions. This is a structure that holds much importance. The sacrifices of soldiers are often forgotten in popular media and structures such as these remind and inspire one to remember and keep fighting the good fight. When here, do keep this in your list of things to do in Dharamsala.Best time to visit: All throughout the year.

Built and previously owned by Bhupinder Singh, Maharaja of Patiala in 1891 and later purchased by heritage hotels, The Palace Hotel, Chail claims to be one of the finest Heritage Hotels and rose to fame with it’s sprawling landscape of around 75 acres of land standing at an epitome of old-time elegance and beauty.Indulge in antique charm at this stunning destination set amidst abundant greenery and panoramic views of beautiful landscapes surrounding it along with a serene atmosphere. Stay at The Palace Hotel in Chail or definitely squeeze in a visit to this destination while it takes you back in time. Each guest room has antique furniture, period interior, wall-to-wall carpeting and a charming fireplace to keep you warm. Don’t be fooled by the quaint antiqueness of the palace as this hotel is equipped with every modern amenity that can come to your mind catering to all your whims and fancies.Facilities: Facilities include an amazing open air cafe; Cafe Palace, Kings Dining a multi cuisine restaurants with ornate decor, an all purpose gift shop, a sprawling lawn tennis court, Billiards room, Badminton court and a charming children's park. Approximate Price: Pricing per room ranges from 2400 INR onwards. 

Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water. Almost 80% of the world’s population consumes tea and India is the second largest producer of tea in the world with a whooping 900,094 tonnes of tea produced per year.In Dharamsala, one can visit the tea plantations on the Dharamsala-McLeod Ganj road. While not as big as the plantations in Assam or the North East states, the plantations are large enough to keep one engaged for a couple of hours. The plantation mostly caters to local export i.e. consumption within the Indian Peninsula.  The aromatic mist of tea along with the greenery all around is sufficient to mesmerize and should be on your list of things to do in Dharamsala.  Best time to visit: All throughout the year.

Mani Lhakhang Stupa is located in Uprali Barol, approximately 5 kilometres from Dharamsala city. This Stupa is also known as the prayer wheels monastery. It was constructed in 2001 under instructions from Dalai Lama as part of 5 small stupas that could survive a natural calamity. This beautiful Stupa houses a gold plated statue of the Buddha in his signature lotus position. The Stupa has a lot of prayer wheels that you can spin for good luck. It is easy to get to from Dharamsala as you can get a lot of transportation to this place. In the evenings, one can indulge your senses in the hymns sung by the monks that are sure to make you want to come back here time and again.  Best time to visit: All throughout the year.

Jwalamukhi Devi Temple is located in Jwalamukhi town, approximately 55 kilometers from Dharamsala in Kangra district. It’s dedicated to Jwala, a Hindu Goddess associated with fire and burning gas. The temple was built by Raja Bhumi Chand Katoch and is another monument in Dharamsala that traces its origins to the Mahabharata era.The most unique part about this temple is that there is no deity inside the temple. Instead, the flames that emanate from within the rocks through fissures in the ground are worshipped as they are considered to be the Goddess manifesting herself. The temple is identified as one of the 52 Shakti Peethas from Hindu mythology and is a revered religious site that attracts thousands of pilgrims every year. Best time to visit: All throughout the year.

Sherbling Monastery is located in Keori, Himachal Pradesh approximately 60 kilometers from Dharamsala. It was established in 1975 in a space in a protected pine forest by the 12th Kenting Tai Situpa’s disciples. The monastery has been constructed in typical Tibetan architectural senses and uses the ancient sciences of geomancy. There is room for 500 monks inside the monastery and it has a lot of shrine rooms and halls for meditation and worshipping purposes. It’s an important structure in Tibetan Buddhist practices and has a large number of followers and pilgrims visiting this structure every day. The monastery is the holy abode of Tai Siti Rimpoche, a much respected figure in the Buddhist sect. The monastery will fill one with a lot of peace and introspection amidst the tranquility and serenity inside. Best time to visit: All throughout the year.

Previously a hunting ground for the Maharaja of Patiala, Chail Wildlife Sanctuary is amongst the lesser known wildlife sanctuaries in the country. Situated 63 km from Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, it’s unmistakingly one of the most well conserved wildlife sanctuaries and is home to a opulent collection of flora and fauna. Situated in the Himalayan ranges at a height of 7152 feet, Chail Wildlife Sanctuary boasts a pleasant climate, magnificent views and a rich abundance of greenery. The sanctuary is a paradise for nature lovers and bird watchers. Chail Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a variety of fauna and flora. Some of the most popular animal species of the park includes European red deer, wild boar, goral, spotted deer, sambar, common langur, Himalayan black bear, flying squirrel, Indian porcupine, etc. The flora it hosts include the native Pine and Deodar trees. Best time to Visit: March to October.

Manjathal Sanctuary is famous for its rich wildlife as well as the vivid flora. Rich biodiversity of the Manjathal Sanctuary is a paradise for all the wildlife enthusiasts. In order to preserve the natural beauty of the place, there are no resorts or hotels constructed here in this region. It is an exciting place for kids since they can enjoy camping here. Location: Placed beautifully in the lap of Himalayan terrains, the Manjathal Sanctuary is situated on the Shimla-Bilaspur Highway at Solan district (Shimla). Highlights: This sanctuary attracts a number of nature lovers from across the country and is a home to several endangered animal species. One amongst them is the Goral that is a distinct type of mountain goat as well as the Cheer Pheasant that is believed to be vulnerable by the International Union of Conservation of Nature. Best Time: The best time to visit the Manjathal Sanctuary is during winters.