Mcleodganj, just 9 km away from Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, but seemingly a world away from the rest of hilly, small town India. Home to HH Dalai Lama and his Tibetan people, Mcleodganj is as beautiful and charming as it is cramped and dirty in the main narrow streets. Away from the noise of city life deep below in the valley, Mcleodganj has an air of peace and serenity, enhanced by the sounds of the bell from the temple attached to the monastery and the chanting of the monks at sunset.

The mighty Dhauladhar range of the Himalayas loom large all around the town, the Bhagsu waterfall is a mere half hour walk away and for the really lazy, there is no better way of spending an evening than sitting outside the Namgyal Monastery and watching the sun go down on the valley, painting the sky with its deep dark brushes. Also worth visiting is the Norbulingka Institute down near Dharamshala, where young Tibetans are trained in the their own arts and crafts; the institute also has the lovely Losel dolls museum and a stunning temple.