Last updated on May 31st, 2025
When I visited Mcleod Ganj the first time I had this feeling that this place has much more to offer than what just meets the eye. And this proved true because during my last visit, I was able to uncover the things to do in Mcleod Ganj that can make your stay soulful.
McLeod Ganj is a vibrant town of Himachal Pradesh with the essence of buddhism rooted deeply inside. And because of the same, it won’t be wrong to call it as a ‘spiritual retreat’ as well. This place has something for everyone from amazing landscapes that you can watch all day, mesmerised, the treks for the love of adventures, ample of cozy cafes for your creative outflow and things to do that can that heals you from inside out.
While my first visit to this place was more touristy, it took me a while to uncover the real gems of for people who want to go beyond the checklists.
Here are the 5 slow soulful things do in Mcleodganj that will surely keep you coming for more :
Attend A Session At The Tushita Meditation Centre
For all the people who seeks solace in the mountains, your go-to place could be ‘Tushita Meditation Centre’. Start off your day mindfully by attending the guided meditation session that takes place every weekday around 9 in the morning.
The meditation centre is located at the upper part of Mcleodganj, also known as Dharamkot. A place where the only rule is to be with yourself (in silence), which I believe is one of the hardest things to do today for many of us. They also happen to provide short and long courses for which you can check out their website – https://tushita.info/
And if you plan to visit the centre in somewhere around Feb and are extremely lucky, you might end up attending a session with Dalai Lama himself.
Watch A Sunrise/Sunset From A Cafe
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that cafes in the mountains are the cozy escape from the hustle and bustle of the city lives. And so is the case with Mcleodganj. I find it fascinating that like humans, every place emits its own vibe. There are always a few cafes in every town or city from where one can watch the sunrise or sunset. In Mcleodganj, I was lucky enough to walk into the cafe named – THE OTHER SPACE from where I was able to witness one of the most beautiful moonrise.
So, the next soulful thing you can do is to do nothing. Just choose a cafe, relax – maybe read a book, do some creative work, reflect on your life or simply be present – which I believe is the best thing to do. Remember, the purpose of travel is to heal and rejuvenate.
You might want to read : The Birdhouse Cakery – A Heartwarming Bakery in Dharamkot for Slow Travellers
Go For Short Nature Walks In Mcleod Ganj
I cannot emphasise the importance of those long walks in nature. Apart from the therapeutic things it does to our body , it also is beneficial for our mental well being. Whenever I can, I always opt to travel on foot. This helps me to connect deeper with the place I am visiting, be mindful of my surroundings and connect with the people around. Also, it is one of the most mindful and sustainable way to explore a place.
A serene walk among the huge pine trees from Mcleodganj to Dharamkot or a walk towards the Naddi Sunset point will definitely slow down your racing thoughts.
Enrol Yourself In A Pottery Class
When was the last time you learned any thing new? And I am not talking about any work-related skill. I am talking about things that let us connect to this world at a deeper level. Things that have no baggage of being perfect. Things that allow us to be a little messy while still having fun. Things that calm us down. Things that brings us a little closer to nature.
If you are taking a long time to find an answer, I would suggest you to enrol yourself in a pottery class the next time you’re in Mcleodganj.
This one definitely needs a couple days more but you’ll come back happier, satisfied.
I never knew that such places exists. It was only the last time when I found a place as peaceful as Dharamkot itself. The idea fascinated me because it offered a space wherein you can ditch the digital world, learn something new and connect with different people – things that will give you forever memories that too amidst the natural escape.
There are definitely many other classes that you can enrol into as per your preference, I just bumped into this one and felt good about it in an instant.
Explore The Tibetan Market & Buy From The Locals
Let me share a little encounter I had in Mcleodganj – One afternoon, while strolling through the lanes of McLeodganj, I noticed an elderly Tibetan woman sitting quietly by the roadside, working patiently on a beautiful painting. Over the next few days, I passed by the same spot and saw her there again — always focused, working on the same piece, every single day.
This made me realise the importance of supporting the local artisans, in any place. Despite being old, the woman showed up everyday. Their time, effort, and dedication that goes into making any handmade art is worthy of our attention.
So, the least we can do is buy from the people putting in so much efforts in their craft.
Did you visit Mcleodganj lately? Is there anything else that can be added to the list which I am not still aware of. If yes, kindly write to : aditi@thephototravelblog.com