boltQuick Facts10-sec scan
navigationHow I Did It
- check_circleHRTC Himsuta Volvo from ISBT Kashmere Gate (~20:50 departure, ₹1,501) — Dharamshala by ~8 am, then a local bus up to McLeod (~₹30).
- check_circle3 nights in a Dharamkot hostel dorm (~₹500/night) — quieter and cheaper than Main Square, right at the Triund trailhead.
- check_circleDay 1: on foot — Tsuglagkhang, Bhagsu waterfall. Day 2: Triund day trek, back by evening. Day 3: café day, Naddi sunset point. Day 4: bus back.
- check_circleTibetan staples at local joints (momos/thukpa ₹60–₹150); pricier terrace cafés kept to one meal a day.
alt_routeMy Route
- 1Delhi, ISBT Kashmere Gate~₹1,500,HRTC Himsuta Volvo, ~₹1,500, ~11 hrs overnight
- 2Dharamshala
- 3Local bus~₹30~₹30
- 4McLeod Ganj → Dharamkothostel dorm, 3 nights
- 5Triund trek~₹200day hike, entry ~₹200 at Gallu checkpost
- 6Bhagsu waterfall + Tsuglagkhangon foot, free
- 7Return Volvo to Delhi~₹1,550~₹1,550
articleMy Experience
The night bus was uneventful in the best way — I woke up to the Dhauladhars turning gold outside Dharamshala. The local bus up to McLeod is short and rattly; I walked up to Dharamkot and was glad for every step once I saw the hostel deck view.
Triund started at 6:30 am — brutal until the trail did its thing. 9 km one way, 4–5 hours up at a comfortable pace, tea shops appearing exactly when your legs complain. At Gallu checkpost I paid the ~₹200 entry fee and registered — they’re strict about the receipt, keep it on you. The meadow at the top, Dhauladhars filling the sky, is the kind of view that makes you forget your phone.
Back in town: the classic McLeod rhythm — long breakfasts, the free Tsuglagkhang complex, Bhagsu waterfall in afternoon light. October weather flips by the hour; grateful for the warm layer I almost left in Delhi.
account_balance_walletWhat I Spent
| Expense | Approx Cost |
|---|---|
| Delhi → Dharamshala Volvo (HRTC) | ₹1,500 |
| Return Volvo | ₹1,550 |
| Hostel dorm, Dharamkot (3 nights) | ₹1,500 |
| Food, 4 days | ₹1,800 |
| Triund entry + trail snacks | ₹400 |
| Local buses, misc | ₹300 |
Prices are approximate and may vary.
Travelled: October 2025
lightbulbMoney Saver
Stay in Dharamkot, not Main Square — ~₹500/night versus ₹800+ near the square, and I woke up at the Triund trailhead. Eat where locals eat: thukpa-momo at a Tibetan joint is ₹60–₹150, a third of main-square terrace prices.
verified_userReality Check
Dharamkot dorm + local buses instead of private cabs everywhere.
Nothing major — but next time, the Triund overnight camping permit (~₹550/tent) instead of rushing back down.
Nearly doing Triund on arrival day. Don’t — your legs will file a complaint.
How good the free stuff was — temple complex, Bhagsu walk, Naddi sunset cost nothing and were trip highlights.
Absolutely — this is my reset trip now.
tips_and_updatesWhat I Wish I Knew
- Triund needs a 6:30 am start; Gallu checkpost entry + registration is mandatory — keep the receipt.
- ATMs thin out in Dharamkot and Bhagsu; carry cash up from Dharamshala.
- Dalai Lama teachings happen only when he is in residence — check his schedule before building a trip around it.
- October afternoons flip t-shirt to jacket in an hour; pack the warm layer.
- Train travellers: the Pathankot→Dharamshala bus is the weak link — allow a 3+ hour buffer.
personAbout the Traveler
Written by the Wayfare founder — travelling the Himalayas on a budget and writing down everything, so the next traveler spends less.
Founder stories · real trips, real costs.
forumKavya
Triund as a day trek, or stay overnight at the top?
Doable as a day trek if you start by 6:30 and keep a steady pace — I was back by 5 pm. Overnight is magical; you need the ~₹550/tent camping permit and warm gear.
Which Delhi boarding point? And is the HRTC Volvo comfortable enough to actually sleep?
ISBT Kashmere Gate — that is the HRTC point. Private Volvos board at Majnu ka Tila/Anand Vihar — double-check your ticket. The Himsuta seats recline well; I slept through most of the 11 hours.
forum Traveler discussion (0)
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