Affordable Hotels in McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala — Where I Stayed & What I Paid
Hotels in McLeod Ganj are typically located around the Mall Road and the main market. You get down, and you become part of the busy street, filled with shoppers and tourists. It’s a colourful landscape; on one end, you get to visit the ropeway and a few cafés before reaching the Dalai Lama Temple. On the other hand, there’s a whole market filled with clothes, roadside siddu—a local Himachali delicacy—the Kalachakra Temple, the cute Ikigai Café, and, at the end of the road, food, more cafés, and plenty to explore.
So, if you are planning to visit Dharamshala, I would recommend staying in McLeod Ganj if you want to be right in the middle of the action. All the cultural drama unfolds in these stuffed little bylanes. From monks and local Tibetans to the myriad tourists, this is where you get to experience the quaint, chaotic and colourful side of town.
Top affordable hotels in McLeod Ganj
These are not hotels I picked from a list online. I stayed at the first two, and I visited a few others while walking around McLeod Ganj looking for a place to stay. So this is based on my own experience rather than just hotel descriptions.
Lord Krishna Boutique Stay – ₹3,500 per night
Located on Temple Road, near Dolma Chowk, Lord Krishna Boutique is squeezed in between a local grocery store selling everything from Korean ramen to local products and a huge fashion store.
The entry to Lord Krishna Boutique seems underwhelming when you compare it with the photos available online. But don’t judge a book by its cover.
The reception is small—in fact, not worthy of being called a reception at all. But the rooms, which lead from the ground floor to the lower levels, are pretty much what you have seen in the pictures.
This was our room and the view. Decide for yourself.
Lord Krishna Boutique Stay Hotel in McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala
We paid approximately ₹3,500 per night, without breakfast, for our stay in May 2026. This was a steal deal for us. The room was cosy, had all the modern amenities we needed, and the view was, quite simply, out of this world.
I booked this hotel just two days before reaching McLeod Ganj and could get it only for one night. Due to its strategic location, I guess it is booked all year round.
One of its highlights is the rooftop restaurant, which had live music in the evening. There is a catch, though. Just booking a room doesn’t let you access the rooftop area. There are entry tickets, and the amount can be used towards your food bill.
We didn’t get a chance to explore this part, although it looked dreamy.
My tip: Look for a deal on the popular booking websites, but also try calling the hotel directly. I did, and managed to bargain for a better deal.
The McLeod Whispering — ₹3,000 per night
We had reserved three days for Dharamshala, but had a booking for only one night. So after checking in at Lord Krishna Boutique, we explored the area on foot.
And there are so many hotels in McLeod Ganj. Most of them are tucked away in dingy little alleys, but once you get inside, you find good rooms and, more often than not, some of the best views.
The next hotel we stayed at for two nights was The McLeod Whispering. It was located next to Lord Krishna Boutique and offered a much better view—actually, a 360-degree panoramic view.
The room was basic, with most of the amenities you would need. The washroom was just okay. And you have to carry your luggage up to the second floor.
But the view from the room—I really don’t think I can describe it in as many words. We paid approximately ₹3,000 per night for this stay in May 2026.
It rained one morning, and my wake-up view was splendid. I felt so connected to the five elements of being—fire, air, earth, water and space.
At the time we stayed there in May 2026, the hotel was still a work in progress. Construction was going on, so it didn’t have a reception. There was no restaurant either.
But all said and done, this was a far better and more spacious room for us, with one of the best views of the hills.
Other budget properties in McLeod Ganj
I stayed at these two hotels and can vouch for their affordability. A few others I visited that you can consider—and, in fact, even bargain at—are:
- Hotel Shivalik
- Hotel McLeod Ganj
- Hotel Sapphire Mcleodganj
Many hotels in McLeod Ganj are tucked into the heart of the lanes, close to popular tourist spots. So even if you don’t book a stay in advance and simply walk in, you might get a good deal, particularly if you are willing to check a few properties. Sometimes you walk through a tiny lane, climb a few stairs, and suddenly find yourself looking at the mountains from a surprisingly comfortable room.
It is also close to some of the best cafés in McLeod Ganj, so you can step out of your hotel and be right in the middle of the town’s food, shopping and café scene.
Where should you stay in Dharamshala?
If you are travelling to Dharamshala and want to experience the pulse of this vibrant cultural hub, consider booking your stay in McLeod Ganj rather than choosing accommodation in the lower parts of Dharamshala. There’s also Dharamkot, which has Pinteresty hotels at affordable rates in peaceful surroundings. But the walk up and down from Dharamkot to the main market can be taxing.
For me, the biggest advantage was being able to step out and explore on foot. The markets, cafés, temples, monks, tourists and those wonderfully chaotic little lanes were all right there.
For more information on the top places to visit in Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj, read my blog here.
If you are planning a longer trip, you can also check out my Himachal Pradesh itinerary here.
If you have any questions, do drop them in the comments.
Until next time, keep travelling!
