Dharamkot is a quaint and scenic village near McLeodganj that is dotted with a number of small and big cafes and cosy homestays, making it a great destination for discerning travelers. With an eclectic global menu, the cafe scene over here is quite vibrant. So in today's episode we along with our gracious host Anika are embarking on a cafe trail in Dharamkot.
We started the tour from Chamunda Devi Temple in Kangra. After the darshan we relished some malai burfi sold by Sher Singh ji outside the temple. This is a traditional frozen dessert popular in this part of the state. In texture it was very similar to a kulfi but it didn't have nuts in it.
From there we went to Norbulingka Institute, which is the seat of Tibetan art and craft in this village. Here we took a tour of this beautiful Institute with our guide Phurbu and also indulged in some lemon cheesecake at their lovely cafe.
Next we went to Trek and Dine cafe where we had a veg lasagna. This Italian pasta dish was loaded with cheese and mushroom filling. It was warm, cheesy, gooey and super gratifying. This spacious place is ideal for a hangout and even for remote working.
The next stop was Cafe Moonlight. This is another popular haunt that boasts of great food and ambience. Here we tried a Middle Eastern platter which had hummus, falafel etc. The meal was pretty decent and a little pricey.
Next we stopped at Lama bakery while heading to Family Pizzeria. This small shop run by a Nepalese gentleman deals with home made bakery products and mountain cheese. Here we tried a white chocolate based treat and rum ball.
After this we reached the family pizzeria which is a very popular haunt run by a local family. On the owner's recommendation their onion capsicum woodfire pizza. It was quite delicious and filling.
From there we went to Bhagshu temple and after that ended the trail at the beautiful Shiva Cafe near bhagshu waterfall that has to be reached after a short trek.