Norling House

The warm staff really made our stay, going out of their way to make us comfortable. Norling house was the best part of our Dharamshala trip. The rooms and ambience felt like a complete boutique experience, as if we’d stepped into another world.

Norling Monastery in Dharamshala has a peaceful, spiritually uplifting atmosphere. The vivid architecture and chanting monks make the experience feel divine. It's a lovely place to sit quietly, meditate, and take in the calm surroundings. A must-visit if you're looking for inner peace and a glimpse of Tibetan Buddhist culture.

The way they handled the insect in my birthday meal was awful. Only two people even had the basic courtesy to apologize, while everyone else laughed it off. Then they acted like they were doing me a favour by not charging for it. It wasn't just what happened, but how poorly they dealt with it. The guest house is overhyped, unless you're there for the institute. Rooms aren't especially well maintained and feel overpriced. Some staff are very polite, while others don't seem to care. They kept knocking even after we'd requested a late checkout and been told it was fine. Online portals list checkout as 12:00 pm, but the front desk says 11:00 am, so they need to fix that. They also charge for two bottles of water, which most hotels include. After paying 6.5k for one night's room, charging for drinking water feels stingy. There are many better places nearby.

Staying here gives you access to Norbulingka Institute at all hours, so you can wander around after it closes. The grounds are peaceful and beautiful. The guest house itself is gorgeous, with lovely rooms, furniture, art, and decor made at the institute. Staff are kind, helpful, and forthcoming, and there are several adorable dogs and at least one cat on the property. It is among the more expensive places nearby, but ideal if your main reason for visiting is to experience the institute.