Radisson McLeodganj House

Radisson McLeodganj House is not a boutique hideaway, but a no‑frills, colonial‑styled block that has somehow survived the Himalayan boom. Its charm is the very thing most travellers will find aggravating: creaking walnut doors, courtyards that smell faintly of incense mixed with laundry, and a lobby that doubles as a permanent tea‑room where the only “breakfast” worth ordering is the masala chai and a buttered toast with jam. The rooms on the second floor, especially those facing Baba Street, offer decent views of the distant Dhauladhar peaks when the mist clears, but the air‑conditioning is temperamental and the attached bathroom still has that 1970s blue‑tile vibe. If you’re in McLeodganj for the monasteries and the bustling Main Bazaar, staying here saves you a trek up the steep lane to the glitzy hotels—just be prepared for a basic Wi‑Fi signal that drops the moment you lean against the wall. The on‑site restaurant, “The Himalayan Kitchen”, is overpriced and better skipped in favour of a thali at the nearby Banjara Café on The Mall. Late September to early November is ideal: the monsoon retreats, the town exhales, and the house is quiet enough to hear the distant chants from the Tsuglagkhang every dawn.