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Voykit pocket guide · India
Rewalsar
Spend a half‑day to a full day exploring Rewalsar lake and its temples; add a night only if you want a quiet pilgrimage stay.
Rewalsar is a small lakeside town in Himachal Pradesh, sacred to Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs. The lake, monasteries and nearby caves are within walking distance, so a single day covers the main sights. Overnight stays are optional for a slower pace or to attend a festival.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- check
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (freezing winters)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,200–2,000 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,000–3,500 excl. bed · High ₹3,500+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- All services 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Tea / coffee at a café | ₹30–80 |
| Simple meal (dal, rice, roti) | ₹80–150 |
| Guesthouse night (budget) | ₹600–800 |
| Auto‑rickshaw (short ride) | ₹50–120 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- DHM · Kangra (Dharamshala) Airport
- —
Typical fares
- Mandi → Rewalsar bus
- ₹35, about 1 h (check)
- Sundarnagar → Rewalsar bus
- ₹60, 1¾ h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walking is the main mode; auto‑rickshaws or taxis from the bus stand reach the hill‑top cave and Devi temple.
See and do
Known for
- Lake Rewalsar
- Drikung Kagyud Gompa
- Guru Rinpoche Cave
- Multi‑religious pilgrimage
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Guru Rinpoche Cave | 40‑min uphill walk from town centre | ≈1 h round trip |
| Naina Devi Temple | 1–2 km (0.6–1.2 mi) uphill walk (≈2 h round) via Sar village0.6–1.2 mi (1–2 km) uphill walk (≈2 h round) via Sar village | ≈2 h |
Sleep
- Drikung Kagyu Monastery Guesthouse
- ₹600 + food, basic rooms, Wi‑Fi
- Gurudwara Guesthouse
- Free, ₹50–100 donation suggested
- Nyingmapa Monastery Guesthouse
- ₹300–800, shared facilities
- The Tourist Inn (HP TDC)
- ₹800–3,000, clean budget option
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | माफ़ कीजियेmaaf kijiye |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
| How much is this? | यह कितना है?yeh kitna hai? |
| Where is the bus stand? | बस स्टैंड कहाँ है?bas stand kahaan hai? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Stray dogs are common after dark – avoid night walks alone.
- Monkeys may snatch food – keep belongings sealed.
Generally safe for day visits; avoid night walks alone due to stray dogs and keep food sealed from monkeys.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Rewalsar yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Lake Rewalsar
- Drikung Kagyud Gompa
- Guru Rinpoche Cave
- Multi‑religious pilgrimage
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata entry for Rewalsar: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7141300
- Wikivoyage: Rewalsar, revision 4932580 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4932580
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Rewalsar
इस पते पर ले चलें
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- All services112
US consulate in Chandigarh; other embassies in New Delhi.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/rewalsar). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.