Dalhousie Tourism, Dalhousie Hotels, Tourism in Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh, India

Dalhousie Located in the outer slopes of hill Dhauladhar range is another important hill resort in Himachal Pradesh. A number of picturesque walks run through the oak, pine and deodar forests around the town and offer excellent views of the Chenab, the Ravi and the Beas valleys. It is thicky wooded with stately pines and oaks and has lovely picnic spot all around. Dalhousie is the gateway to Chamba. Originally conceived as a sanitorium by its founder Lord Dalhousie, it is today one of the most quiet hill stations. Extending over an area of 13 sq. km., Dalhousie comprises five distinct hills, Balun, Kathlog, Petreyn, Tehra and Bakrota with heights ranging between 1,525 and 2,378 metres. It is known for its Church buildings and other landmarks erected by the British. The town has old Churches like St. John's Church ( made in 1903 A.D. ), and St. Patrick's Church ( 1909 A.D. ).

The late Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru has said "One of the finest hill stations in India is Dalhousie from the point of view of beauty, climate and agreeable surroundings. For my part, I would rather go to Dalhousie than amost any hill staion in India, Kashmir apart". The key features of Dalhousie are the gorgeous valleys, level walks on the Mall roads and interesting tracks amidst the dense forests. On a clear day, you can see the three rivers, the Satluj, Beas and Ravi, meandering down the beautiful valleys.

Dalhousie still has a touch of British rule, which is reflected by its colonial style buildings and houses, which bring back the flavour of an earlier era. Dalhousie has famous churches like St. John's Church, St. Francis' Church, St. Andrew's Church, and St. Patric. A Temple of Lakshami Narayan enshrined a beautiful image of Vishnu, stands in a Sadar Bazaar was built more than 150 years ago. Guru Rabinder Nath Tagore visited Dalhousie in his boyhood with his father, Pt. Jwahar Lal Nehru visited Dalhousie twice. He first visited Dalhousie in the year 1925 and his second visit was made in the year 1954 when he was the Prime Minister of India. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose stayed in Dalhousie in the year 1937.

Dalhousie with its breath taking mountain chains, healthy climate and thick forests of deodar trees attracts a lot of tourists from near and far. Tourism in Dalhousie is soul refreshing as Dalhousie is the quietest hill station in India. A visit to Dalhousie is suitable in all seasons as Dalhousie offers unique experience to tourists in all seasons. In Summer, the beauty of majestic Bakrota Hills and other areas of Dalhousie cast a magical spell on the tourists. In Winter, Dalhousie offers a memorable experience of fun in snow as the place receives heavy snowfall in winter. In Rainy season, Dalhousie offers memorable experience of passing clouds and heavy fog, especially the fog during rainy season in Dalhousie is so wide spread that one feels like walking through clouds.

Dalhousie is easily approachable from Delhi, Punjab and Chandigarh as well as from other important places of Himachal. Any kind of transportation is easily available.Dalhousie has a number of famous places i.e. Bakrota Hills, Ajit Singh Memorial, Kalatop, Malls, Dain or Dayan Kund, Subhash Baoli, Jandari Ghat etc. which provide tourists with a memorable experience together with fine healthy climate and breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains.

There are two very beautiful lakes around Dalhousie i.e. Chamera Lake and Khajjiar Lake, among the two, Khajjiar lake falls under the kalatop Khajjiar Sanctuary and set amongst thick deodar forest. The area around this beautiful lake is natural paradise. There is a wildlife sanctuary in Dalhousie area named Kalatop Khajjiar Sanctuary which starts from Kalatop area of Dalhousie and extends up to Khajjiar area. This is an easily approachable wildlife sanctuary.

Dalhousie with its unsurpassed scenic beauty, healthy and soul refreshing climate, breathtaking Dhauladhar mountain ranges is a place where one can easily find himself lost in the unbelievable natural beauty. These are some key qualities which show why Tourism in Dalhousie has always been the choice of many tourists from near and far. Dalhousie is sure one of the finest and must visiting places of Himachal.

Bakrota Hills :
( 2,085 metres ) 4.8 km ) The fascinating and bewitching Bakrota Hills offer to the tourists the brisk walk round the hills besides a grand view of snow-clad peaks. It is one of the finest and soul refreshing places in Dalhousie. The matchless beauty of Bakrote Hills haunt you in a different way and leaves you speechless. Thick 'Deodar' forests seem like a beautiful green carpet covering the surrounding hills. Soul refreshing pure mountain air refreshes you at every turn and you just begin to mix your inner heart with the beauty of nature. Dalhousie experiences heavy snowfall during winter and then majestic Bakrota Hills start the white magic of snow and enjoy. One of the best thing about walking through Bakrota Hills is the unpredictable come and go of the sunshine through 'Deodar' trees. Every turn comes up with a new scene showing the hide and seek of the sunshine. A journey to Dalhousie is incomplete if you do not take a walk through this magical paradise.

Ajit Singh Memorial :
Sardar Ajit Singh, a great freedom fighter, breathed his last on the day India gained independence, 15th August, 1947. His 'Samadhi' is located at Dalhousie's Panjphulla, a picturesque spot with a natural tank and water flowing under small bridges from which the place takes its name. Sardar Ajit Singh was the uncle of martyr Bhagat Singh. At Panjphulla, there is a 'Samarak' in the memory of Sardar Ajit Singh. On the way to Panchpula is Satdhara springs gurgling with refreshing water, believed to contain some medicinal properties. Panchpula stream is the main source of water supply to Dalhousie and Bahloon. The stream springs from the north side of DayanKund and runs down a picturesque ravine to the waterworks of Panchpula.

Kalatop :
( 2,440 metres ) 8.5 km. ) The spot commands a beautiful and grand panoramic view of the surrounding landscape and eye travels wide over hill and dale, field and forest, smooth and ruggedness, till in the direction of Jammu and Kashmir, it meets a horizon of snow peaks. Kalatop in Chambiali dialect means a 'black cap'. A beautiful Forest Rest House with a chowkidar redidence stands amidst the thick forest. The place comes under a Wild life sanctuary known as Kalatop Khajjiar Sanctuary. A motorable road to Kalatop Rest House leads from the Dalhousie - Khajjiar - Chamba road at the point named Lakkad Mandi. The track from Lakkad Mandi to Kalatop Rest House is plain and the walk through the dense forest is amazingly refreshing. This area comes under the Kalatop Khajjiar Wild life sanctuary and so the vehicles are not allowed, only permitted cars and jeeps can ply through the road and enter the area. To obtain permission to ply the vehicle and stay in Rest House, one can contact Divisional Forest Officer, Wildlife, Chamba.

Malls :
There are three beautiful malls in Dalhousie located at three famous hills, upper Bakrota, Moti Tibba and Potreyn. These malls are circular roads well connected with bus stand. The malls around the Moti Tibba and Potreyn hills makes the figure of 8 and the level walk around this 8 figure is very popular among tourists as most of the hotels are located around these malls. Gandhi Chowk, Subhash Chowk, St. Francis Church, bazzars, St. John's Church and the Sacred Heart School are located on these two malls. The mall on the north side of Moti Tibba is known as Thandi Sadak and mall on the south side is known as Garam Sadak. The third mall road runs around the upper Bakrota above the Gandhi Chowk. It is the most beautiful of three malls and also the longest having a length of 4.6 km. The splendid panoramic views of Himalaya from this mall are the best in all three malls.

Dain or Dayan Kund :
( 2,745 metres ) 10 km. ) This is a towering and beautiful peak which offers panoramic views and gives you the feeling of being at the top of the world. The view from top is breathtaking. On a clear day, you can have the bird's eye view of the three main rivers - Beas, Ravi and Chenab from here. It is rare and you should bring a binocular with you to truly enjoy the panoramic views. You can also trek down through some outskirts ( called Pagdandi ) to enjoy the wilderness. You can clearly notice a deep quietness in the environment all around you. It is right that Dalhausie is the quiet most tourist place in India yet so full of life.

Subhash Baoli :
( 1.6 km. ) A lovely spot for picnic, commanding a good view of snow covered hills. This has been named after the indomitable man of Indian politics, before the independence days, Shri Subhash Chandra Bose. It is said that he used to drink water from this place during his stay in Dalhousie. On the right side is the photograph of Subhash Chandra Boss during his visit in Dalhousie.

Jandri Ghat :
( 2 km. ) place of the rulers of erstwhile Chamba State, is located and surrounded by tall pine trees, is a place worth visiting. It was once one of the favorite places for the rulers of Chamba as this place has a spacious residence built in 1871 to be used as a summer residence by Chamba Rajas. It is still in occupation of Royal House of Chamba. It commands a panoramic view of surrounding hills.

Dalhousie is well known for its church buildings and other landmarks erected by the British. The town has old churches like St. John's Church ( 1853 ), St. Francis' Church ( 1894 ), St. Andrew's Church ( 1903 ) and St. Patric's Church ( 1909 ). St. John's Church, the oldest is located at Gandhi Chowk, about 2 km. from the bus stand. This church was the first to be built after the founding of Dalhousie. According to the annals of Chamba state, prior to 1863 a wooden structure of the church stood at this site. The plan to build a stone structure was drawn up on the arrival of the Rev John H. Pratt on 11 April 1863. The present building is one of the prominent monuments in the Dalhousie area. The building is in good condition.

St. Andrew's Church :
St. Andrew's Church commonly known as the Church of Scotland was built in the year 1903 at Baloon by Protestant Christians. The Church is approximately one and half kms. from Dalhousie's bus stand. The Church building is in good condition, recently a brick boundary wall has been erected around it to save the building from mischief mongers.

St. Patric's Church :
This Church is situated in Baloon, Dalhousie Cantt., on Military Hospital road approximately 2 kms. from main bus stand. St. Patrick's Church is the largest church in Dalhousie having a seating capacity of 300 persons in its main hall. The Church was built in the year 1909 and the dressed-stone building is still in good condition. This Church was built exclusively from contribution made by officers and ranks of the British Army. At present the Church is managed and maintained by the Catholic Diocese of Jalandhar.

St. John's Church :
This Church stands on the Gandhi Chowk approximately 2 kms. from the main bus stand of Dalhousie. This Church was the first to be built after the town of Dalhousie was founded. The church building stands in a good condition but its surroundings demand much better care. Service is conducted on every Sunday.

St. Francis' Church :
This Catholic Church is a very prominent monument on the Subhash Chowk. This Church was built in the year 1894 from the contributions made by Army and Civil Officers and Civilians. This Church is managed and maintained by the Cathoilic Diocese of Jalandhar. St. Francis' Church on Prtrain hill is believed to have been built on the lines of a certain church in England. Beautiful glass work and intricate stone work can be seen in the Church. Service is conducted every Sunday.

Khajjiar Lake :
This lake is 16 km from Dalhousie and 22 km from Chamba. Fed by slim streams, this small lake rests in the centre of the large glade of Khajjiar. The glade and the lake are held sacred to Khajjinag - after whom the place is named. Khajjiar has the thick forest of the Kalatop sanctuary surrounding its soft green grass. It is 1.5 km long and 1 km wide. It is surrounded by cedar (deodar) forest. This is like a magical paradise. A temple dedicated to Khajjinag is also located there. Khajjiar is also called "Mini Switzerland". The lake remains full of water in all the seasons and requires no rain water for survival.

Chamera Lake :
This is the reservoir of the Chamera dam built over the river Ravi. Chamera lake is an artificial lake came into existence as a consequence of Chamera Hydroelectric project. The Dam site is 36 kms from Dalhousie and located at a height of approximately 892 mtrs above sea level. At its top the Dam is 765 mtrs. High. The Dam site enjoy very sharp fluctuations in climate between April to June. During the day it can get very hot (around 35 degree centigrade) though by the evening, temperatures fall to between 18 to 20 degree centigrade. Between July and September the area received mdetate to heavy rainfall and temperatures vary below 20 to 26 centigrade during the day and 8 to 12 centigrade at night time. The project area enjoys a maximum of around 15 degree centigrade between October and December and some times the temparature are known to fall below freezing point.

Kalatop Khajjiar Sanctuary :

Altitude : varies from 1185 meters to 2768 meters.
Annual Rainfall : mean annual rainfall is 800 mm.
Temperature : temprature varies from -10 to 35°C.
Area : 2,026.89 hectares ( 20.27 sq. km. ).
Location : 36 km. from Chamba town. and 13 km. from Dalhousie
Approaches : Dalhousie to Lakkadmandi ( inside the sanctuary 10km. ) then to kalatop 3km.

This small sanctuary lies in the catchment of the Ravi River, and contains patches of good coniferous and Oak forests. A lovely bowl-shaped meadow at Khajjiar, with a lake and a ‘floating’ island, is a popular tourist spot. There is a ‘golden’ domed temple at the edge of this meadow, dedicated to the deity ‘Khajinag’, from whom the area derives its name. Kalatop place commands a beautiful and grand panoramic view of the surrounding landscape and eye travels wide over hill and dale, field and forest, smooth and ruggedness, till in the direction of Jammu and Kashmir, it meets a horizon of snow peaks. A motorable road to Kalatop Rest House leads from the Dalhousie - Khajjiar - Chamba road at the point named Lakkad Mandi. The track from Lakkad Mandi to Kalatop Rest House is plain and the walk through the dense forest is amazingly refreshing. To obtain permission to ply the vehicle and stay in Rest House, one can contact Divisional Forest Officer, Wildlife, Chamba.

Flora
Mixed blue pine and Deodar forest with some green oak and the Phododendron

Fauna ( Mammals )
Himalayan Black Bear, Brown Bear, Leopard, Cat, barking Deer, Goral, Jackal, Langur, Marten, Serow, Kashmiri and common giant flying Squirrel.