Khajjiar Tourism, Khajjiar Hotels, Tourism in Khajjiar, Himachal Pradesh, India

Khajjiar A small picturesque saucer-shaped plateau surrounded by dense pine and deodar cedar forests, is one of the 160 places throughout the world to have been designated Mini Switzerland. Yes, this is Khajjiar, a wonderful tourist resort in Chamba about 24 kms from Dalhousie, at an altitude of 6,500 feet above sea level. The moment one enters the picturesque Khajjiar, one is welcomed by a yellow Swiss sign for ‘hiking path’ which reads "Mini Switzerland".

Khajjiar is famous for the popular Khajji Naga shrine dedicated to the serpent god from which the name is believed to have been derived. Khajjiar with its 1.5 km. long and 1 km. wide ground amidst the thick deodar forest is like a magical paradise. Khajjiar has the thick forest of the Kalatop sanctuary surrounding its soft green grass. Many outskirts branches off from Khajjiar ground and reach to nearby small villages. A number of budget, deluxe and premium hotels are situated around Khajjiar. There are a number of fine restaurants.

The magical paradise Khajjiar sets you free in a different world of peace and enjoyment, and you simply don't want to leave. No wilderness in Himachal is so easily accessible and beautiful as Khajjiar. Khajjiar is easily approachable from Delhi, Punjab and Chandigarh as well as from other important places of Himachal. A fine road leads to Khajjiar from Dalhousie and Chamba. Tourism in Khajjiar offers peaceful and memorable holiday experience. The fine walks in or around the ground and refreshing weather make Khajjiar ideal for a peaceful holiday experience and Honeymoon as well. You can also enjoy horse riding.

Khajjiar has much to explore around the large ground. There are villages situated on the nearby slopes of Khajjiar and provide magnificent view of Dhauldhar and Pir Panjal Mountains Ranges. On a clear day, one can easily see Mountain Kailash from Khajjiar ground. Khajjiar is well situated in the Kalatop Khajjiar Wildlife Sanctuary and provide tourists with an opportunity to explore wild life around Khajjiar area. This wildlife sanctuary is easily approachable from Khajjiar and from Dalhousie as well.

Khajjiar is a fine place situated in the middle of dalhousie and Chamba and offers a memorable holiday experience, especially for honeymoon andpeaceful stay in the lap of Himalaya. Khajjiar with its beautiful lush green ground, lake, fine walks and two nearby major destinations qualifies as a worthy place to visit. If you are visiting Dalhousie or Chamba, never forget to spend at least a day in Khajjiar.

Beautiful Journey :
Going from Dalhausie to Khajjiar is a soothing experience as you drive through the beautiful Bakrota Hills. As you keep on going, after some time, you enter the 'Kalatop Khajjiar Sanctuary' and you also see the beautiful 'Lakkad Mandi'. The whole journey is enjoyable because the road leads you through the magnificent 'Deodar' forests. You can easily notice the deep quietness in the environment which adds to the beautiful experience of the entire journey to Khajjiar.

Towards Khajjiar Lake :
As you keep on moving, you approach the point ( see photo on the right side ) from where you can have the bird's eye view of the 'Khajjiar ground and the lake in the middle. Honestly, it seems like a dream from far. So you should stop at this point and have a view of this wonderful creation of the mother nature. After that you move towards the Khajjiar Lake and the ground.

Khajjiar Lake and Ground :
No wilderness in Himachal is so easily accessible and beautiful. It is the magical paradise which quickly makes you realise that there is no place like this in the whole world. The magnificent of majestic 'deodar' is at its best here. Khajjiar lake is associated with a legend, it is associated with Khajjinag, the deity that is enshrined in the temple here. Khajjiar is a beautiful sylvan glade about a mile in length and half a mile in breadth picturesquely set in the midst of forest. The glade is green in its turf and contains in its bosom a small lake heaving approximate area of 5000 sq. yards. There is a clump of reeds and grasses exaggeratedly called an island floating on this lake adding charm to the eye of the viewer.

Kailash View and Horse Riding :
On a clear day, you can see the Mountain Kailash from Khajjiar ground. Mount Kailash is believed to be the home ofthe principle deity of Himachal, the lord Shiva. You can also enjoy the horse riding here. Some local people are engaged in this business and you can ride the whole Khajjiar ground (from outside) for a nominal charge. The riding is very enjoyable, also the horses are well trained and do not scare you away.

Panch Pandav Tree :
On the right side is the photograph of one of the rest houses in Khajjiar. This one is special because the tree near the rest house is of a very different kind. It is called the "Panch Pandav" (Five Pandavs). Though the main root is the same but the base of the tree is divided into six parts, which make it one of the kind. It is also one of the main attractions when you begin to explore the Khajjiar ground on your feet. Near this rest house is the way leading to a small village and Khajjiar School. The locals believe that these six shoots represent five Pandvas and their common wife Dropadi. But trees with many shoots are a common occurrence in the Khajjiar forest. At a distance of one kilometetre from Khajjiar towards Dalhousie a big deodar trees exists having more than 13 soots of comparable height. This trees has popularly come to be known as 'Mother Tree' of the area.

Rest Houses at Khajjiar :
There are many rest houses situated just outside the Khajjiar ground and some of them were built during the British era. Look at the image on the right side - a very old rest house, the construction of the rest house is very interesting. Local people tell some interesting stories about the rest house ( something supernatural ). However it looks very beautiful in the farmost corner of the Khajjiar ground.

Khajjiar Villages :
Besides the view of the Lake in the middle of the ground, there is a lot more to explore. Outside the Khajjiar ground is thick deodar forest and amidst the forest, there are various small villages i.e. khajjiar village, rota village, ladi village etc. (mainly situated near the slopes) Villages are situated far from each other, but not too far from Khajjiar ground. There are many apple orchards in Khajjiar area. Look at the photograph on the right side - This is a small village named ladi and you can see many apple trees in the image and when the season comes, they are full of apples. On the right side is the photograph of Khajjiar village. The location of the village is striking. You can have the breathtaking view of the hills from here. No doubt, the whole Khajjiar area is a magical paradise.

Khajji Nag Temple :
Khajjiar is famous for the popular Khajji Naga shrine dedicated to the serpent god from which the name is believed to have been derived. The temple dates back to the 10th century and is interspaced with different patterns and images on the ceiling and wooden posts. A curious blend of Hindu and Mughal styles of architecture is reflected in the wooden carvings on the ceilings and wooden posts. The image carvings are said to represent the Kauravas who were tied up here in the hideout by the Pandavas. The temple consists of a spacious congregation hall sufficiently enclosed by wooden supports. The dome-shaped shrine is made of slates locally extracted from limestone quarries. Adjoining are other shrines of Shiva and Hadimba goddess also. The age-old tradition of sacrificing a goat is still practiced outside the temple premises.

Khajjiar has an islet with a small lake surrounding it. The lake is considered to be holy by the locals as legend associated it with Khajjinag, the deity in the Khajji temple. The Khajji Nag temple is made in pahari style and the object of worship is 'Nagdev', carved out of stone in human from. The images of five Pandvas: Yudhishtra, Bhim, Arjun,Nakul and Sahdev beautiful made out of wood stand in the corners of the Mandapa of the temple. A small temple of Hidimba ( Hidimba Temple )also stands close by. This has led people tp believe that the Pandavas happened to visit this place during their exile and their period of incognito. There stands a deodar tree near the P.W.D. Rest house having six shoots of almost equal height. The locals believe that these six shoots represent five Pandvas and their common wife Dropadi.

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.