Dalhousie

Scenic beauty, pleasant climate, old charm

One among the most demanded hill stations in the state of Himachal Pradesh, Dalhousie is very popular for its scenic beauty and pleasant climate. This fast emerging hilly destination offers a pleasant holiday amidst calm and serene surroundings. A popular sanatorium during the time of British rule, this hill station owes much to its founder Lord Dalhousie for its fame and glory. Nestled in the lap of the Himalayan mountain range, this hill station is placed at an average height of 8000 feet.

An astounding hill station, Dalhousie is abuzz with its old charm and embraces enduring ricochets of the ‘British Raj’. One among the favorite places of the British, this hilly terrain houses a large number of Victorian style mansions, which proudly testifies its former grandeur.

Spread over an area of 14 sq km, Dalhousie is built on five hills, which offers a pleasant trekking experience to beginners as well as serious trekkers. This picturesque spot is a tiny hospice, which lies at the base of the Dhauladhar mountain range. The scenic valley offers impressive views of hills ending in the flurry of mountains and verdant valleys. Its majestic rivers that twirl and spin amidst the lush dense woods of the plains makes for a picturesque sight. When in Dalhousie, tourists should also include Manali in the tour package.

Apart from being an alluring picnic spot, Dalhousie provides excellent shopping delights at the Mall Road where all the activities of the town are centered. A shoppers delight, it offers a great time for the shopping buffs. Apart from these, the interlacing lanes of this magnificent hill resort are a perfect location for promenades and sight seeing. A charming location at a height of 9000 feet, Dalhousie is blessed with outstanding attractions and its salubrious weather with moderate accommodation facilities makes it a thriving tourist center of modern times.

Tourist Attractions

Bhuri Singh Museum: Officially started in 1908, the Bhuri Singh Museum at Chamba is named after the illustrious King Raja Bhuri, who donated his family compilation of paintings to the museum. The inscription in Sarda scripts that are exhibited in the museum give vital information on the medieval times of Chamba.

Rang Mahal: Located in Surara Mohalla, Rang Mahal was founded by Raja Umed Singh. Once the abode of a division of the ruling reign this wonderful palace displays a perfect mixture of British and Mughal style architecture. The walls of this 18th century monument are wizened with fine exemplars of Punjab hill style wall paintings, which portray the life of Lord Krishna.

Subhash Baoli: Subhash Baoli is a perennial spring, named after the famous freedom fighter Subhash Chandra Bose, who came here to regain his failing health in the year 1937. He is said to have lived in Dalhousie for 7 months and was rejuvenated by the medicated water of this spring.

Central Park: One among the imperative attractions of Chamba is the magnificent Central Park which provides panoramic views of the entire hill station. A verdant field, which is the jamboree of all the activities in the town, Central Park is the largest crowd puller in the city in recent years. This fabulous spot, on the banks of River Ravi is also known as Chaugan. The most remarkable construction in this place is the Gandhi gate that immortalizes Lord Curzon’s visit to Chamba.

Dainkund Peak: Situated at an altitude of 2755 meters and 10 km from Dalhousie, Dainkund is the highest mountain in Dalhousie providing perfect scenery of the whole valley. Trekking is the most common way to reach the peak and is an amazing experience, with great views and fresh mountain air.

Khajjiar Lake: The Khajjiar Lake is one of the prime attractions of Khajjiar, located around 20 kms from Dalhousie. This perennial lake is fed by small streams and is panoramically situated amidst the cedar forests and hills. The lake is located at a height of 1950 mt above sea level and is ideal for picnicking.

Panch Pulla: Literally meaning five bridges, Panch Pula, is a scenic place with pictorial beauty. Located 2 km from Dalhousie, it can be easily reached on foot. Famed for its gushing streams, it is the main source of potable water to the nearby towns. The brook bounces from Dain Kund and falls down into a quaint abyss and then finally reaches the waterworks of Panch Pulla.

Satdhara Falls: Satdhara in Dalhousie is an offbeat tourist spot amidst enthralling scenery and a refreshing stream of rivulets. Stationed on the way to Panch Pulla, it is a spectacular tourist destination with lush green surrounding and pleasing climatic conditions.

Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary: A tiny city renowned for its wildlife sanctuary, Kalatop is blessed with natural flora and fauna. Dense woody Deodar forest houses a natural habitat for many estranged species of the animal kingdom. The dense forests make the sighting of animals quite rare. Apart from the wide range of fauna, this sanctuary also has a large flock of birds, which make it a delight for ornithologists.

Horse Riding: Horse riding is one of the most common means of travel in Khajjiar. Pony and horse rides can only be enjoyed during the summer season. This is the best way to explore the scenic environs around the lake.

Best time to visit
Dalhousie has pleasant climate making it tourist friendly
throughout the year.

How to reach
By Train: Nearest railhead is Pathankot (80 km) which is well connected to various cities in India, including Delhi, Mumbai and Amritsar.
By Air: Nearest airports are Pathankot (80 km) and Jammu (180 km). Pathankot is connected to Delhi only, while Jammu has more frequent air services to Delhi and other destinations in North India.
By Bus: Bus services by public transport system are available connecting the towns in and around Dalhousie.