Dalhousie is a beautiful hill station in Himachal Pradesh. Established in 1854 by the British Empire in India as a summer retreat for its troops and bureaucrats, the town was named after Lord Dalhousie who was the British viceroy in India at that time.
It is built on and around five hills. Located on the western edge of the Dhauladhar mountain range of the Himalayas, it is surrounded by the beautiful scenery of snow-capped peaks. Dalhousie is situated between 6,000 and 9,000 feet above sea level. The best time to visit is in the summer, and the peak tourist season is from May to September. Scottish and Victorian architecture is prevalent in the bungalows and churches in the town.
Dalhousie is a gateway to the ancient Chamba Hill State, now Chamba District of the state of Himachal Pradesh of India. This hill region is a repository of ancient Hindu culture, art, temples, and handicrafts preserved under the longest-running single dynasty since the mid-6th century. Chamba is the hub of this culture. Bharmour, the ancient capital of this kingdom, is home to the Gaddi and Gujjar tribes and has 84 ancient temples dating from the 7th–10th century AD.
Get in
The trip to Dalhousie is a long one if you are heading from Delhi. It usually involves taking an overnight train to Pathankot (about 10 hr) and then a 2–3 hr drive from Pathankot to Dalhousie.
Get around
The main mode of transport is a car or motorcycle; it can get very cold in the evening so a car is recommended. Pony rides are available in G.P.O. and Khajjiar, but this is mostly a recreational activity rather than a functional one. The ponies are called khachhars (mules), crosses between horses and donkeys: don’t expect thoroughbred horses! Walking around Dalhousie is a good option, but to see Khajjiar and Chamba you will have to use some kind of transport. Taxis to these destinations are easily available from the main market.
See
- Khajjiar – A stunning valley with a spring in the middle, while being quite beautiful, it gets littered with trash in the peak season of July when a massive number of tourists come. Known as the ‘Switzerland of India’ for the meadowy look.
- Dainkund Walk – A gentle, sloping walk near an Air Force base in Dalhousie, leading to a Hindu temple.
- Alah Water Tank – The main water tank in the area, holding 100,000 gallons.
- Upper Bakrota – The highest area in Dalhousie, it has a number of estates, a residential school, and an Army barracks at the top. The area is circled by a road called Bakrota Walk, on the way to Khajjiar which ends at Alah Water Tank. It was the preferred destination of the landed gentry of Punjab during the Raj, now populated by similar residents from the new India. Some of the houses are worth seeing, but are mostly on private gated estates.
- Kala Tope Rest House – It’s on the way to Khajjiar at the toll barrier for Kala Tope, a road to the left of the barrier leads to the government rest house, a nice quiet spot and a great place for a picnic. The 3-km route through dense pine forests from Lakkadmandi to Kala Tope is simply exhilarating. No cars are allowed on this 3-km route.
- Ganji Pahadi Walk – It is called Ganji Pahadi (ganji means bald, pahadi means hill) because there are no trees on the summit of the hill and it looks like it’s got a bald patch at the top. You can ask a local how to get there. It is a long walk of at least an hour, but quite pleasant.
- Subhash Chowk – This is the spot (chowk means intersection) where the road from the bus stand makes a cross road between two roads to G.P.O. and the one coming in from the bus stand. It is also a fairly active market, second to G.P.O.
- Church – It is right next to the post office and police post in G.P.O.
- Chamba – It is a major district town a little distance away from Dalhousie and is the seat of the former princely State of Chamba. It has a number of attractions including a major museum, restaurants, etc.
- Kalatop wild life reserve. Kalatop Sanctuary was recognized as a game sanctuary on July 1, 1949. It lies between Dalhousie and Chamba at the northwestern extremity Daula Dhar. Dalhousie-Chamba Road runs through the sanctuary, which contains about 15 villages. In 1982-1983, there was a total of 1766 people living inside the sanctuary. This reserve covers an area of 3069 hectares. Its altitude varies from 1185 meters to 2768 meters (3910 ft-9134 ft.) The terrain is steep and typical of the Outer Himalayas. It is drained by several tributaries of the Ravi River which lies just to the north. There is a lake at Khajjiar. The temperature varies from -10°C to 35°C. The mean precipitation is 2648 mm, one-fourth of which falls as snow. Khajjiar, Kalatop, Dain Kund, Lakarmandi, and Bara Pathar are the tourist attractions that fall in this sanctuary. From Gandhi Chowk, a steep, uphill walk will take you to the scenic Bakrota Circle. After walking about 2 kilometers, the road to this sanctuary starts near the Municipal Water Resivoir. Kalatop is at an altitude of 2440 meters, and it is 8.5 kilometers from the GPO. From Lakarmandi, a jeepable road through the dense forest leads to the Kalatop Forest Resthouse. This is a perfect spot for a weekend retreat. The panoramic views of Pir Panjal Range and countryside are breathtaking.
Ask the locals for more detailed directions and advice about these places. Dain Kund, Upper Bakrota, and Ganji Pahadi are the lesser-known but quite long and enjoyable walks. Pack a picnic basket: there are a lot of open, empty spots where one can sit and enjoy a meal and a good view.
Do
Dalhousie is known for its great valleys and high mountain ranges. Places like Panchpula are known for trekking. There are waterfalls, places to trek, or to sit down, relax, and experience nature. It is 5 km from G.P.O. Dalhousie Chowk. Going there is easy by bus, taxi, etc., but going on foot is a marvellous experience. This Place Registered its Name in History. As here Lies the Memorial of Amar Ajit Singh (Uncle of Shaheed Bhagat Singh)
- Go to the Tibetan market and have a look around just for fun.
- Enjoy long walks; carry an umbrella if its cloudy.
- Picnics are the thing to do in Dalhousie.
- Have a barbeque if your hotel has the facilities to do so.
- Star-gaze: the sky is exceptionally clear in Dalhousie at night (bring your binoculars/telescope).
- Enjoy a ride on the ponies in Khajjiar.
- Trek: it’s a fantastic place to trek.
Thank you pics are very nice.
Dalhousie probably represents the best of Himachal. It is an exhilirating experience to stay in a hill station like this. The star-studded sky is a treat to watch. Stars that are normally not visible to naked eye can be seen. I hope that the place is maintained the way the British made it.
excellent pl say how to go fron chennai and what seasin is best and also good drinking water and medical facilities is available especially for children
Here the simple one …… Just come to Delhi…… From ISBT a Himachal Roadways Deluxe bus run every night at 8 to dalhousie about 11 hour run… and the route it takes is the one where u find the best wild and mountain scenes and the typical himachal roads.( Jalebi style…. too ziggy) Or Come to Amritsar by Air and then to Pathankot and Then Dalhousie about 4 -5 hours journey……..
I m telling u all this wll be the best tour of ur life, ilives here in Dalhousie Cantt and treally love to see all Chamba Distt….. if came here also visit Chamba more than 1000 year old city of India and a must place to visit if visiting here in Dalhousie……
See U all there …….
Beautiful. Would love to visit and witness snowfall. Which is the best time to get snowfall (i.e. snow actually falling)?
Would love to drive to Dalhousie. They call it ‘Switzerland of India’ !!! Can you suggest stop-overs, time taken etc. from Delhi. Thanks
A Beautiful city of beautiful Country
Hi,
I have outed allmost india but never went to Dalhousie. I have also visited the Himachal but my coleages never told about this place. I will definitely go in the next month.
thanks
It is a wonderful place!!!!! I have been here twice………… here a lot more site scenes are not mentioned like
1) Panchpula…. this a wonderful place where water comes out of b’ful large stones…….. worth seeing place.
2) Subhash Bawli…. this is the place where water comes out of pipe and it is said that Subhash Chander BOse got cured of his ailment by taking bath here.
3) Saptdhara…. a b’ful local sight upside…. from where Dalhosie looks b’ful.
4) Snow Point……. a perfect snow playing place at the time of snowfall……fresh snow in moths like Jan, Feb…. it is too cold there….
very nice after seeing this i have planeed for holiday at dalhousie
hey
i love to be there
its a beautyful place
i love himachal
We must be proud of our country. Thaks a lot for reminding us.
warm regards
Manik
I have been their twice and will like to go to again and again. A must place a to visit. Have yet to see a hill station like this. I am sure the Hotel Grand view is still there. Wish Khajiar has some better place to stay now.
Its GOD’s own gift to mankind…..
Thanx, you have revived memor ies of my visit to Dalhousie in 1983.Its really a wonderful hill resort of India.
very warm regards,
Congratulations U had sent all Photograps of my Birth place. Really execiting. u have done very good job realiesing me my childhood
It was a wonderful experience to go Dalhosie once again i can say it is a place where each and every Indian
must go and enjoy the blessing of the nature
Moti Manot
looking great hmmmmmmmm
We have been here in February 2008. Snow all around quite beautiful. But the town was dead silent like a cemetery due to almost no visitors. Markets were closed, a couple food joints were open but selling stale food. Town wore a very dirty look during this time. To add to our problems we fell sick due to wacky weather and seriously couldn’t enjoy anything except lying under blankets in the only hotel available which was a bit clean. The approach to Khajiar was blocked due to heave snowfall.
Excellent treat for the eyes and soul, wil surely visit it next summer, thanks, Soni sagar from Hyderabad
Its wonderful, nice pictures.
What will be the average temperature range during the year ?
amazing…… i’ll definetly go there for trekking…… thanx for giving information of this beautiful …place…..
Its really a beautiful place!!!!!My son wants to see snow and wants to go to iceland….But i think being in India we have such a beautiful place and we really want to visit this place.I would like to know the snowing period so that we can see the snow!!!!And also would like to know how to travel from Mumbai..Travelling expenses by air,train or bus…….which is much convinient…
Thank you for beautiful picture
nice photos of dalhousie
Thank you very much for these nice pics. I love to be there. Its a nice place.
It was a beautiful place and wonderful weather i guess,
hope to visit this place one day to enjoy nature’s beauty
thanks
mubadala shan
it is fine
and wonderful …
thanks
I had go to Dalhousie in 2001, From Mumbai go with Swaraj Express and drop at Chakibank railway station and from there you can go by car. Car will take around 1000Rs. for Dalhousie.
Chakiban Railway Station is 100km away from Jammu, so you can also go to Jammu and vaishnodevi together in 1 trip.
i go for traking last vacation i go all place who are in the mail thank you sooo muchhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..
superb pictures,very close to sky &close to eyes too,its godly empire,enjoyed the beauty ,nature &romantic places,lovely photos,thanks
It is Khajiar that is called Switzerland of India. This is nice. It is approx 4 hours drive from Dalhousie. Between Khajiar and Dalhousie, there is Kalatop that is also very good.
But there is nothing in Dalhousie. If you really want to visit this side of Himachal Pradesh, just visit Khariar and Kalatop and leave Dalhousie city. After I visited US, UK and other western countries, I found the entire place is good. It feels bad to see just few acres of Khajiar in India to be as good as the entire western world.
It was a beautiful place and wonderful weather i guess,
R.H.Saravanan
Wonderful.Must visit it befpre I become too old
Subhanalla……………………..
is really snow falling there now a days?
hi very niceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
MASHA-ALLAH !!!
Very good pics.
The place is so nice and every one will enjoy except that the taxiwalas and the local carts men join hand to hand and cheat the tourists saying that the travel by taxi is not allowed beyond this point etc. even though you pay for the taxi on hours rent that fellow will not take you round and he stops his vehicle and take rest and you are compelled to go only by horse ride. Old people will not be comfortable with horse ride.
It is a very beautiful place. i am Pakistani
WOW AMAZING GREAT I REALLY LOVE IT
IN Amiharic betane yameral.
it is very nice.
pics r really good.. pleasant place….
Thanks for showing these beautiful natural beauties.
It was too cool Buddy i felt i am there
take care send me more data
Wonderful.This place must to be visited.
Beautiful.Will love to visit when there is snowfall.
very nice.We want to visit next summer.Basu
Just breath taking.Simply superb.
It’s amazing and beautiful thanks for sending………………………………………………
WOW! ITS GREAT!
really like paradise on earth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wants to be there always@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ DIKSHA**************************
Amazing,
It seems heaven on earth
Really very beautiful.I oncehad an opportunity to visit this beautiful hillresort.
It is out of this world beauty. Visited in April 2009! Will go there again at any time.
HALLO,
JUST BY READING OTHERS VISITS AND COMMENTS I FEEL LIKE VISITNG THE PLACE IMMDLY.
PL SUGGEST A GOOD PLACE TO STAY FOR A WEEK OR SO AND ALSO THE RATES ETC
SIR, ANY TOURIST TO TAKE US OR RLY PACKAGE TOUR ???