Dalhousie

Established in 1854 by British Empire, Dalhousie is located in Dhauladhar ranges of Himalayas along the western edge. It was the summer retreat for the army officers and bureaucrats and was named after Lord Dalhousie, the British viceroy in India at that time.

Dalhousie is a paradise for travelers who want to de-stress in the laps of nature. The town is situated on and around five hills at 6000-9000 feet above sea level. As the town was established by the British, one can see the Scottish and Victorian architecture all around Dalhousie.

Dalhousie is also a gateway to the hill state of Chamba. Chamba is the example of one of the longest running single dynasty dating back to 6th century A.D.

 

Places to see

Subhash Baoli

The place is at a distance of 1km from the city is at a height of 6,678 ft. One is thrilled by the views of snow clad mountains and scenic beauty. In 1937, Subhash Chandra Bose spent a lot of time contemplating and meditating in Subhash Baoli.

 

Satdhara

Located near the city, 'Satdhara' or seven springs is of great medicinal properties to everyone. The spring water contains 'Mica' and other rare existing minerals and is used to cure all types of skin diseases. A must visit place and a big tourist attraction if you are in Dalhousie on a holiday.

 

Jandhri Ghat

Situated at an altitude of 2036 meters, the palace of erstwhile royalty of Chamba at Jandhri Ghat was the governing point for the rulers before Dalhousie went into the hands of British. There are a number of trophies that can be seen here. The streamlets and tall pine trees provide some beautiful picnic spots here.

 

Panjpulla

Located at a distance of 2 kilometers from Dalhousie, Panjpulla or a memorial with five bridges is a popular tourist attraction. It has a natural tank and calming surroundings. There are several small natural pools here that are fed by perennial streams. It was built in the memory of Sardar Ajit Singh, the famous freedom fighter of India.

 

Bakrota Hills

Quite close to Dalhousie, the Bakrota Hills provides breathtaking views of snow-clad peaks and the walling circuit around the hill known as the 'Round' is a popular destination among locals.

 

St. Andrew's Church

Built in the year 1903, St. Andrew's Church is a popular tourist attraction in Dalhousie. It was constructed due to the efforts of Protestant Christians. The Church is located at a distance of approximately one and half km from the bus stand of Dalhousie. Though quite old, the building of the church is still in a very good condition.

 

St. Patrick's Church

St. Patrick's Church is situated in Baloon, falling under the area known as the Dalhousie Cantonment. It lies approximately two km from the bus stand and holds the distinction of being the largest church of the hill station. St. Patrick's Church dates back to the year 1909 and its main hall has a seating capacity of 300 persons. The funds for the construction of the Church were contributed by the officers and ranks of the British Army.

 

St. Francis Church

Situated on the Subhash Chowk, St. Francis Church is one of the prominent monuments of Dalhousie. Army officers as well as civilians contributed money for the construction of the church. Built in the year 1894, the church is being maintained by the Catholic Diocese of Jalandhar. Beautiful glass work and intricate stone work serve as some of the major attractions of the St. Francis Church

 

Chamba City

This city gives us an insight into the ancient cultural heritage of the people in this hill city. This land of magical tranquility, charming landscape, refreshing air, mountain passes and slopes and is an ideal place for nature lovers. At the centre of the city lies the public walkway popularly known as “Chaugan” surrounding which are a number of ancient temples built between the 7th and the 12th Century AD. Some of the temples found in this city include the Laxminarayan temple, Hari Rai temple, Chamunda Devi temple and the Mani Mahesh temple. There are also a large number of Churches built during this period. Important among them are the St. Francis Church, St. John's Church, St. Andrew's Church, and the St. Patrick's Church.

Pangi Valley

This valley is located in the upper part of the Chamba District and is located between the Pir Pangal and Zanskar range of the Greater Himalayas. The headquarters of Pangi Valley is the Kilar, from where one can trek to Badarwah, Jammu and Kashmir, Lahulspiti, and Manali via the Rohtang Pass.

 

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 wildlife 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.