Dalhousie
A quaint and popular hill station, Dalhousie came to existence in the year 1854, for the bureaucrats and the British soldiers. Named after Lord Dalhousie, the British Viceroy, Dalhousie is situated atop the 5 hills of Potreyn, Terah, Kathalagh, Bakrota and Bhangora. Located on the western side of the impressive Dhauladhars and nestled within the snow-capped mountainous ranges, the place is popular among the tourist for its enchanting beauty, revered, ancient temples, the beautiful, trekking valleys of Pangi and Chamba, low roofed hotels and stalls, colonial buildings, slopes and hills covered with pines, attractive villas and cottages and much more.
While in Dalhousie, nothing will seem to matter to you except the beauty and serenity of the place. The missing swirl of traffic, the green shades of trees, the small shops, the blooming rhododendrons etc will make your trip worth remembering. Here in Dalhousie, definitely go for shopping of embroidered Chamba shawls, Chamba chappals, colorful woolens, cane baskets, Chamba Dolls, Chamba chilies and many more! With all these and much more, Dalhousie happens to be a retreat amidst the snow-capped mountains!
Nearby Getaways from Dalhousie
Around the captivating land of Dalhousie are some of the best of places beckoning those who love to unwind amidst the tranquility, adventure and beauty of nature. These places also serve as amazing nearby getaways from Dalhousie.
Khajjiar is only at a distance of about 7 kilometer from Dalhousie. It looks like enchanting meadow having a saucer shape and fringed with cedar trees. A small calm lake can be found just in between the grassy meadow of Khajjiar, on top of which two islands float and plays hide and seek with the tourist, behind the tall grasses. Khajjiar is believed to have derived its name from Khajinag, the doomed golden temple. A special attraction of Khajjiar is a 9 hole golf course.
Palampur is a very beautiful hill station that very less people have heard of. Nestling amidst the snow- covered mighty Dhauladhars, Palampur is at a height of 1269 m. This ‘valley of flowers’ brings with it sylvan elegance, hedges having wild red and white roses, avenues dappled with pines and cedars, stylish bungalows and everything else that you might look for, while you are amidst nature. To have an experience of a life time, trek down to any village in Palampur.
Chamba is located 56 km from Dalhousie and is an exciting 2 hours drive from the same. This temple town, often referred as “a jewel of the Himalayas” is placed over a ledge and overlooks River Ravi. At a height of about 920 m, Chamba is named after Champavati, the beautiful princess. One of the famous and oldest temples in Chamba is the Lakshminarayana temple devoted to Lord Shiva and Vishnu. The rich architectural carvings on the temples have a charm of its own. Another popular place is the palace of the Raja i.e. the Rang Mahal or Painted palace. The palace is replete with some beautiful collection of art works.
The roofed houses in Chamba made of stone and wood slate are evidences of the artistic heritage of the region. Chamba rumals, chappals etc are very exquisite pieces of art work find in the region. Needle painting is also very famous.
Standing like a jewel, alongside the marvelous backdrop of the Dhauladhars, the Baijnath temple happens to be the abode of Lord of Physicians. The temple acts as a major crowd puller in the region. Set up during 804 A.D. by 2 merchants, Ahuka and Manyuka, the temple with a spiritual aura is thousand years old. The ‘lingam’ inside the temple, of Vaidyanatha Lord Shiva is a symbol of adoration and worship for the numerous pilgrims who come to pay a visit to the temple. The Baijnath temple is visited by many with a belief that Lord of Physicians will free them who visit the temple, from all ailments. The water at the Baijinath temple is considered to have digestive properties and in the old days the Kangra Valley rulers were believed to have drank water only from the this Bajinath Temple.
- Triund
At a level of 2827 m above the sea level, Triund is only 12 kilometer climb if you trek down from McLeod Ganj. Hold your breaths for a while as you take pleasure in the exotic plants, snow covered ponds and the massive rocks at Triund. Have a look at the Pong Dam below, feel the crisp air, unwind in the pristine beauty and the splendor of the mountains.
Another popular getaway from Dalhousie is Dharamsala that overlooks the Kangra Valley. It changed greatly, when Dalai Lama in 1959 claimed the town to be his residence. The Tibetan influence in the region has made this place really popular among the tourist. The blend of culture that can be seen in the region is also fascinating. The Tibetan refugees, nomadic shepherds called gaddis, the cholu tribe, the Hindus and the Buddhists, you would find them all in Dharamsala. The town of Dharamsala is divided into Upper and the Lower Dharamsala.
- Bir and Billing
In close proximity to the mighty Dhauladhars and jut above Baijnath, is the quaint village of Bir. A seat for the Pal Rajputs once, Bir is presently the location for an annual fair, which actually forms a part of the tradition Holi Festival. The amazing Oak forest, the Kanets and Gaddis pouring down from the mountain ranges and the serenity of the region will offer you an experience of a lifetime.
Billing lies at a distance of 14 km from the village of Bir. A popular hang gliding tournament takes place every year in Billing, which is considered to be among the finest hang gliding sites in the country.
- Satdhara
As you head towards Panjpulla, you can locate a region called Satdhara, on your way. Located at an altitude of 2036 m, Satdhara is known for the 7 springs believed to have great therapeutic and medicinal value.
- Subhash Baoli
Offering a view of the gorgeous snowcapped mountains, Subhash Baoli is located at a height of 2,085m, 1.6 km from G.P.O. Square.
Among the pleasant getaways from Dalhousie, Kalatope is one situated at a distance of about 5 km from Dalhousie. An enchanting palace, rest house amidst the forests and a panoramic view- that is what characterizes Kalatope. As you walk down the secluded forest road, through the Nakorota hills, you would reach Lakkarmandi, which is home to the Dogri families. At an altitude 8,600 feet, it is a beautiful place nestled within Kalatope and Dayan Kund Peak. Kalatope is home to a sanctuary known as the Kalatope Sanctuary that consists of animals like Deer, Bears, Ibex, and Leopards, etc.
How to Reach Dalhousie
Those interested in sight seeing and different tourist activities must visit Dalhousie in the months of March to June. If you are planning to go for small trips amidst the beauty of nature, then the ideal time is between the months of July to November. And for all those out there, who are in love with chilly winters and snowfall, come and visit the beautiful land of Dalhousie, anytime from December to February.
The nearest airport to Dalhousie is the Amritsar Airport. Jammu Airport is about 188 km away. Dalhousie can also be reached through rail. The nearest rail head is the Pathankot railway station, which connects to almost all the important cities in India. Several buses at regular intervals ply from Dalhousie to places like Manali (402 km), Amritsar (188 km), Khajjiar (27 km), Delhi (563 km), Pathankot (80 km),
Dharamshala (143 km), Chamba (56 km), Chandigarh (352 km), Jalandhar (192 km), Jammu (188 km) and many more. Local transport such as autos, ponies and taxis can also be availed.
