Dalhousie Quick Information
Summarise the city : A vintage destination
Best time to visit (High & peak months) : April-June (cool retreat) & mid September-October & mid December to February (to experience snow fall).
Experiences : Nature, ancient temples & churches
City calling code : 01899
Recommended no. of days for a tourist : 2
Best buys : Carpets, bags & shawls, Chamba rumals (handkerchiefs)
Essentials to be carried along : Light woolens for summers and heavy ones for winters (December-February), sun screens.
All about the city :
Yet another worthy territory of beautiful state of Himachal Pradesh is Dalhousie, a hill station named after the British Governor General of India Lord Dalhousie. Sprawling on five hills that range in height from 1,525m to 2,378m this vintage destination has cradled well all that came to it in the course of time viz the colonial impression, the ancient culture and the beautiful surroundings. Although it does not offer much for sightseeing but it is an idyllic destination for those who fancy a laid back holiday watching the sun going down and rising again; listening to the chirping of birds and gurgling of streams; spending hours appreciating the aroma & colour of the flowers or simply getting inspired by the mighty Himalayas. The environs of Dalhousie, however, include some interesting sightseeing places. Rambling around this fashionable yet quite and peaceful place is the best way to absorb the maximum of this hill town.
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Dalhousie Tourist attractions
| Name (Suggested Time Required To See The Place) | Description | Entrance Charges (If Any) For Foreigner | Close Day (If Any) | Open / Close Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Churches (15 minutes for each Church) | Dalhousie has four well preserved churches namely St John, St Francis, St Andrew & St Patrick all of which date back to the British era of the Indian history. The pretty stained glass windows and sandstone arches are the attractive features of the churches. | No entrance charge | No close days | |
| Panjpulla | This is a beautiful picnic spot where water from natural resources flows under five bridges, hence the name panjpulla. In Hindi ‘panj’ means five and ‘pulla’ means bridge. | No entrance charge | No close days | |
| Bakrota hills | At a distance of 5 km and a height of 2085m this is the place where the nature aficionados head to capture in their heart and cameras the magnificent views of the snow clad mountains. | |||
| Hikes | Walking amidst the thick beautiful woods or gable roofed bungalows and churches that speak volumes about the colonial impression on the region is what tourists enjoy here the most. The preferred ones include: The twin rounds of Garam Sarak (warm road) and Thandi Sarak (cold road) so called because one road receives more sunlight than the other. A short walk from Circuit House to Gandhi Chowk (city center) offers magnificent views of Pir Panjal range. This walk can be further extended to the panjpulla (just 3 km from here). |
Getting There
| Air | Rail | Road |
|---|---|---|
| Gaggal in Kangra (114 km away) & Pathankot (90 km away) are the nearest airports. | Pathankot at a distance of 90 km forms the nearest railhead. | Dalhousie is 555 km from Delhi, 335 km from Shimla, 385 km from Manali, 143 km from Dharamshala and only 90 km from Pathankot. |
Dalhousie Festivals
| Name Of Festival | Dates / Month / Year | Festival Details With Link For More Information |
|---|---|---|
| Minjar fair | July/August | Impressive procession marks the fair in which Raghuvir Verman’s idol along with other gods and goddesses are taken in palanquins for immersion in the Ravi river. This colorful seven day long festival has historical as well as religious significance attached to it. |
Dalhousie Excursions
| Excursion (Distance In Kms) | Description |
|---|---|
| Kalatope Wildlife Sanctuary (8 km east of Dalhousie/ 15-20 minutes) | Home to black bears, Ibex, deer and leopards this is a famous wildlife reserve of Himachal. The place is surrounded by dark green deodars, fir and spruce trees- a perfect ambience to capture your senses. The jungle is so dense here that even the sun’s rays cannot penetrate into the woods. Hence the name Kalatope. The well laid out trekking trails inside the jungle make for a happy walk. To drive inside the sanctuary one has to take permission from the forest department. |
| Khajjiar (24 km from Dalhousie/ 35 minutes) | While moving from Dalhousie to Chamba, you come across a saucer shaped meadow that lies encircled by dense deodar forest – a place rightly called the Switzerland of India. The main attractions here include a 12th century Khajji Nag temple and a nine hole golf course. In the temple complex stand 5 life size statues of the five Pandav brothers. |
| Chamba (41 km from Dalhousie/ 60 minutes) | The former capital of princely state of Chamba, this town dates back to the 10th century. Legend says it is named after Princess Champavati who sacrificed her life to provide water to the parched city. This hill station forms an interesting destination for those who wish to witness traditional living and rich cultural heritage, of which its ancient temples, museums, folk songs, miniature paintings and handicrafts are quintessential examples. Laxmi Narayan temple complex is a must visit. |
Suggested Holidays Including Dalhousie
| Holiday Name | No. Of Days | Destinations Covered & Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Hallowed Himachal | 06 days – 05 nights | Dalhousie – Mc Leodganj – Palampur – Manali – Kullu |
| Himachal Highlights | 12 days – 11 nights | Delhi – Shimla – Manali – Palampur – Mc Leodganj – Dalhousie |
| Culture and Heritage Trail | 08 days – 07 nights | Shimla – Pragpur – Mc Leodganj – Dalhousie |
