Dalhousie, located in the Chamba district of Himachal, is considered one of the most famous hill tourist places in India. The present Dalhousie city was built during the colonial period.
Situated in the Himalayan mountains, this small town was developed for the entertainment and leisure of the British officers. For this reason, even today the old buildings built in this city present a very beautiful example of British architecture.
Named after Lord Dalhousie: Impressed by the beauty of this place, the then British officer Lord Dalhousie bought it from the king there in the 18th century and named it after himself. Due to the peaceful climate and pleasant weather, this place was a holiday destination for the British.
The five neighboring hills Bhangora, Bakrota, Terah, Potrin and Kathalgarh were acquired by the rulers of Chamba to convert this region into a hill-station and after that the place became a popular hill tourist destination. Then in the year 1861, Dalhousie became a special part of Gurdaspur district.
Ever since Dalhousie became a part of Himachal Pradesh in 1966, it has come to be known as a popular tourist destination of the world.
Dalhousie comes under the category of such tourist places where tourists can visit at any time of the year. Dalhousie, situated at an altitude of 1970 meters (6,400 ft) above sea level, reaches a maximum temperature of only 35°C in the summer season, which is much lower than the villages and cities in the low places of India.
Because of this, people living in low-lying places in India like to roam in the mountains in the summer season and the temperature of Dalhousie is not very hot even in the summer season, so tourists from low-lying areas of India like to come to Dalhousie. .
Dalhousie is also a tourist place with many types of natural diversity. If you come to visit this place at any time of the year, you will find the natural beauty of this place different.
During the rainy season, there are many waterfalls around Dalhousie, so during the winter season you can enjoy heavy snowfall here. At the same time, in the summer season, you can see very beautiful sunrise and sunset.
Major snow-capped mountain ranges of the Himalayan ranges like Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal are easily visible from Dalhousie.
Dalhousie is a paradise for the tourists visiting here. It is the epitome of old world charm, captivating everyone with its natural landscape, pine-clad valleys, mountains of flowers, meadows, fast-flowing rivers, spectacular mist.
The air smell of Scottish and Victorian architecture and the surroundings will remind you of the British era. Dalhousie is one of the most visited places in Himachal Pradesh, which is famous for its natural beauty and ancient charm.
Let us tell you that this hill station was one of the favorite places of the British during summer, due to which the majestic Victorian style is visible in this area.
Dalhousie is a one of its kind quaint town away from the crowded cities of the country which makes you feel in the lap of nature and offers a pollution free environment.
If you are going to visit Himachal Pradesh or its nearby places, then you must visit this natural beauty city of Dalhousie and its surrounding places.
This place is 485 km away from Delhi and the nearest railway station is Pathankot in Punjab. You can reach here by bus or taxi after getting down from Pathankot. Dalhousie is situated at a distance of 18 kms from Kangra Railway Station. Can reach Kangra via Chandigarh. The distance here is 239 km from Chandigarh, 214 km from Kullu and 332 km from Shimla. Chamba is 192 km away from here.
Best Time to Visit Dalhousie Hill Station
Visit in any season: Dalhousie is a part of Chamba Valley. Snow can be enjoyed here in the winter season. If it is getting hot, then the temperature here also reaches up to 35 degrees.
Due to its ideal climate, Dalhousie is a place that you can visit throughout the year. However, the best time to visit Dalhousie is between March-June.
The snow starts melting here in the months of March and April and when the rays of the sun hit the snow-capped mountains and pastures, the place is worth seeing.
The weather here is very pleasant at this time, you can experience cold in March and April and in the month of June the temperature starts rising slightly.
Dalhousie has a pleasant weather even in the summer months, due to which it is like a paradise for nature lovers.
Monsoon is also a pleasant weather here as moderate rainfall does not hinder your plans. Winters in Dalhousie are perfect for adventure activities.
Famous Tourist Destinations Near Dalhousie
Khajjiar
Khajjiar is 2.5 km away from Dalhousie, whose shape is very attractive like a saucer. Khajjiar is a small town located near Dalhousie which is also known as ‘Mini Switzerland’ or ‘Switzerland of India’.
The beauty of this place attracts everyone towards it. Situated at an altitude of 6,500 feet, Khajjiar is one of the best places to visit near Dalhousie because of its scenic beauty and picturesque landscape.
Khajjiar is a plateau with a small lake which is one of the most favorite places of tourists. Adventure sports such as zorbing, trekking, etc. that take place in this place attract tourists.
Panjpula
2 km away from Dalhousie – Punjpula is a sight worth seeing. Here the water flowing from under five small bridges attracts tourists.
There is also a beautiful waterfall nearby. Panchpula, a waterfall surrounded by green deodar trees, is one of the major tourist places in Dalhousie. Panchpula is the place where five streams come together.
The main stream of Panchpula supplies water to various places around Dalhousie. This place is known for trekking and for its beautiful scenery. A samadhi (memorial) has been built in the memory of a great revolutionary Sardar Ajit Singh (uncle of Shaheed Bhagat Singh) near Panchpula, where he breathed his last.
The pristine waters of this place are best enjoyed during the monsoon season, when the water falls, the atmosphere here makes the tourists happy.
Subhash Baoli
Subhash Baoli is situated at a distance of one and a half kilometers from the GPO here. You can see the snow capped peaks from here.
Subhash Baoli is a place located 1 km away from Gandhi Chowk in Dalhousie which is named after the famous freedom fighter Subhash Chandra Bose.
Subhash Baoli is known for its beautiful natural scenery, snowy mountain scenery and beauty spread far and wide.
Subhash Baoli is the place where Subhash Chandra Bose had come in 1937 due to health issues and he stayed at this place for 7 months. By staying at this place, he was completely fine. Let us tell you that there is also a beautiful waterfall here which flows in the glacial stream.
Bakrota Hills
From this hills you can enjoy the beautiful views of the hills. Bakrota Hills, also known as “Upper Bakrota”, is the highest point of Dalhousie and is a circle of a road called Bakrota Walk, which leads to Khajjiar.
Even though this place does not have much to attract tourists, but taking a walk here and seeing the fascinating scenery around is a great pleasure for the tourists. Let us tell you that this area is surrounded by deodar trees and green hills from all sides.
Satdhara
The water here is considered holy. However, due to the presence of many minerals in this water, it acts as a medicine. Satdhara Waterfalls: Satdhara Falls is located in the Chamba Valley, surrounded by spectacular views of snow-capped mountains and fresh deodar trees.
The meaning of ‘Satdhara’ is seven springs, this waterfall is named Satdhara because of the mixing of the waters of seven beautiful springs. The water of these springs meets at a point 2036 meters above the sea.
This place is a special place for those people who want to experience peace by getting away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Satdhara Falls is also known for its medicinal properties as mica is found in the water here, which has properties to heal skin diseases.
Chamunda Devi Temple
Chamunda Devi Temple is an important religious center dedicated to Goddess Kali. It is said about this temple that Goddess Ambika killed the demons Munda and Chanda here.
In this temple, the goddess is kept wrapped in a red cloth, tourists visiting here are not allowed to touch the idol of the goddess. Tourists also get to see many beautiful scenes in this area.
Dalhousie tourist places Sach Pass
Sach Pass is a mountain pass that passes through the Pir Panjal mountain range at an altitude of 4500 meters and connects Dalhousie with the Chamba and Pangi valleys.
Let us tell you that at a distance of 150 km from Dalhousie, this route is one of the most difficult routes to cross in North India.
Those who love adventure often visit Sach Pass (when it is open) and enjoy the thrilling experience of driving a bike or car from here.
If you travel this route, don’t take any risk and take an experienced driver with you. It is the people’s favorite way to reach Chamba or Pangi Valley and is a famous trekking point from Dalhousie.
Kalatop
Kalatop, located at a distance of about 9 km, has a small wildlife sanctuary. Wild animals can be seen very closely here. Kalatop Khajjiar Sanctuary also known as Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Chambal district of Himachal Pradesh and is one of the major tourist places of Dalhousie.
The meaning of the name Kalatop is ‘black hat’, which probably refers to the dense black forest on the highest hill in the sanctuary.
Kalatop is quite rich in flora and fauna and its natural beauty attracts tourists immensely. If you are going on a trip to Dalhousie, then include Kalatop Khajjiar Sanctuary in your list.
Ganji Pahari
Ganji Pahari is a beautiful hill situated at a distance of 5 kms from Dalhousie city on Pathankot road. The name of this mountain Ganji hill was derived from its special feature because there is complete absence of vegetation on this hill.
Ganji means baldness. Being located near Dalhousie, this hill is a favorite picnic spot. During winters this area gets covered with thick snow which presents a picturesque view.
Rock garden
Rock Garden is a beautiful garden and a popular picnic spot in Dalhousie. Apart from relaxing in this park, tourists can also enjoy the many adventure sports available in this area, which include zip lining etc.
Nearby Places to Dalhousie to Explore
Chamera Lake Dalhousie
Chamera Lake situated at a distance of 35 km from Dalhousie is an artificial lake built on the Ravi river near the Chamera Dam.
Chamera Dam built on Ravi river was constructed under hydroelectric scheme and due to this Chamera lake was also formed. The height of Chamera Lake is only 226 meters (741 feet) above sea level.
Chamera Lake, located near Dalhousie, is situated in the foothills of the Himalayas. Being situated in the valley, the natural scenery around Chamera Lake is also very beautiful.
There is also a dense forest of Bhandal valley located near the lake and dam, huge deodar trees are also planted in these dense forests of Bhandal valley. Various types of water sports facilities are available here for the tourists visiting Chamera Lake.
Water sports like canoeing, river rafting, motor boating and kayaking are very much liked by the tourists. Apart from water sports, you can also enjoy trekking and picnic in the jungle here.
The ancient Bheli temple located near Chamera Lake is also considered a great center of faith among tourists.
Mall Road Dalhousie
It is one of the most suitable places to buy handmade products of Himachal Pradesh. The handmade warm clothes and khadi wears found in Mall Road are very much liked by the tourists.
The full name of Mall Road Market in Dalhousie is Mall Road Gandhi Chowk. In fact, Dalhousie does not have a mall road like Manali and Shimla.
The Gandhi Chowk market here is also known as Mall Road. The beauty of this market is worth seeing in the evening. If you have come to visit Dalhousie with your family or friends, then in the evening you can enjoy eating street food in the Mall Road Market of Dalhousie.
You can also buy dolls made in Dalhousie here very comfortably from this market. From this market, you can get a very beautiful view of the mountain range of Pir Panjal.
Mall Road located in Dalhousie is one of the most suitable places for shopping, street food, photography and relaxing with your loved ones.
Tibetan Market Dalhousie
Mall Road Gandhi Chowk is very famous in the local markets of Dalhousie. Situated near Dalhousie’s most prominent market Mall Road Gandhi Chowk, Tibetan Market is the most suitable market for buying famous handicrafts made products and traditional clothes of Himachal.
In this market, you will find many products related to Tibetan culture and handicrafts in addition to items related to the culture of Himachal. You can also shop for a lot of home decor items in the Tibetan market located in Gandhi Chowk.
You can buy handmade carpets, warm clothes, Chamba’s famous chappals, shawls, local toys and jewelry made in the traditional way at reasonable prices. The Tibetan market is one of the best places to buy traditional items from Himachal Pradesh and Dalhousie.
St. John’s Church Dalhousie
St. John’s Church is one of the oldest churches in Dalhousie, built in colonial times. Built in the city of Dalhousie, this church is considered to be the center of religious faith for the Christian community living here. Apart from this, this church also holds historical importance in Dalhousie.
Very beautiful paintings have been done on the glass in the church. The colored painted glass was donated by Lady Elgin during the construction of the church. There is also a library in St. John’s Church, a large collection of books has been made in this library.
Along with this, you can also see a collection of very old photographs in this church.
Garam Sadak Dalhousie
The Garam sadak connecting Gandhi Chowk and Subhash Chowk, the two main markets of Dalhousie, is a favorite of local residents and tourists for strolling. This road is called Garam Sadak because it is the only place located in Dalhousie where sunlight falls directly.
Due to the direct sunlight falling on this road, the temperature of this place remains slightly warmer than other areas of Dalhousie even in winters. Trees planted around the road also provide a natural and beautiful environment to this place.
Apart from this, very beautiful paintings have also been made by the local residents on the rocks located near this road.
The natural environment here and the paintings made on the rocks doubles the fun of your walk on the hot road.
Whenever you visit Dalhousie, you can go for a walk on this road early in the morning or in the evening.
Dalhousie Community Garden
If you are visiting Dalhousie in the month of December, then this small community garden in Dalhousie can be one of the good places for nature lovers and photography lovers. The serene atmosphere here and the view of the snow-capped mountains is very beautiful.
You can include this community garden in your bucket list of Dalhousie trip.
Norwood Paramdham Dalhousie
The Norwood Paramdham, located near Bakrota Hill of Dalhousie, is also called by the name of the local residents Ram Ashram, Paramdham and Tapobhoomi. Swami Satyanand had visited this place in 1925 during his visit to Dalhousie. After coming to this place, he stayed in Dalhousie for a long time.
Swami Satyananda also wrote many religious books during his stay. After the death of Swami Satyanand in 1960, this place in Dalhousie came to be known as Paramdham. At present, Hansraj ji, a follower of Swami Satyananda, has the responsibility of arranging and taking care of Paramdham.
Even today, regular satsangs and religious programs are organized from time to time in Norwood Paramdham. Paramdham has a seating capacity of about 250 people at the time of religious programs. The distance of Norwood Paramdham from Dalhousie’s Gandhi Chowk Bazar is just 5 kms.
Beeji’s Park Dalhousie
The Beeji’s Park built in Dalhousie just a short while ago has been got done by the Indian Army. This park is built on the road from Dalhousie to Khajjiar.
Beeji’s Park is a garden entirely dedicated to the Indian Army, in this park you have paid tribute to the soldiers who died during the war.
Apart from this, models of warships, ships and military vehicles used by the Indian Army were displayed in this park. Beeji’s Park is a very good place in Dalhousie to understand the Indian Army closely.
Laxmi Narayan Mandir Dalhousie
Laxminarayan Temple, located at a distance of about 52 km from Dalhousie, is one of the oldest temples near Dalhousie dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
This ancient temple was built in the 10th century (between 920 AD and 940 AD) by Raja Sahil Varman.
The temple has a total of 06 small and big temples, out of which the idols of Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva and Brahma ji have been installed in 03 main temples.
Apart from these 03 temples, Goddess Gauri and Radha ji are also worshiped here in this temple. According to historical evidence, the idol of Garuda in this temple was built by King Balabhadra and the top of the temple was built by Raja Chhatra Singh.
According to a legend related to the construction of the temple, eight sons of King Sahil Varman were killed while searching for suitable stone for the construction of the temple.
King Sahil Varman’s eldest son Yugkara with the help of a saint had succeeded in finding suitable stone for building the temple.
A special type of marble stone has been used in the idol of Lord Vishnu installed in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.
Restaurants and Local Cuisine in Dalhousie
Dalhousie is one such tourist destination that offers you many options for food. You can enjoy exclusive North-Indian food at this place, apart from buying some fresh and Chinese snacks at local dhabas here at very low prices.
Apart from all this, you can also taste some special dishes along with a variety of dishes found in the eateries associated with the hotels and resorts here.
Himachali cuisine is very simple and simple which mainly consists of chapati, dal, gravy and curd etc.
How To Reach Dalhousie
Dalhousie is one of the most visited hill stations in India. This is a very beautiful place located in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh, which makes the visit of tourists coming here memorable. If you are planning to visit Dalhousie then here we are giving information about the ways to reach Dalhousie.
How to reach Dalhousie by Airplane
Gaggal Airport in Kangra is the nearest domestic airport to reach Dalhousie by air. This airport is 13 km away from the city and taxis are easily available from here to reach Dalhousie Hill Station. Apart from this you can also take flights to other airports Chandigarh (255 kms), Amritsar (208 kms) and Jammu (200 kms).
How to reach Dalhousie by Train
The nearest railhead to Dalhousie is Pathankot. Which is located 80 km away from this hill town and is well connected to various cities of India, such as Delhi, Mumbai and Amritsar via several trains. You will get taxis from outside to reach Dalhousie from Pathankot railway station.
How to reach Dalhousie by Road
Dalhousie is well connected by road to major nearby cities and places. State bus services and luxury coaches connect Dalhousie to all the major places and cities in the vicinity. Overnight luxury buses are also available from Delhi to Dalhousie. Taxis and private vehicles are also available on this route.
