Dalhousie is a small hill station in the Chamba District in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is a peaceful hill town with almost no night life. This town is well suited for those who wish to steal couple of days away from their hectic lifestyle. The serene and natural atmosphere of Dalhousie can revitalize and rejuvenate even the most tired of all souls. This hill town exudes a different kind of old world charm and it seems that has not really caught up with the fast paced metropolitan cities yet. This old world charm is what attracts thousands of tourists every year to this town.
This town is named after Lord Dalhousie who founded this town in the year 1854. This was a summer retreat for British officials in India. Most buildings and bungalows are built in English style in Dalhousie.
Weather:
Summer: Early mornings and late evenings are quite chilly and one must carry appropriate woolen clothes. However, the day hours are pretty warm.
Winter: The winters are extremely chilly and the temperature tends to drop below freezing point.
Rainy season: The whether can get very cold during the rainy season.
Places to See:
1. Khajjar: A beautiful valley with a refreshing spring in the center. This place is famously known as the Switzerland of India for the hayfield look. Though this place is extremely breathtaking, however, this place gets quite cluttered in the months of June and July.
2. Dainkund Walk: This is a pretty little walking path that leads to a temple. It is situated close to the Air Force base.
3. Upper Bakrota: This is the highest location in the hill town. This area houses many estates, a school and an Army barracks. A road circling this area called the Bakrota Walk leads to the Alah Water Tank.
4. Kala Rope Rest House: This is a pretty picnic spot. It is situated at the toll barrier enroute Khajjiar.
5. Ganji Pahadi Walk: If you are in a mood to hike then Ganji Pahadi Walk is just right for you. It is a hill summit with no trees. The hike takes about an hour to reach the Ganji Pahadi Walk.
6 Church: This is a famous local church situated opposite to the post office in GPO.
7. Kalatop wild life reserve: This wildlife reserve is situated at the extreme north west Daula Dhar between Dalhousie and Chamba.
Things to do while in Dalhousie:
1. For treks you can go to Panchpula. A nice place with waterfalls, trekking paths, places to rest and relax. You can go there by taking a cab but a hike will help you come closer to nature’s beauty.
2. You can visit the Tibetan market to shop for cheap clothes, accessories and knick-knacks.
3. If you are in Dalhousie than you have to go for long walks. They are just so calming but do not forget to carry an umbrella in case it is cloudy.
4. If you are here with your family then go for a fun filled picnic and if you are here with your better half then romantic picnic is perfect for you.
5. If possible then ask your guesthouse or hotel to organize a barbeque for you.
6. The sky is exceedingly clear in Dalhousie, hence, star gazing can be enjoyed to the fullest here.
Whenever you go to a hill station make sure you talk to couple of locals for lesser known hiking spots, view points and beautiful places in Dalhousie.
