Tourist Places To Visit In Dalhousie

Situated in the Chamba district, on the North-Western edge of Himachal Pradesh, bordering Jammu And Kashmir on one side, Dalhousie has extreme weather, reaching as high as 39 degrees in Summers and as low as – 1 degree in winters. But located in the heart of the great Himalayas, this hill station has a lot to offer to travellers. From Tibetan temples to gompas, valleys and passes to lakes. You can visit the Chamera Lake and Daikund Peak, shop at Tibetan Market, enjoy some downtime at Panchpula, and trek in the hills of Jot Pass. For more, here are the tourist places to visit in Dalhousie.

Part of the Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary, Khajjiar is a small hill station at the foothills of the Dhauladhar Ranges (about 6,500 ft. above sea level). Besides being a great retreat for nature and peace lovers, Khajjiar also offers many trekking options. Or maybe you’ll simply enjoy sitting by a crackling fire by the Khajjiar lake. When in Dalhousie, take some time to visit here. Even if you are not into adventure, the peace and tranquillity of this region is enough to make the trip worth it.

Created by the Chamera Dam, this lake is the perfect picnic spot for tourists in Dalhousie. Enjoy the scenic beauty of the Chamba district, watch the flow of the river Ravi and indulge in some exciting water sports on the lake. Surely one of the more promising places to visit in Dalhousie, Chamera Lake is your classic chilling spot. Travellers and backpackers are found in hordes here, as are photographers.

Yet another trekking and picnic destination, the Daikund peak is located at an altitude of 2,755 meters and is the highest peak in Dalhousie, receiving ample snowfall during the winters. Enjoy the view of the villages and the tall deodar trees that mark the route till here. From the top, you get a panorama of the great Himalayan valleys, enjoy the misty sky, and breathe in crisp oxygenated air. Winters are just breathtaking up here, all white and glowing.

An undoubted favorite for trekkers and nature lovers, Ganji Pahari opens it arms all through the year for all. Take this 1 hour walk from Dalhousie (just 5 kilometers) to reach the Ganji Pahari. The name literally translates to ‘bald hill’ as there are no trees on top of Ganji Pahari. A cloudy winter day is perfect to walk up. Carry a bag full of picnic food and sit down to munch with your family and friends on top.

Constructed in the 18^th Century during the reign of Raja Umed Singh, the Rang Mahal was designed to serve as the private chambers of the royal women. What’s unique about the architecture here is the way Mughal and British styles come together. Head to Surara Mohalla in Dalhousie to catch up with history and some ethnic shopping from the handicraft shops here.

Just 6 kilometers from Dalhousie, lies 5,000 acres of the Kalatop Wildlife Reserve, by the banks of River Ravi (often even flooded by it). This sanctuary is a reserve of the indigenous Himachal flora and fauna. The place is a perfect haunch for bird watchers, trekkers and nature lovers. 

It’s easy to catch the breathtaking glimpse of the Pir Panjal Ranges from the Mall road of Dalhousie. But it’s quite another thing to walk 14,500 ft. above sea level, amidst glacier washed mountain debris, past snow clad peaks. This is a great option for adventure lovers and explorers. Sach Pass definitely is one of the best places to visit in Dalhousie.

A 2 hour drive away from Dalhousie, lies the ancient town of Chamba steeped in art, culture and history. Named after the daughter (Champavati) of Raja Sahil Varma who shifted his capital here in 920 AD, you’ll be stunned by the sudden stupas at the side of the gullies and the unique pahari art tradition of the area. Lord Shiva is revered here and many a backpackers are found roaming around this town.

Built in the 10^th Century, this wooden architectural miracle, dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu, has really witnessed a lot over the ages; including an invasion by Aurungzeb. The temple is built in the Shikhara style of architecture with pointed roofs (Shikhara), mandapam and an inner sanctum. Head here for a different kind of mountain experience.

Dalhousie, with its Victorian vibes and a colonial hangover, is home to some beautiful churches. The St. Patrick’s Church is a grand mix of nature and man’s creativity. Located 2 km away from the town of Dalhousie, this church is as old as a hundred and four years. It is used to pray even today, as well as a tourist attraction for its splendid location in the lap of the Himachali Himalayas. Photographers find this place a coveted sight to capture some postcard-worthy snaps.

Jot Pass falls on the road from Chamba to Dalhousie, 32 km from Dalhousie. It is the classic Himachal pass, with its hiking routes and tight driving turns. The hairpin bends, the green surroundings, the steep mountains — all add to the adventure. You can take your car for a spin to this pass, or sign up for a trek (which is moderate in nature). And because Jot Pass is not very famous in the tourist circuit, you can be rest assured you will find tranquility and peace in hordes. Summers fill the valley below in a carpet of flowers, hence is the best season to visit.

Dalhousie’s Satdhara Falls are perched 2035 m above sea leave, making them coveted among tourists. The climate is beautiful almost all year round, mist hanging in early morning hours and sun shining bright at others. This waterfall is believed to have medicinal and healing properties as it is supposed to be a blend of seven mountain streams. You will find great photograph-worthy sceneries here as well as picnic points. These waterfalls fall on the Panchpula road.

Panchpula is 3 km away from the town of Dalhousie, with a central stream by the same name that flows through it and distributes water to various areas of Dalhousie. The scenery around this stream is what attracts tourists from all around the region. You can carry a picnic basket and blanket, pick a corner, and just enjoy some finger foods and shakes while devouring the beauty around. Nearby, you can also visit the samadhi of one very great revolutionary of the area — Sardar Ajit Singh.

Bara pather is home to great rocks worth sightseeing, as well as Bhulwani Mata Temple. This attraction falls on your way to Kalatop Sanctuary, so you can easily stop for a little while. What’s more is, there is a beautiful potato farm here, quite nearby, and you can get to enjoy some time there. Bara Pather is only 60 m from the Dalhousie Waterworks, so a short car ride is all it takes to reach here. The temple is open from 7 in the morning to 7 in the evening.

You must have heard about the Rock Garden in Chandigarh, but have you heard about Dalhousie’s own little natural Rock Garden? It is partly nature’s creation, born out of the diversion of hilly streams. So there are water rivulets running between rocks, trees and lush meadows. When tired of all the travelling and sightseeing, you can just come here and take a breather. Nature photographers find this place very appealing, as do nature enthusiasts. And a bonus on top of these are the Maggi shacks where you can buy bowls of piping hot noodles to go with your wonderful scenery.

As the name suggests, this is the place where you get authentic Tibetan handicrafts, jewellery and handmade wares. The Tibetan Market is your go-to in Gandhi Chowk to support the Tibetan craftsmen and women who are refugees in the area. You get some of the most beautiful indigenous woollen sweaters, carved accessories, carpets, vases and much more. Do also pick out some shawls and Chamba slippers as gifts for your loved ones!

Dalhousie’s Mall Road is another shopping paradise for everything from cute dolls to shawls (Pashmina as well as local), from clothes to pahari accessories, silver jewellery to street style fashion stores. Because this road is so famous, there are numerous hotels, cafes, restaurants, clubs and bars to add to your shopping and entertainment experience. Even if you are in for window shopping, you won’t be able to resist the trinkets and little quaint gifts in the souvenir shops. As for the eating -- do not miss the small hole-in-the-wall coffee houses where the colonial era still hangs in the air over steaming mugs of lattes and eclairs and puffs and rolls.