Standing at the foot of the spectacular Dhauladhar range of the Himalayas, is the popular hill - station of Dalhousie, that covers an area of around 14 sq.km, and is sprawled over five hills - Kathlog, Portreyn, Moti Tibba (formerly known as Tehra), Bakrota and Balun. A resort that still exudes an old worldly charm, Dalhousie has retained much of the British Raj style. It has been named after the famous British Governor - General, Lord Dalhousie.

The lush cover of vegetation that adorns the town comprises of towering pines, deodars, oaks, and the beautiful rhododendron plants. Dalhousie also houses many fine specimens of colonial architecture especially, its old churches. The views that the resort has to offer are alone, worth a visit - to the north, one can gaze at the majestic mountains of the Dhauladhar range, that culminate in the Pir Panjal mountains of Kashmir, to the south, the plains of Punjab are discernible. Far below, the beautiful river Ravi can be sighted meandering its way through the plains.

What To See

Churches: The St. Andrew's Church, St. Patrick's Church at Balun, St. Francis' Church at Subhash Chowk, and St. John's Church at Gandhi Chowk, are some of the beautiful churches that Dalhousie houses.

Panchpula (3 km): An idyllic area where a charming stream feeds several pools, Panchpula (Five Bridges) is the site, where a monument dedicated to the great freedom fighter, Bhagat Singh's uncle, Sardar Ajit Singh, has been built.

Subhash Baoli: This captivating spot, surrounded by soaring trees, served as the great Subhash Chandra Bose's retreat.

Bara Pathar (4 km): The prime appeal of this spot is a fascinating little temple set in the midst of a dense forest.

Kalatope (10 km): A wildlife sanctuary, Kalatope, houses many species of animals, which include the ghoral, barking deer, and the Himalayan black bear, and a large avianfauna population. There is also a Forest Resthouse, for those who wish to spend the night in the sanctuary.

Adventure: Numerous trek - routes emerge out of the Dalhousie - Khajjiar - Chamba triangle and there are some trek - routes within it too, like, Chamba to Bharmour, Chamba to Palampur (over the Dhauladhar ranges), Chamba to Pangi, and Bharmour to Keylong via Kugti Pass.

How to Get There

By air:
The nearest airport is at Gaggal in Kangra (135 km).

By rail:
The nearest railhead is at Pathankot (80 km).

By road:
Dalhousie is 485 km from Delhi by road, and 52 km from Chamba.

Hotels to Stay

Himachal Tourism's Hotel Geetanjali is a fine economy hotel that offers a fantastic view of the area.

Address: Hotel Geetanjali, Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh - 176304. Tel: (018982) 2155

Contact

Himachal Tourism Information Centre