No noise pollution, no vehicle pollution, no traffic jams... welcome to the little-known hill station of Himachal Pradesh, which is off-limits to motor vehicles! This is Dalhousie, an enthralling hill resort sprawling across five hills in 13 sq kms area.

What soothes one’s eyes on reaching Dalhousie is extensive evergreen slopes sprinkled with exotic wild flowers. The slopes are separated by numerous narrow, winding water channels, often resulting in shimmering streams.

Surrounded amidst gentle Dhauladhar range, Dalhousie promises a short and pleasant holiday. Named after Lord Dalhousie, the then Viceroy of India, this alluring town is noted for its ice cold breeze, snow clad peaks, breath taking views and lush terraces. This enchanting location is at an altitude of 2,036 metres amidst thickly wooded hills, dotted in Deodar and Pine.

The atmosphere is calm here. The most fascinating part of Dalhousie is its engrossing picnic spots. Panjpula is spellbinding. Panjpula denotes ‘five bridges’. At this location there are sparkling waterfalls with rippling sounds. Above these waterfalls are five bridges sprawling across two km area. The Samadhi of Ajit Singh, the uncle of revolutionist Bhagat Singh is located here.

There is more in Dalhousie. Even when travelling by road the magic of hills engulfs you. A common sight beside the roads is that of birds and wild animals, making a pretty picture for your camera. Around ten km from Dalhousie is Dankund.

Located at an altitude of 2,745 metres, Dankund is a attractive spot with incredible views and high mountain peaks. Walking around one is greeted by rosy cheeked Paharis, men and women clad in their traditional costumes. A splendid view of Beas, Ravi and Chenab rivers from here touches one’s heart.

On the other side of Dalhousie is Kalatope around eight and half km from the town. Kalatope is a pretty spot with green meadows, fields and dense forest trails. This place offers spectacular view of tall mountain peaks, perpetually blanketed with snow. Nearby, locals wait with their ponies, offering joy rides to children and adults.

An hour drive will take one to Khajiyar, a charming excursion near Dalhousie. Khajiyar is famous for a beautiful grassland spread across one and half km at 1,890 metres of height.

Khajiyar has a charming lake. On one side of Khajiyar lake is a marvellous temple - offering a pretty sight for those boating on the lake water, as well as others who may venture to visit the temple. This pleasant place attracts thousands of tourists with its golf course also. Khajiyar is surrounded by calm valleys of River Ravi. Obviously these valleys are rich in scenic beauty and cultivation.

While going to Dalhousie, Chamba is worth visiting. Chamba impresses with its dazzling locales at a distance of 56 km from Dalhousie. Chamba is surrounded by Dhauladhar, Peerpanjal and Laskar ranges from three sides.

The unique attraction of this area is River Ravi known as Iravathi in ancient times. Here the ancient temples of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva belonging to eighth and tenth century are known for their architectural and historical splendour as they are for their sacredness.

From March to October we expect good weather in Dalhousie. Even if the light is gloomy, this picturesque hill station offers delicate moods that inspires one to continue capturing the images.

FACT FILE

*How to get there: The nearest railhead is at Pathankot (80 km) and the nearest Airport is at Kangra (135 km).
Delhi to Dalhousie - 563 km.

Chandigarh to Dalhousie - 352 km.

Khajiyar to Dalhousie - 22 km.