5 Beautiful Attractions To Visit In Dalhousie

Named after the famous British governor Lord Dalhousie, the charming hill town of Dalhousie nestled in the lap of Dhauladhar ranges of Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh, is a perfect blend of colonial flavour and enchanting scenic beauty. The sprawling bungalows, charming cottages and exquisite churches here, set against the backdrop of snowy Himalayan peaks exude an old world charm that reminds everyone of beautiful villages, located somewhere in the European countryside. Since this hill town’s inception in 1850 till today, it has attracted lacs of tourists including some great national leaders such as Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Sardar Ajith Singh.

The tranquil charm of this quaint hill resort, spread over five hills – Bakrota, Tehra, Kathlog, Potreyn and Balun, entices every visitor and greets them with a welcome break, away from the maddening crowds of metropolitan cities. Whether you are a nature lover, an adventure buff, an avid trekker or a wildlife enthusiast, this calm and soothing place is sure to leave you captivated for your lifetime. If you are planning a visit to this scenic resort and looking for a Dalhousie travel guide that can help you plan your trip, here are some best things to do and see, just for you.

* Panch Pulla

Located at a distance of 2–3Km. from the city centre of Dalhousie, ‘Panch Pulla’ is one of the top tourist attractions in the city and is a favourite weekend haunt for picnickers, nature lovers and trekkers. Literally meaning ‘Five Bridges’, the place is one of the most scenic sites in the region owing to its treasure of torrential waterfalls, gushing streams and panoramic views of hills and forests that surround the area. A dip in the plunge pools formed below the falls provide a deep refreshing and rejuvenating sensation to tourists who specially travel to Dalhousie to beat the heat that prevail in the plains of Northern parts of India during peak summer months. For those who love trekking, can venture on a moderate hike in the areas nearby, soaking their souls in captivating vistas of nature all around. A trip to ‘Panch Pulla’ is incomplete without visiting the Samadhi of great freedom fighter, Sardar Ajith Singh, who is known to have breathed his last on the day of India’s independence, 15th August, 1947. Built at the very confluence of five streams of ‘Panch Pulla’ and shrouded by forests of pine and deodars, a visit to this memorial not only gives you an opportunity to pay your homage to this great revolutionary but, also provides you a chance to revel in the beauty of some of the best scenic vistas of the place. A paradise for nature lovers, ‘Panch Pulla’ is best to be visited during monsoons when waterfalls and streams are flowing with their full force, providing a great spectacle to eyes and off-course, a great soothing feeling to your souls.

* Satdhara Falls

On the route to ‘Panch Pulla’, lies another beautiful tourist attraction in Dalhousie, the ‘Satdhara Falls’. This scenic place derives its name from the seven gorgeous water springs that cascade from a height of 2036 metres, making their way through imposing hills and cliffs of splendidly charming Chamba valley. The springs are known to have great therapeutic values owing to the presence of ‘Mica’, commonly known as ‘Gandhak’ in its waters. Tourists travelling to ‘Panch Pulla’ definitely make it a point to stop by at these stunning waterfalls to take a dip in its refreshing waters and off-course to enjoy the serene beauty of nature that abounds at this place. If you love photography, I am sure this gorgeously scenic place will treat you with some amazing camera shots.

* Chamera Lake

Yet another best place to visit during your holidays in Dalhousie is the picturesque and serene ‘Chamera Lake’, located at a distance of about 25 km. from Dalhousie. Nestled amidst dense pine and deodar forests, the lake is actually a reservoir formed by the ‘Chamera Dam’ that is perched at an elevation of 1700 metres above sea level. Blessed with immense scenic beauty and tranquillity, needless to say, the place is one of the most loved and visited tourist spots in the city. Whether you are a nature lover, a honeymooner, an adventure buff or just a casual holiday seeker, a trip to this enchanting place is sure to leave you with loads of cherishable memories of your wonderful trip to Dalhousie. With plethora of fun and adventure activities to enjoy, I am sure, you can easily spend here a memorable and refreshing day with your friends and families; go for a relaxing boat ride with your soulmate enjoying the scenic vistas of the place, try your hands at some fishing & angling, have some fun navigating through strong currents of Ravi River during the adventurous river rafting experience and if you don’t want to do anything and just relax, grab yourselves a ‘bhuna bhutta’ and sit on the shore of the lake, soaking your souls in the serenity of the place.

* Khajjiar

Snuggled in the lap of snow-capped Himalayan ranges and surrounded with lush green forests of tall pines and deodars, ‘Khajjiar’ is a beautiful saucer shaped meadow, often nicknamed as ‘Mini Switzerland of India’, located just a short distance from Dalhousie. The splendid scenic beauty of this place, replete with plush greenery, snowy peaks, pleasant weather and a beautiful lake right in its heart, bestows it with an unmatched hypnotic charm that often intrigues tourists to make a stopover here for a day before continuing their journey to other more popular hill resorts in the vicinity. While scenic beauty of this place is its major attraction that lures tourists, especially nature lovers from the areas nearby, the endless choices of fun activities such as zorbing, paragliding, horse-riding and hiking, also makes it a perfect destination for adventure lovers and trekkers. For those with a penchant for some luxury sports, Khajjiar has a beautiful nine-hole golf-course set amidst lush greenery and breath-taking landscape; try your hands at some golfing fun here and I am sure, you will be left awe-struck with the splendid experience. If you are on a honeymoon vacation in Dalhousie, nothing can beat the romantic charisma of ‘Khajjiar’ that is sure to leave your hearts and souls captivated for lifetime; book yourselves a cosy little cottage and spend a lovely night amidst serene and tranquil settings, away from the maddening crowds. In the morning, head to the ‘Khajji Nag Temple’ located just nearby and pray for a blissful start to your new lives.

* Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary

Spread over an area of almost 20 square kilometres, ‘Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary’ is located at a distance of approximately 12 km. enroute to ‘Khajjiar’ from ‘Dalhousie’ and is definitely a ‘must visit place’ during your trip to this beautiful Himachal hill resort. Nestled under the shadow of the stunning snow-clad peaks and fringed with dense oak, blue pine, deodar and coniferous trees, the beautiful sanctuary always seems to exude a heavenly aura; small crystal clear streams running through different sections of the sanctuary further add to its picturesque beauty. Being a wildlife sanctuary, you can expect here to see a variety of alpine flora and fauna. The wild residents of the sanctuary include but, are not limited to leopards, jackals, langurs, barking gorals, deer, bears and Himalayan black martens. Besides wild beasts, the sanctuary is also a home to countless colourful birds that fill the air with their musical chirpings. While wildlife spotting, jungle safaris and nature photography is what attracts most of the tourists here, the serene ambience, scenic beauty and lush terrain of the place also makes it a favourite spot to enjoy day picnics, nature strolls and trekking. If you love combining a trekking expedition with a spiritual experience, do visit the ‘Bara Pathar Temple’ that lies midway, hidden amidst dense forests, on the trekking trail to Kalatop. Dedicated to local Goddess, Bhulwani Mata, the temple holds a great religious significance for locals, blessing them with health, happiness and prosperity. A grand fair is also organized here annually during the month of July and needless to say, it’s a great draw for pilgrims and tourists alike from the nearby hill towns.