Introduction

Dalhousie is 22 kilometers (13.67 miles) from Khajjiar. It is regarded that the idea to create the town of Dalhousie was that of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Napier, the Chief Engineer of the Punjab. Napier (later Lord Napier of Magdala), went on to become the Commander in Chief of the Indian Army. In 1851, a selection was made of a spot on the Dhyankund ridge for the new town. A reduction was made in the tribute paid by Chamba – as the land belonged to that state. The final sanction of the Government of India was accorded in February 1854. At the recommendation of Donald McLeod, the sanitarium was named Dalhousie in honour of the Governor-General, Lord Dalhousie.

With its ' old world charm ' and lingering echoes of the Raj, today’s Dalhousie covers an area of about seventeen square kilometres. There are several good walks, excellent views in all directions and a substantial measure of ‘unspoilt charm’. Apart from the overall ambience, Dalhousie has several places of interest. There are four churches in Dalhousie and its suburbs. These are - St. Andrew's Church and St. Oswald’s Church at Bakloh and Balun; St. Francis' Church, at Subash Chowk and St. John's Church, at Gandhi Chowk. Panchpula has an obelisk built in memory of the freedom fighter Sardar Ajit Singh. Fed by a stream, a series of water pools with small waterfalls surround the memorial. Subash Baoli is where the noted freedom fighter Netaji Subash Chandra Bose spent a large portion of 1937, walking and contemplating near this spot which is surrounded by deodar woods. A variety of carpets with traditional Tibetan designs are woven at the Tibetan Handicrafts Center. Bara Pathar has small open temple dedicated to Bhulwani Mata while the Laxmi Narayan Temple is dedicated to Bhagwan Vishnu. The town is fringed by the Kalatop Sanctuary which has a variety of wildlife and is covered with thick woods – primarily of Himalayan cedar, deodar; Khajjiar is a part of this sanctuary.

Special Attributes

Old and famous 'hill station'.

Nuisance

The site is very peaceful and free of irritants.

Dressing restrictions

Conservative but comfortable

Connectivity

Taxis and buses

Enjoyed by

Walkers, history, nature lovers and general interest

Exposure

Some level of UV and rain in the monsoons and rain/snow in winter

Avoidable Season

Open through the year

Facilities

Restaurants, hotels and parking

Things Not Allowed

No such restriction

Tip

Plan this as a day-trip

Type of site

Small hill town