Himachal Pradesh Dalhousie

When the British annexed Punjab in 1849 their Chief Engineer, Lt. Col. Napier was inspired by the surrounding natural beauty and aptly chose the land at the foot of the Dhauladhar range as a place to carve a town out of a hillside. Thirteen square miles were marked out and rented from the Raja of Chamba in 1853.

Sir David McLeod (of McLeodganj fame) named the hill station after Lord Dalhousie, then Viceroy General of India. There was soon a sanitarium that Lord Dalhousie and many of the British visited regularly to rejuvenate them selves. In the 1920's, it was a favorite holiday spot, especially with the elite Punjabi community who traveled up from Lahore.

It was a cheaper and arguably more attractive alternative to Shimla. After the partition of India most of the local Muslim population migrated to Pakistan and it also lost the patronage of the British. Dalhousie suffered an economic slump for many years. In 1954, at Dalhousie's centennial celebrations, Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru tried to encourage tourism with "Let us go to the Himalayas".

He also chose Dalhousie as a place of refuge for several thousand Tibetans after China invaded Tibet in 1959. Now a part of the state of Himachal Pradesh, Dalhousie has recently been re-discovered by travelers and tourists (who can no longer visit unsafe Kashmir). It is also a current favorite with the Hindi film industry - watch 1942-A Love Story.

Most important places to Visit in Dalhousie.

Which all places I can visit along with Dalhousie ?

Tour Itineraries along with Dalhousie

Best time to visit Dalhousie .

How to reach Dalhousie ?

Most important places to Visit in Dalhousie.

KHAJJIAR

Khajjiar Tour Packages Himachal Pradesh India

Khajjiar is a favorite picnic spot for tourists located 24 km from Dalhousie. Flanked by forests, the tiny lake in the middle of the meadow is enclosed by wooden cottages or forest cabins. One could take a horse ride around for Rs 50. Buses and taxis are available at any time of the day. You could spend a night there, too. The Mini Swiss Hotel offers decent accommodation.

SUBHASH BAOLI

At a distance of 1 km is SubhashBaoli, an enchanting spot surrounded by majestic trees. Subhash Chandra Bose spent a lot of time in 1937, contemplating and meditating at this place, giving it the name of SubhashBaoli.

PANCHPULA

Panchpula Travels Himachal Pradesh India

Panchpula, a beautiful spot, is barely 3 kms. from G.P.O. On the way to Panchpula is Satdhara springs gurgling with refreshing water, believed to contain some medicinal properties.Panchpula stream is the main source of water supply to Dalhousie and Bahloon. The stream springs from the north side of DayanKund and runs down a picturesque ravine to the waterworks of Panchpula. There is an elegant monument erected at Panchpula where several streams meet at one point. This monument, a samadhi was built in memory of great revolutionary SardarAjit Singh who breathed his last in Panchpula. There is Tourism restaurant and several chai shops in Panchpula that offer hot and cold beverages and snacks.

KALATOP WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Kalatop wildlife sanctuary Travel Himachal Pradesh India

About 10 km from Dalhousie is this wildlife sanctuary, which is a home to the 'ghoral' and Himalayan black bear

CHURCHES

St Francis Church Dalhousie Travel Packages Himachal Pradesh India

The churches of Dalhousie are worth visiting. There are four beautiful churches in Dalhousie, which are a beauty in themselve. These are St. Andrew's Church and St. Patrick's Church at Balun, St. Francis Church at SubhashChowk and St. John's Church at Gandhi Chowk.

LAXMI NARAYAN TEMPLE

This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and was built more than 150 years ago. The temple enshrines a beautiful image of Lord Vishnu. The temple is frequented by local devotees. The temple is located in Sadar Bazar approximately 200 mtrs. fromSubhashChowk.

Which all places I can visit along with Dalhousie ?

Tour Itineraries along with Dalhousie

Chandigarh - Shimla - Manali - Palampur - Dharamshala - Khajjiar - Dalhousie - Chandigarh

Delhi - Shimla - Manali - Kullu – McLeod Ganj - Dalhousie - Delhi

Delhi - Shimla - Manali- Kullu - Dharamshala - Dalhousie - Delhi

Delhi - Shimla - Manali - Dharamshala - Dalhousie – Chandigarh – Delhi

Pathankot - Dharamshala - Dalhousie - Khajjar - Chamba – Dalhousie

Best time to visit Dalhousie .

Due to its moderate climate &temperatures, Dalhousie could be visited round the year but the best months are between October and November and then from March to May. December and January is a good time to visit the place to witness snowfall.

How to reach Dalhousie ?

How to reach Dalhousie by Air

The nearest airports are at Gaggal near Dharamsala, Amritsar and Jammu, all of which are within a circuit of 130 km to 190 km. Tourist taxis and buses are available from the respective three destinations for transfer to Dalhousie.

How to reach Dalhousie by Rail

Catch the Jhelum Express, Jammu-Delhi Express or Himachal Express to Pathankot. Railway station: Pathankot, 80 km away, is the nearest railhead for Dalhousie. From here, it is a two-hour uphill drive by taxi, car or bus.

How to reach Dalhousie by Bus

Himachal Pradesh Tourism runs deluxe buses from Shimla and Dharamsala to Dalhousie. Fares range between Rs 150 and Rs 500. Road routes are good via Ambala or Patiala to Pathankot. Even though the roads are not very broad, the drive upto Dalhousie is quite comfortable. Bus terminus: The bus stand is a 10-minute walk down the road from SubhashChowk, near the Tourist Information Office.