Dalhousie

Dalhousie – A Luscious Tourist Destination in Himachal Pradesh

In the western part of Himachal Pradesh, the beautiful hill station, Dalhousie is full of charming landscapes and holds lasting echoes of the ancient Raj era. The total area which Dalhousie covers is 14 sq. kms and is set up on five magnificent hills namely, Kathlog, Tehra, Patreyn, Balun and Bakrota. This place is named after the 19^th century British governor General, Lord Dalhousie. This town is at an elevation of 2036 meters. This alluring hill station is surrounded by a variety of vegetation such as flowering rhododendron, pines, oaks and deodars. Dalhousie has fascinating colonial architecture which includes some ancient beautiful churches. The location of Dalhousie offers bird’s-eye views of the charming plains. Like a long line of silver, the Ravi River turns and twists below Dalhousie and offers a breath taking view. The amazing snow-capped Dhauladhar mountain ranges and the valley of Chamba are also noticeable from this enthralling town. Dalhousie is an entryway to the archaic hill state Chamba which is presently Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh. This hilly terrain is a storehouse of the old culture of the Hindus, temples, art and handicrafts which are preserved under the single reign which was the longest-running since the middle of 6^th century.

During winters, the temperature of Dalhousie drops to the freezing point and heavy woolens are then needed. During summers, the temperature is moderate and only light woolens or cottons are required. The finest time for visiting Dalhousie is during the summer season and the best season for the tourist’s is during May-September. As Dalhousie is a famous tourist spot and a large number of tourists from India and abroad comes here so, it plays a significant role in the state’s economy. The major revenue comes from the tourism industry.

Major Attractions in Dalhousie

Dalhousie has a large number of tourist spots to visit. Some of them are as follows:

Panjpulla- The meaning of Panjpulla is ‘five bridges’. This is a very striking place with view of flowing water under the small five bridges. The Samadhi of Ajit Singh who was the uncle of the freedom fighter Bhagat Singh is also in Panjpulla.

 

Kalatope – This is a wild life sanctuary and a famous picnic spot. This place is only 10 kms away from Dalhousie and it offers an excellent view of the landscapes.

 

Dainkund – This place is only 10 kms away from Dalhousie. On a clear sunny day this high peak which is at an elevation of 2745 meters offers a panoramic view of the magnificent hills, lush valleys and the Chenab, Beas and Ravi rivers flowing down towards the plains.  

 

 

How to Reach

By Bus – Dalhousie is well connected by bus service to the other towns nearby. Public transport is easily accessible in Dalhousie. Overnight deluxe buses are obtainable from Delhi which is nearly 590 kms away from Dalhousie. For AC Volvo, the bus ticket is around Rs. 1,500.

By Train – The closest railway station is Pathankot which is nearly 80 kms away from Dalhousie and is well linked by railway to other cities in India such as Amritsar, Mumbai and Delhi. Taxis are available outside the railway station to get to Dalhousie.

By Air – The closest airports are Jammu and Pathankot which are about 180 kms and 80 kms respectively from Dalhousie. Regular flights are available from Delhi to Pathankot and Jammu.