Dalhousie Travel Guide
Dalhousie is a renowned and famous hill station in the state of Himachal Pradesh in India. It is the gateway to the town of Chamba Hill State in the Chamba District. This hill station is situated 1525-2378 meters above the sea level. The hill station got its name after the Viceroy Lord Dalhousie the British Governor General in India during the British rule. It was built in the year of 1854 by the British Empire.
The place is surrounded by milk white snow peaked mountains all around. It sprawls out over five hills . Dalhousie is pleasant quiet hill station surrounded by thick pine forests interspersed with oak and rhododendron with the backdrop of snow covered mountains. Noble Prize winner and the world famous poet Rabindranath Tagore wrote his first poem when he was a small boy and visited this hill station. Even Subhas Chandra Bose carried out his secret plans during The World War II .
The sunset in Dalhousie is a mesmerizing sight. Dalhousie is the Gateway to Chamba. Victorian and Scottish form of architecture is found in the churches and bungalows. The landscape of this Hill station is the main attraction to the tourists. Tourists from all around the world visit this place in huge numbers. In recent times some very good schools have been built here. The potato fields here is an another beauty of nature.
Dalhousie has 5 hills, namely, Potreyn, Bakrota, Bhangora, Terah and Kathalagh. Dalhousie is located on the western edge to the Dhauladhar Range. Beautiful bunglows and churches in the town are reminiscent of the Victorian Culture. The art and handicrafts in the region along with the Temples remind us of the ancient Hindu Culture, of the only dynasty that ruled the lands in the mid 6th Century.
How to Reach Dalhousie
- Air — The nearest airport is 75 km away at Pathankot.
- Rail — One can take a train that plies from Delhi-Pathankot or Delhi-Chakkibank. From there on you can hitch a ride to Dalhousie.
- Road — There are frequent buses from Pathankot to Dalhousie. Buses are also available from Delhi to Dalhousie.
Distance of Dalhousie from Below Places:
| Place | Distance (KM) |
|---|---|
|
Delhi |
555 |
|
Pathankot |
80 |
|
Chandigarh |
316 |
|
Amritsar |
185 |
|
Khajjiar |
23 |
Weather
Dalhousie Temperature:
- Summer (Mar to Jun) – Temperatures are mild and range between (7°C) to (27°C)
- Monsoon – (Jul to Sep) – Regular rainfall happens. This is not a good season for tourists
- Winter – (Oct to Feb) – Temperatures are low and range between (1°C) to (20°C)
- Best Time to Visit – April to May and Oct to Dec are the best season for tourism
What to See In Dalhousie
Gandhi Chowk
Gandhi Chowk is the heart of Dalhousie. It is the main market place here. A number of industrious Tibetians sell various handicrafts, woolen garments, jackets, and rugs.
Martyr’s Memorial is located at Panchpulla 2 km from Gandhi Chowk. This place commemorates Ajit singh, a supporter Of Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indian National army during World War 2.
Panchpulla Water Falls
Panchpulla water Falls is an important tourist spot. It is located about 4 km from the main town of Dalhousie. It is also called the Satdhara i.e. the seven springs which is said to contain mica and medicinal properties.
Diankund is a mountain peak located in proximity of Dalhousie. The peak lies at an altitude of 2755 and considered as one of the tallest mountains of Dalhousie. The peak offers a complete 360 degree view of the valley. One of the remarkable qualities of the peak is that the air passing through the trees at the peak resonates a musical sound, hence given the name ‘singing hill’. The peak displays some of the breathtaking views of the region. It is also one of the most visited places of Dalhousie. The site is famous for trekking due to its astonishing weather conditions. There is also an Air Force base in the vicinity of the peak.
St. Patrick’s Church
Dalhousie is one of its own kind of place due to its immense beauty and architecture. No visit to Dalhousie is complete without encountering St. Patrick’s church. The church is located just 2 km from Dalhousie and has been in the place for more than 100 years.
St. Patrick’s church was built during British colonial times and displays huge religious and architectural value. It is also the largest church in Dalhousie. The church has a seating capacity of 300 people. The church is highly famous in the region because of its significance and grandeur appeal, which makes it one of the highly sought out attraction of Dalhousie.
It is the oldest church of Dalhousie. The church is located 2kms from the Gandhi Chowk of Dalhousie. The idea of building the church was derived by John Pratt. He came to Dalhousie and decided to build the structure commemorating the Christianity in the region. The church is as old as the town of Dalhousie.
Since, Reverend John Pratt idealize of building the church, the name was given after him. It is also the first structure to be built in Dalhousie. Though the church may be small in size, it holds a huge value owing to its history and value. It is an exact replica of England’s Roman Catholic Church.
Subhash Baoli
The place is a scenic spot located at a distance of 1km from Dalhousie. The name of the spot was derived from the famous Indian freedom fighter Subhash Chandra Bose as he spent lot of time during the revolution against the British rule at the very same spot.
What makes this place more famous is the view from the peak. One can clearly see the snow covered mountains to the far horizon. It is one of the most serene and quiet looking spots to spend out quality time with friends and families. There is also a cave within the area. The water of the cave is known to have cured Subhash Chandra Bose, when he was suffering from ailment. It is definitely one of the worthy site to visit if happen to be in Dalhousie.
Moti Tibba
Dalhousie is known for its beautiful hills and Moti Tibba is one of those awe inspiring locations, which is situated at 330 meters above the Gandhi Chowk. The site is famous among tourists, who prefer to stroll down the road in a serene and calm environment. The hill top is surrounded by heavy forests including many variety of trees such as deodar, fir, pine etc. Due to forest, visitors can even get a sight of baboons and macaques.
It is an ideal place for nature lovers and photographers. With calmness in the region, visitors choose to visit this place more often. The best times to visit are during winter months, as snow spread across the land completely makes the place as a true paradise.
Other Details
What to Do
- Napoli—A short Walk from Gandhi Chowk.
- Café Dalhousie— Hotel Dalhousie.
Where to Eat
- Chocolate log—A decade old landmark, it is a cake shop that also serves as a café. It is 20 minutes’ walk from Mc Leoad ganj’s Central Square.
- Green Restaurat—Renowned, happening and trendy, good westernpies and Tibetian Dishes are a speciality here. 10 min walk from Mc Leod Ganj.
- Treat Restaurant—Chinese and South- Indian with the comfort of an AC. Extras Indira Market.
What to Buy
The Tibetan Market is run by the Tibetans and has all kind of knick-knacks, toys and electronics. The most popular places to shop would be Tibetan Market, Tibetan Handicraft Centre and the GPO.
Get Around
The three levels of the mall is the ideal place to have the greatest activities on the Mall. The roads are not big enough as on this date to handle any heavy traffic and hence motorcycles and cars are preferred. Walking around Dalhousie is a great option. But to see some other destinations opt for taxis.
Popular Tour Plans - Himachal Pradesh
1-3 Days
1. Shimla (2N/3D)
2. Manali (3N/4D)
4-6 Days
1. Shimla-Kulu-Manali (6N/7D)
7-10 Days
1. Shimla-Kulu-Manali-Dharamsala-Dalhousie (10N/11D)
2. Kinnar (Shimla-Sarahan-Sangla-Chitkul-Kalpa-Shimla) (8N/9D)