Dalhousie Travel Guide: Churches, Khajjiar and Planning Your Stay

Dalhousie is built over five hills, among pine, deodar, oak and rhododendron, with the River Ravi winding below and the snow peaks of the Dhauladhar range along the horizon. Himachal Tourism says its colonial architecture includes some beautiful churches, and the Chamba district site adds that Tibetan culture has left a mark: roadside rocks are carved in low relief and painted in the Tibetan style. Most sights are in or close to the town; Khajjiar and Chamba are day trips.

Mall Road

Himachal Tourism calls Mall Road the nerve centre of the town, its shopping and socialising hub. Along it you can buy souvenirs, craftwork, woollen Himachali shawls, Chamba rumals, traditional jewellery and Tibetan handicrafts, and the board suggests that walking is the best way to get around the town's scenic spots.

The churches: St John's, St Francis and St Patrick's

St John's, built in 1863, is the oldest church in Dalhousie. It is Protestant, with a chapel with paintings of St Peter and St John and a library of books about the town, and stands a short walk from Gandhi Chowk. St Francis, a Catholic church built in 1894 with public contributions, has good stonework and a facade of coloured Belgian glass, and is within walking distance of Subhash Chowk. St Patrick's, on Military Hospital Road, is the largest, built in dressed stone in 1909.

Subhash Baoli

A comfortable walk from the town's main post office leads to Subhash Baoli, a freshwater spring with views of snow-capped mountains on the way. It is named after Subhash Chandra Bose, who stayed in Dalhousie for many months in 1937. Himachal Tourism says he was cured of an illness by the spring's medicinal water at the guest house where he stayed, which now serves as a retreat.

Panjpula and Satdhara Falls

Panjpula is 6 km from Dalhousie, where mountain streams meet under five bridges, which gives the place its name. It is a picnic spot, and a memorial to the revolutionary Sardar Ajit Singh, who lived in the town, stands there. On the way are the Satdhara Falls, formed where seven spring streams meet, and best in July and August when the water is at full strength. Himachal Tourism says the waters of both places are believed to have medicinal properties.

Bakrota Hills and Bara Pathar

A 5 km walk uphill leads to Bakrota Hill through thick deodar, pine and oak forest, which is wrapped in morning mist if you set out early. The top gives wide views of the town and the neighbouring hills, and in winter, when the hills are under snow, Himachal Tourism calls the view from Bakrota spectacular. The Bhulwani Mata temple at Bara Pathar, on the way to Kalatop and only 4 km from the town, holds a fair every July that draws local people and visitors.

Khajjiar

Khajjiar is a small saucer-shaped plateau of meadow ringed by deodar and pine forest, about 24 km from Dalhousie and at 6,500 feet above sea level. The Chamba district site says it is one of 160 places in the world designated "Mini Switzerland", and that the Swiss Ambassador officially named it on 7 July 1992. A yellow Swiss sign at the entrance reads "Mini Switzerland". The Khajji Naga shrine to the serpent god, which the same site dates to the 10th century and from which the place's name is thought to come, has carved wooden ceilings and a dome-shaped shrine of local slate.

Kalatop-Khajjiar Wildlife Sanctuary

Himachal Tourism describes the Kalatop-Khajjiar Sanctuary as 17.17 sq km of blue pine, deodar, oak and rhododendron, with trekking trails at both Kalatop and Khajjiar. The animals and birds sighted include leopard, black bear, barking deer, goral, serow and the cheer and khaleej pheasants. The board's page does not publish entry arrangements, so ask at the local tourist information centre or forest office before you set out.

Chamba

Chamba, the old capital town beyond Dalhousie, was founded by Raja Sahil Varman in 920 AD, according to Himachal Tourism. It is known for the stone Lakshmi Narayan temple complex of six temples, the Chamunda Devi temple overlooking the town, the Chaugan, a grassy open ground that hosts the Minjar fair in July or August, and the Bhuri Singh Museum, which holds miniature paintings, coins, jewellery and weapons. The Bhalei Mata temple, built by Raja Pratap Singh Varman in the 16th century, is 35 km from Dalhousie, and the Navratri festivals bring pilgrims there.