Dalhousie a paradise on earth
(S.S.DOGRA)
Recently, I have visited the most beautiful part of Himachal Pradesh i.e. Chamba District. Chamba valley is known for its scenic attractions, sparkling streams, lakes, meadows and luch deodar forests. Crowned with high mountain ranges, Its has rich in wildlife and animals like the elusive snow leopard, ibex, brown bear, and musk deer. Dalhousie is also very famous hill station of Chamba district.
It spread out over five hills like Kathlog, Potreys, Tehra, Bakrota & Balun. Its named after the 19th century British Governor General Lord Dalhousie. The town’s varying altitude Shades it with a variety of vegetation that includes stately grooves of pines, deodars, oaks and flowering rhododendrons. According to Father Pervez Egbert (Who is presently look after the church) St.John’s Church at Gandhi Chowk is the oldest church in Dalhousie established in 1863. Gandhi Chowk & Subhash Chowk are destination for the local transportation. Karenalu is the major & natural water source for entire Dalhousie & surrounding areas. Tourist Information Officer Mr. Surjeet Singh Thakur (who is with Himachal Tourism for the last 22 years) presently located at Dalhousie office says that May & June are best month but tourist come regularly and in December Tourist love to see the snowfall in the valley. Hotel Mani Mahesh & Geetanjli Hotel are quite famous in the town. Mr. Anil Mehta-Secretary of Dalhousie Club says that tourist love to visit this hill station throughout the year.
Dalhousie Public School, Sacred heart School, Guru Nanak public School & Hill Top School are quite famous schools of Dalhousie where local and other states children study.
The following are the major attractive spots of Dalhousie for the tourists:
Panjpulla-It is nearly 2 KM away from the town where a statue of freedom fighter/social activist Sardar Ajit Singh (Real uncle of Shaheed Bhagat Singh) is located. And a water fall & boating are the major attraction for the tourist.
Kalatop-It is 2440 meter above the sea level & around 8 KM away from the town and even has a good opportunity for the trekker to walk through the dense forest to reach Kalatope. According to Mr.Man Singh (who is caretaker of the Tourist Rest House at Kalatope) we have a provision for the stay here but it needs special permission from Chamba office to avail the facility. I also enjoyed the trek to Kalatope along with A grade officers of Education Department of Haryana Government.
Rock Garden-Himachal Tourism tried to develop a picnic spot here but presently its not properly maintained and the spot is being used as vehicle parking.
Khajjiar-It is really the most beautiful place of entire Himachal Pradesh. Its known as Mini Switzerland. It is 1960 meter above the sea level and only 22 KM away from Dalhousie by road.
A picturesque spot with an emerald saucer shaped meadow amidst a dense forest which even has a lake with floating island at its center & a golf course. According to Kishan Chand Rana Operator of Zorbing Rolling ball “ we charge Rs.300 for two person for single ride in the ball in the open ground surrounded by the beautiful trees. Horse riding is quite popular among the tourists in Khajjiar. It has almost 3KM radius around the spot.
How to reach Dalhousie
It is 555 KM away from Delhi by road. Pathankot is the Nearest Railway Station & Dalhousie is 85KM away by road.
