Dalhousie is built on and around five hills. Located on the western edge of the Dhauladhar mountain range of the Himalayas, it is
surrounded by the beautiful scenery of snow-capped peaks. Dalhousie is situated at 6000-9000 feet above sea level. The best time to visit is in the summer, and the peak tourist season is from May to September. Scottish and Victorian architecture is prevalent in the bungalows and churches in the town.
Dalhousie is a gateway to the ancient Chamba Hill State, now Chamba District of the Himachel Pradesh, India. This hill region is a repository of ancient Hindu culture, art, temples, and handicrafts preserved under the longest running single dynasty since the mid-6th century. Chamba is the hub of this culture. Bharmour, the ancient capital of this kingdom, is home to Gaddi and Gujjar tribes and has 84 ancient temples from 7th-10th century AD.
Pangi Valley is remote and highly inaccessible most of the year. It is located between the Pir Panjal and the Greater Himalayan ranges. It is home to Pangwal and Bhot tribes.
Rivers Ravi and Chandrabhaga (Chenab) take origin and nourishment from its glaciers. There are several hydroelectric projects and dams being developed. There are several national forest and wildlife sanctuaries including Kalatop-Khaijjar located within its confines. Pilgrimage to Mani Mahesh Temple and Lake is an annual trekking event. Many trekking routes over Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal ranges present a challenge to the serious trekker, while there are ample opportunities for the budding trekker.
Getting There
Places of interest
Unlike several other hill stations of Himachal Pradesh, Dalhousie is favourite among those who seek solitude and restfulness. Off late some aggression of Punjab can be seen in the behavior of tourists who take a Maruti hop from Ludhiana, Jalandhar and other parts of Punjab to this serene and quiet hill station. However, their uproarious laughter, loud manners, singing and bhangra dancing remain far from creating any sort of law and order situation. The place is remarkably crime free.
The greatest activity in Dalhousie is on and around the three level Malls which were laid in the early 1860s for promenades, carriages, horses, dandies, etc. these roads and the steeper by-lanes which connect them to the bus-stand are still the arteries of the town. The Malls around Moti Tibba and Potreyn hills are the most popular among the tourists as the two are level and most of the business activity and hotels are around them. Gandhi Chowk, Upper bazaar. Subhash chowk, Catholic church of St. Frances, Sadar bazaar and the Convent founded by an Order of Belgium nuns and their Sacred Heart School are on these two malls. Dalhousie’s third and highest mall was built around the upper Bakrota hill nearly a 1000 feet above the G.P.O. (Gandhi Chowk). This mall was the favourite of Dr. Hutchison: “of these Upper Bakrota mall is finest and the longest being fully 3 miles round and from it extensive views are obtained of the low hills and figure of eight walk on the two malls encircling Moti Tibba and Potreyn hills is very pleasant and popular among local people and tourists.
An ardent admirer of the scenic beauty of Dalhousie Dr. Hutchison would like a visitor to stand on Dayan Kund at 9000 feet where the magnificent panorama greets the beholder. He writes, “ Facing south-west the Kalatop spur is on the right with the Dalhousie hills, Bakrota, Terah, Porain and Kathalag – stretching away towards the Ravi. Bakloh is seen at a greater distance on the left and beyond are the ridges and valleys of the siwaliks, running parallel to one another and losing in distinctness as they recede towards the plains. Far in the distance is the outermost ridge, with the cut near its extremity to allow the Chakki to flow in to the Beas. Near this is Pathankot, with Shahpur a little farther to the north-west, on the Ravi.
Within the siwalik area two wide river beds are seen running parallel, the one to the east being the Chakki and that to the west, the Ravi. East of the Chakki are the siwalik hills round about Nurpur; and across the Ravi, to the west, the same ridges and valleys, stretch away in the direction of Jammu.
On a clear day three atleast of the great Punjab rivers are visible glittering in the sunshine and losing themselves in the plains beyond, which seems to melt away into infinite space. These are the Sutlej, the Beas and the Ravi, even the Chenab may sometimes be seen.
Turning to the north the gaze rests on an amphitheater of lofty ranges, with foreground of mountain and valley, forest, gorge and stream. Closing in the horizon to the west and the north-west are the rounded summits of the Kund Kapalas and Daganidhar, which in summer are entirely free of snow. Beyond them are Bhadrawa and Balesa in Jammu. To the north and north-east the snowy pinnacles of the mid-himalaya or Pangi range stretch out in majestic array, many of them rising to an altitude of 18,000 and 19,000 feet. Beyond them are Pangi and Lahaul. Towering up from behind them are two lofty peaks, covered with snow, one slightly rounded and the other pointed and precipitous, which among Europeans are known as the Bridge and the Bridegroom. These are in the Gurdhar range in Pangi, and are about 21,000 feet in height, being the highest peaks in Chamba state. Far to the south-east the eye can trace the line of the Dhauladhar till the ranges is lost in a mighty maze of snowy mountains, chief among which is the Kailas at whose base rest the sacred lake of Manimahesh.”
As Shimla finds its focus in the mall, in Dalhousie action gravitates in the evening to the G.P.O. which presents a riot of colours and activity. Sometimes it even becomes difficult to surge ahead without jostling and elbowing. Most of the good eateries and handicraft emporia, hotels and of course the ever attractive Tibetan market are all around the G.P.O. There is a library and a reading room at the G.P.O. for the convenience of the tourists.
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