Famed as ‘Little Switzerland of India,’ situated in Himachal Pradesh, Dalhousie is one of the major tourist destinations in Northern India. The hill station lies at an elevation of 1,970 metres in the foothills of the Western Himalayas and is spread across the five hills (Bhangora, Bakrota, Terah, Potreyn and Kathlog) close to the Dhauladhar mountain range. Dalhousie is named after ‘The Earl of Dalhousie’ who established this place as a summer retreat, back in the year 1854. It still amazes people with the majestic views of the Himalayas, snow-clad mountain peaks, verdant environs and Victorian-styled colonial architecture of British mansions. Dalhousie is a treasure trove for honeymooners and travellers who seek solace amidst nature. Situated far away from the hustle-bustle of cities, the natural beauty of Dalhousie can give you a peaceful and blissful holiday in the lap of nature. And, that’s the main reason why thousands of people visit Dalhousie all through the year.
Moreover, there are several wonderful visiting places around Dalhousie that you can add to your itinerary. To help you through the best sightseeing places in Dalhousie, here we come with a list of the 10 best places to visit in Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh. Read through the whole article and decide where you want to visit this year.
Dalhousie Tourism – List of Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Dalhousie Himachal Pradesh
- Dainkund Peak
- Panchpula Waterfall
- Chamera Lake
- Khajjiar
- Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary
- Ganji Pahari
- Garam Sadak
- Sach Pass
- Subhash Baoli
- Satdhara Falls
Most Popular Dalhousie Himachal Tour Packages
Dainkund Peak
Popularly known as ‘The Singing Hills,’ Dainkund is the highest peak of Dalhousie. In the local language, Dain means witches and Kund is a lake, so the name literally means ‘The Lake of Witches.’ The folklore has it that there were some witches who used to create havoc on the villagers and to get rid of that Phaloni Devi (an incarnation of Goddess Kali) killed all of them. A temple was therefore built on the top of the peak, which is also the endpoint of the Dainkund Peak trek. The name ‘Singing Hills’ comes from the melody produced by the calm breeze passing through the trees here. It seems like the hill is singing in unison. A moderate one-day long trek to the peak of 4.5 kilometres is one of the best things to do in Dalhousie.
Surrounded by the snow-clad mountains on one side and wooded hills on the other, the trail to the peak offers some breathtaking views of the reclining valleys. Moreover, the top of the hill also proffers a bird’s eye view of Khajjiar Lake on bright sunny days. The best time to plan the trek is between March and November.
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Panchpula Waterfall
Panchpula Waterfall is one of the top tourist attractions of Dalhousie. The place is around three kilometres away from Dalhousie. You can either book a cab or take a short hike to reach the waterfall. The place opens at 9 AM and closes by 7 PM at night. However, being one of the must-visit places in Dalhousie, Panchpula gets crowded by many tourists all over the year. So, if you are travelling for photography or videography, it is recommended to visit this place early in the morning or close to the evening.
Panchpula Waterfall is an amalgamation of five streams that come together. Moreover, at the summit of the waterfall, you can witness the snow-covered Dhauladhar range. There are several coffee shops and souvenir shops around the waterfall. One can have a sip of hot coffee and appreciate the wonderful views of the mountains from here.
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Chamera Lake
Riding a boat along the glistening Chamera Lake is one of the best things to do in Dalhousie. An artificial lake located at a height of about 760 metres, Chamera Lake serves as a source of water for the nearby areas. The lake is fed by Chamera Dam, which is facilitated by the water of the Ravi River. Surrounded by gorgeous valleys of beautiful Deodar and Pine trees, Chamera Lake is one of the best places to travel in Dalhousie. The environment around the pristine lake is astounding and moreover, the view of the lake from the top is truly amazing.
The colour of the water is a mix of green and blue, which make the lake unique. It spreads across a huge area and as you visit the lake at different times of the year, you will feel that Chamera Lake transmits different views in different seasons. The boat ride will be one of the thrilling activities to do here. You will be given life jackets before hopping on the boats. There are both options available for boat riding – motor boats and speed boats. Sitting in the front seat of a boat will give you an unobstructed view of the surroundings which you will remember for days.
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Khajjiar
Khajjiar is located in the Northwestern part of Himachal Pradesh that offers some stunning landscapes to satiate your thirst if you are a nature explorer. Khajjiar flaunts amazing verdant meadows, snow-clad peaks, profound valleys, condensed forests and scenic landscapes of nature. The beauty of this prevalent hill station looks somewhat similar to Switzerland and that’s the main reason behind calling it the ‘Mini Switzerland of India.’ Khajjiar is located at an elevation of approximately 1,980 metres and is known as a popular honeymoon destination in Himachal Pradesh.
It is one of the places in India that offers three ecosystems such as pasture, lake and forest altogether. The best time to explore the beauty of Khajjiar along with the culture of the people living here is between March and June. Khajjiar Lake is one of the most beautiful spots you can visit here. One can experience peace and serenity in this place. It is covered by lavish green forests and is mostly treated as a picnic spot for the locals as well as travellers. What is more amazing is, on a bright sunny day, travellers can enjoy a spectacular view of Mount Kailash from Khajjiar Lake.
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Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary
Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most popular wildlife sanctuaries in Himachal Pradesh, as well as in India. Location wise, it is situated between Dalhousie and Chamba (10 kilometres from Dalhousie and 38 kilometres from Chamba). Spread across an area of 30.69 square kilometres, Kalatop Sanctuary lies along the path of the River Ravi and remains one of the favourite spots for a family vacation. The best way to explore the sanctuary is by trekking or hiking through the trails here. You can also opt for a wildlife safari inside the sanctuary.
The trails are encompassed by opulent vegetation of deodar, oak, fir and pine. It is home to around 117 species of rare birds and pheasants. Some of the birds are Chestnut Bellied rock thrush, Eurasian Jay, white-winged blackbird and many more. Moreover, the sanctuary also boasts of a wide variety of wildlife and some of them are Bear, Deer, Leopard, Langur, Jackal, Barking Goral and Himalayan Black Marten. The best time to visit Kalatop Sanctuary is between March and May; September to November is another ideal time to plan a trip here. It remains open from 7 AM to 6 PM every day.
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Ganji Pahari
There are several wonderful tourism places in and around Dalhousie and Ganji Pahari is one of them that you should not miss on a trip to Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh. It is located at a distance of five kilometres from the Dalhousie Bus Stand, so reaching this place is not an issue for any travellers. The name ‘Ganji’ means bald in the local language, and ‘Pahari’ means hill, so in one word it is a Bald Hill, which is true to what it means. The hill is empty with no flora and fauna at all and it looks like the bald-headed ground on the top. Ganji Pahari remains one of the most adventurous spots in Dalhousie and the view offered from the top is mesmerising and spellbinding.
A moderate trek from Panchpula to the top of Ganji Pahari amidst the amazing views of valleys and snow-covered mountains can be completed within an hour. It can be visited all through the year, however, it is recommended to plan a trip here in summer, because Ganji Pahari is covered by snow in winter. Moreover, it is also recommended to bring some snacks and water while trekking to the top, as there are no shops or hotels found on the trail. Please remember not to throw any plastic wrappers and bottles here and there and harm the ecosystem with pollution.
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Garam Sadak
Garam Sadak is the road connecting Gandhi Chowk to Subhash Chowk in Dalhousie. Some of the parts of the road receive direct sunlight thus offering pleasant weather to the walkers passing by from where the name is derived. Strolling through the Garam Sadak will offer one of the best experiences for a nature walk in Dalhousie. Some of the best places to capture a stunning view of sunrise are from here, on Garam Sadak. The road is clean and maintained for only walking purposes. There is no entry fee and no timings and most importantly, there is no vehicle allowed on Garam Sadak. However, it is recommended to carry a torch or flashlight while having a walk on this road because the road is poorly lit during the night.
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Sach Pass
Sach Pass is one of the best trekking trails in Dalhousie, as well as Himachal Pradesh. It is located in Chamba District at a height of around 4,500 metres. The magnificent trail links the Pangi tribal valley to the headquarters of Chamba. It passes through some spectacular views of quaint orchards and hamlets, rushing rivers and deep forests. The trek starts from Chamba Valley and passes through Sach Pass via Bhanodi village. The timing usually opens from mid-June or early July to mid-October and the trail remains closed during the other time of the year for heavy snowfall. The weather gets colder and windy as you get closer to the peak, so it is suggested to get fully covered with warm clothes while trekking through Sach Pass.
The trek through the small villages of Himachal will give you the chance to know about the local culture. It also gives you a lot of options to get beautiful pictures of some breathtaking panoramas of the surroundings. Travelling to Sach Pass is truly adrenaline-pumping and splendid. It is one of the offbeat tourism attraction spots that you must add to your itinerary if you want to explore a different Dalhousie.
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Subhash Baoli
A spot enveloped by tall pine trees where the famous freedom fighter of India, Subhash Chandra Bose used to sit and meditate twice a day during his stay in Dalhousie back in the year 1937, Subhash Baoli is treated as a picnic spot over the years. It is situated at a distance of 1.5 kilometres from the town of Dalhousie and is named after the legend.
History says that Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose came to Dalhousie and started living in a building called Kynance. He used to walk daily for two kilometres and meditate in this spot. Subhash Baoli is located with the scenic backdrops and stunning surroundings and the beauty surely affected Bose with the meditation. The history is written on a large plaque and a shelter is built here to remember the legend. You can sit and relax here on any of the seating arrangements built here and find peace and tranquillity far away from the chaos.
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Satdhara Falls
Satdhara Falls is one of the most amazing tourist attractions in Dalhousie. It is on the way while travelling to Panchpula and is located at a height of 2,036 metres. Satdhara Falls looks like a canvas of seven miniature falls falling altogether and it is one of the must-visit spots for nature photographers, trekkers and nature lovers.
However, to get an unobstructed picture without any crowd, visitors are advised to go to this place in the early morning on a weekday. Also, the region is rocky, so carry your own water bottles, and snacks and be in a pair of comfortable shoes. While visiting Satdhara Falls, you can enjoy a walk through the surrounding areas and the greenery. Moreover, people can also take a dip in the pool formed by the water of the falls.
Also Read: Must Visit Lakes in Himachal Pradesh
The above-mentioned places are some of the popular tourist attractions in Dalhousie. The places are maintained well by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Department and attract a major percentage of tourist footfall every year.
However, if you are planning a family trip to Dalhousie, you can contact us. We have a wide range of Dalhousie Himachal tour packages that will serve you the best.
Other Important Himachal Tourism Resources
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time to plan a holiday vacation to Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh?
The best time to plan a holiday vacation to Dalhousie is undoubtedly from March to June. The season has cool weather, which is ideal for exploring this beautiful hill station. The temperature remains between 18 and 29 degrees celsius and the snow starts melting when the temperature rises. The clear summer skies help to get clear pictures of the mountains and it is the best time to experience adventure-filled holidays in the mountains. However, by May, the monsoon appears in Dalhousie and soon the region turns out as a floral canvas. In addition to this, Minjar Fair (the harvest festival) is also held between July and August. So, if you want to experience the beauty of monsoon in Dalhousie you can prefer July-September to plan as this popular hill station is not prone to landslides or floods, unlike other mountain areas.
What are the top things to do in Dalhousie?
There are several popular points of tourist interest. One can indulge in several activities in Dalhousie that give immense joy and happiness while touring this beautiful hill station. Some top things to do in Dalhousie are:
- Hike to Dainkund Peak
- Visit Subhash Baoli
- Boat riding in Chamera Lake
- Hike to Panch Pulla Waterfall
- Plan a picnic at Khajjiar
- Trek up to Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary
- Get mesmerised by the view of Satdhara Falls
- Trek to the hill-top of Ganji Pahari
- Buy artefacts at Tibetan Handicrafts Market
- Walk through Garam Sadak
- Visit St. John’s Church
- Pray in Chamunda Devi Temple
What is the best time to experience snowfall in Dalhousie?
The best time to experience snowfall in Dalhousie is between December and February. However, the best expected month is January but the winter begins in December and mercury starts rising again from the starting of March. If you can tolerate bitter cold and want to experience snowfall in Dalhousie then plan a trip in winter. The temperature lies between 4 degrees and 11 degrees celsius and snowfall occurs from time to time. One of the best tourist places to experience snowfall is Dainkund Peak.
About the author
From the ‘City of Joy,’ Kolkata, Nandini Bhattacharya is a Travel Writer by profession and traveller by passion. She loves to explore places around the world, new cultures, different cuisines and all new things that one can learn outside the home. She also loves to document her journey so that people can be inspired and travel more. Nandini is a nature lover and talks about sustainable tourism. She wants to make this world a good place where people can live healthy and happily.
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