Kalatop, Dalhousie

Kalatop is one of the most pristine destination in Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh, and is known for the lush green surroundings and snow capped Himalayan peaks.. This wonderful destination tops the list of almost every traveler who visits Dalhousie with an aim to explore the natural splendours that are available in abundance here. Kalatop is located approximately 12 kms from Dalhousie and it can be easily reached through trekking. The visitors often come here with family or friends, and spend hours gazing at the beautiful surroundings of Kalatop that embrace the amazing green landscapes and majestic mountains in its vicinity.

Highlights Kalatop hill is famous for many reasons and one such reason is the Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary, which is one of the most beautiful places in Dalhousie that draws tourists and make them fall in love with the place. This high altitude forest area is located at an average elevation of 2,500 meters above sea level and offers stunning views of thick pine, deodar, and oak forests and a plethora of various fauna such as the Himalayan Black Bear, Pheasants, and Himalayan Black Marten. Trekking is the best way to explore the beauty of this forest, which is why the tourists come here in the months of October to March to catch a glimpse of snow covered valleys and dense forests.

There is a forest guest house at Kalatop, where the guests can stay for a better experience as they can closely watch the mother nature and spend their holiday in absolute bliss. Tourists normally prefer to walk up to Kalatop from Lakkarmandi, which is approximately 4 kms from Kalatop, to take in the amazing views of the beautiful landscapes of Kalatop. This region is less explored compared to other area of Dalhousie, and so forest trailing, wildlife safari, and picnics are so much fun here.

Other Facts The Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary or the Khajjiar Wildlife Sanctuary lies along the river Ravi and has a rich forest cover. It has a wide variety of animal species like bear, leopard, jackal, and langur and bird species like Eurasian Jay, Black Headed Jay, and the Black Bird. The route to Kalatop is via Lakkarmandi, which is another famous spot in Dalhousie, known for its Dhogri family population, who make charcoal for a living. Kalatop is an amazing place and it can be best visited in the months between September and April.