The story behind how Khajjiar came to be known as the “mini Switzerland” of India is an interesting one. It was Mr. Willy T. Blazer, Vice Counsellor and Head of Chancery of Switzerland, who first called it so. He was so enamoured of its landscape that he placed a sign board of a yellow Swiss hiking footpath which showed the distance from Bernes, the capital of Switzerland, to Khajjiar - 6194 km. Even though this happened back in 1992, the attraction of the place has not diminished even a bit.
Khajjiar is a small hill station located in Chamba district, and is a famous tourist attraction in Himachal Pradesh. You should visit this quaint and dreamy place to simply celebrate its existence. Just walk wherever you want, breathe freely, feel the touch of the soft grass or walk as far as your legs take you. Most of the people who visit it are attracted by its landscape, and enjoy nothing better than just feasting their eyes to this wonderful panorama laid out by nature.
Khajjiar is incomplete without its lake, which is known as Khajjiar Lake. It stands right in the middle of the meadows that are surrounded by thick cedar forests. The lake is beautiful by itself, and plays a large part in contributing to the overall beauty of the area. The lake hosts a floating island. Upon closer look, you discover that it’s a patch of grass which floats continuously on the surface.
Other ways of spending time at the lake are horseback riding and zorbing. You can also enjoy spectacular views of Mt. Kailash from the lake. If you are a trekking enthusiast, you will have a lot to look forward to at Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary. The landscape here is marked by dense coniferous forests and crisscrossed by several streams, both of which create the right conditions for trekking and nature walks. Major wildlife attractions in the sanctuary are Himalayan black marten, barking goral, leopard, jackal, langur and bear.
Khajji Nag Temple is another tourist attraction to visit in Khajjiar. Besides being a religious structure, it is also a historic one, as it was built during the 12th century. Located on the banks of the lake, it is dedicated to the Lord of the Serpents. Its architecture shows a wonderful fusion of Hindu and Muslim styles. Inside, there are images of Lord Shiva, Goddess Hadimba, Pandavas and Kauravas.
Those dense forests that encircle the meadows at Khajjiar are home to some lovely villages. Two of these are Rota and Ladi. Both of these villages are famous for their apple orchards and the amazing views they offer of the snow-covered hills and Mt. Kailash.