Delightful “Dalhousie”

Delightful Dalhousie, a hill resort par excellence sprawls picturesquely on five hills on the outer slopes of the Dhauladhar ranges. Lord Dalhousie, the governor-general of British India between 1854 and 1856, founded the resort and conceived it as a sanatorium due to its bracing climate and scenic beauty. The quaint little hill resort surrounded by oak and pine trees still retains the colonial ambiance, which is very well reflected in its gable-roofed bungalows and churches.

Panchpula or Five Bridges: This scenic site has five small bridges over the streams emerging from the natural tank. A “Samadhi’ erected in the memory of Sardar Ajit Singh, a freedom fighter and uncle of great martyr Bhagat Singh is located here.

Kynance: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose stayed here after his release from a British jail.

Subhash Baoli: The enchanting water body amidst dense woods was the favorite place of Netaji during his 7 months stay in Dalhousie in 1937.

Laxmi Narayan Temple: The 150-year-old shrine at Sadar Bazar enshrines a beautiful image of Lord Vishnu.

Churches: Dalhousie is also known for its four beautiful churches – St. Andrew’s Church and St. Patrick’s Church at Balun; St. Francis Church at Subhash Chowk and St. John’s Church at Gandhi Chowk.

Radha Swami Satsang Bhawan & Hospital: It is an important site for the followers of the Radha Swami sect of Beas (Punjab). The Satsang Bhawan near Moti Tibba is visited by a large number of followers. The present Radha Swami chief Baba Gurinder Singhji visits Dalhousie twice a year.

Around Dalhousie:

Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary (10 kms.)

It is one of the best picnic spots in the region. The sanctuary here is home to the ‘ghoral” and Himalayan black bear.

Khajjiar (23 kms.)

The lush meadow of Khajiar set on a saucer-shaped plateau surrounded by dense pine and deodar forests are endowed with exceptional scenic beauty and are often referred by names like. ‘Mini Switzerland” and “Gulmarg of ‘Himachal’. A small lake further enhances the beauty of Khajiar. Near the lake is a beautifully carved 12th century.