Places to Visit in Dalhousie

Dalhousie is one of most scenic hill stations in Himachal Pradesh. Dense deodar forests, views of snow-clad Himalayan mountain peaks, lush green meadows, and waterfalls make Dalhousie one of the top tourist destinations in North India. Dalhousie is named after Lord Dalhousie and you will find many British-era buildings in Dalhousie. Dalhousie is full of scenic places like Khajjiar, where the landscape is just similar to Switzerland. It is the best place to shop for Himachali handicraft items like shawls, Himachali caps, Tibetan handicrafts, etc. You can book a Dalhousie tour package or include Dalhousie in any of the Himachal Holiday Packages that we offer. To help you get around in Dalhousie and see its best places here’s a list of all the places to visit in Dalhousie.

1. Khajjiar

Khajjiar is a small hill station near Dalhousie, where you can take an overnight trip. It is also famous as the ‘Mini Switzerland of India’ as the landscape of Khajjiar very closely resembles that of Switzerland in Europe. Grassy meadows, lakes, deodar forests, and snow-clad Himalayan mountain ranges add scenic beauty to Khajjiar. There is a 9-hole golf course in Khajjiar, where you can have a round of golf. Khajjiar Lake is a famous attraction in Khajjiar. Another famous landmark of Khajjiar is the Khajji Nag temple, which was built in the 12th century.

2. Panchpula

Panchpula is one of the most beautiful sightseeing places in Dalhousie. It is like a picnic spot where there are several waterfalls and river streams. There are lush green forests everywhere and you can go to scenic viewpoints for panoramic views of mountains and valleys. Saptdhara Waterfall is a famous waterfall in Panchpula. Ganji Pahari trek starts from Panchpula and you can do activities like ziplining, Burma Bridge, etc. You can also visit the memorial of Sardar Ajit Singh, who was the uncle of the famous Indian revolutionary, Bhagat Singh at Panchpula.

3. Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary

Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the best places to visit in Dalhousie. Dense pine and deodar forests, lush green grasslands, water streams, and mountains make this one of the best places to spot wildlife in Dalhousie. You can spot animals and birds such as Himalayan Black bears, pheasants, etc. Ravi river flows near this sanctuary and many streams flow through the dense forests and meet Ravi. There are many trekking trails in Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary where you can explore different parts of the forest.

4. Satdhara Waterfalls

Satdhara Waterfall is one of the best waterfalls in Dalhousie. It is said that seven streams join to make this spectacular waterfall. The waterfall flows through dense forests and mountains. Satdhara Waterfall is said to have healing properties that are great for skin diseases. You can spot this waterfall on the road to Panchpula. Satdhara Waterfall is an immensely beautiful waterfall that is perfect for one-day picnics and relaxation in nature. Many other tourist places in Dalhousie like Chamera Lake, Chamunda Devi Temple, Dainkund Peak, etc are close to this waterfall.

5. Chamera Lake

Chamera Lake is one of the most scenic tourist places in Dalhousie. It is a man-made lake that was formed when a dam was built on the Ravi River. Chamera Lake is much more than a picnic spot. Here you can do boating and kayaking. There are many food stalls near the lake for refreshments. The surrounding mountains and forests make Chamera Lake a very scenic tourist site in Dalhousie.

6. Dainkund Peak

Dainkund Peak is the highest point in Dalhousie. This peak is also popular as Singing Hill and is one of the trekking places in Dalhousie. This scenic peak looks beautiful and green in summers and snow-white in winter snow. Dainkund Peak offers majestic views of the valleys and rolling mountains and hills. There is a temple on the top of the peak called Pholani Devi Temple. You can come here after a short trek. Dainkund Peak looks even more beautiful when there is fresh snowfall.

7. Ganji Pahari

Ganji Pahari is a hill near Dalhousie which is also the best trekking places in Dalhousie. In the local language ‘Ganji’ means bald and ‘Pahari’ refers to a small mountain. Ganji Pahari refers to a bald patch of Barkota hills in Dalhousie. Ganji Pahari is best for trekking and you can trek from Panchpula to reach here. The sunrise and sunset views from Ganji Pahari are fabulous. You can camp here overnight and stay in tents.

8. St. Francis Church

St Francis Church is one of the Victorian-era churches in Dalhousie. The interiors of the church have rich décor and its peaceful ambiance will attract you. Thick forests surround this church, and inside there are stained glass windows, carvings, dioramas, stone structures, and a wooden roof that add striking architecture to this century-old church. Mall Road is close to this church.

9. St John’s Church

You can visit the Victorian churches in Dalhousie like St John’s Church. St John’s Church is one of the best places to visit in Dalhousie. The church is one of the oldest churches in Dalhousie and was built in 1863. The wooden architecture and stone structures in this church are similar to churches in England. The landscape around this church is full of woods. Inside there is a library with many books. You can see stained glass paintings of St John with St Peter.

10. Subhas Baoli

Subhas Baoli is one of the best places to visit in Dalhousie. This is a spring that has medicinal and healing properties. The healing powers of this spring are said to have cured Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose of his ill health. Subhas Baoli is within walkable distance and you can visit a waterfall nearby. Subhas Baoli is a historic place in Dalhousie that you also must visit on your trip.

11. Sach Pass

Sach Pass is one of the finest tourist places in Dalhousie. This is a mountain pass in Dalhousie that is most difficult to reach. A trek to Sach Pass goes through dense woods, green pastures, glaciers, farms, snow-clad mountains, and rugged mountain terrain. On the way, you can view the picturesque landscapes of Pangi Valley and the mountains of the Pir Panjal range. Sach Pass trek is a very famous treks in Himachal Pradesh.

12. Rock Garden

Rock Garden is one of the most beautiful relaxing places in Dalhousie. The unique Rock Garden gets its name from rock structures in the garden and river streams that run over rocks strewn throughout the park. You can stop by Rock Garden on the way to Chamera Lake. You can relax in the greenery of this garden and do ziplining and other recreational activities.

13. Bakrota Hills

Bakrota Hills is one of the many popular sightseeing places in Dalhousie. It is full of deodar forests and the trekking trails here are best for trekking. In winters, there is snowfall here and the entire region is covered in snow. You can stay here in many resorts and estates. Bakrota Hills is best for sightseeing and trekking in natural environs.

14. Indo-Tibetan Market

If you want to shop in Dalhousie then the best place is Indo Tibetan Market. Here you will get Kashmiri Shawls, Tibetan handicrafts, carpets, jewelry, Chamba slippers, toys, etc. Indo Tibetan Market is also included in the best places to visit in Dalhousie. You can just stroll along in the market and experience the unique Tibetan culture here.

15. Rang Mahal

Rang Mahal is one of the many wonderful places to visit in Dalhousie. Raja Umed Singh built Rang Mahal for the royal women in the olden days. The architecture of Rang Mahal is a mix of Mughal and Victorian architectural styles. Today, you can visit the age-old collection of rare artifacts inside Rang Mahal. Things to watch out for are a rich collection of costumes, jewelry, paintings, coins, etc. You can also buy some souvenirs from Himachal Emporium which is located inside Rang Mahal premises.

16. Laxmi Narayan Temple

Laxmi Narayan Temple in Dalhousie is one of the best tourist places in Dalhousie if you love architecture. Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva are the main deities of the temple. Laxmi Narayan Temple is considered to be one of the oldest temples in the Chamba region. The ancient rulers of Chamba built this temple in 940 AD. This 1000-year-old temple has beautiful architecture. There are many smaller temples here like Gauri Shankar Temple, Radha Krishna Temple, Shiva Temple etc.

17. Garam Sadak

Garam Sadak is named because this stretch of road in Dalhousie remains hot as it received direct sunlight. It is also is among the famous tourist sightseeing places in Dalhousie. There are many shops and eateries on this road. You can see beautiful valleys and panoramic views from Garam Sadak. Enjoy Tibetan Rock Paintings on the walls and shop and dine in restaurants.

18. St Patrick’s Church

St Patrick’s Church is one of the finest churches in Dalhousie. This church has classic Victorian architecture and you must include St Patrick’s Church in the places to visit in Dalhousie. The British army officers built this church in 1909. Its British-style architecture and wooden structure are beautiful to look at.

19. Chamunda Devi Temple

Chamunda Devi Temple in Dalhousie is one of the temples in Dalhousie that you can visit on your trip. Goddess Kali is the Hindu supreme goddess deity of this temple. The temple is more than 700 years old. There is a large pond inside the premises where you can take a dip. This temple has a mythological story behind it and locals believe that Goddess Ambika killed the demons called Chanda and Munda here at this place.

20. Mall Road

Mall Road in Dalhousie is one of the famous places for shopping in Dalhousie. There are many shops, cafes, restaurants, hotels, banks, clubs, and bars on Mall Road. You will find many shops selling Tibetan handicrafts and gift items. Tibetan arts and craft items are the best things to shop here. You can just take a nice evening stroll here and dine in cafes and restaurants. You can view scenic mountain ranges from Mall Road.

21. Chamba

Chamba is among the most famous hill stations in Himachal Pradesh in itself, but you can visit Chamba when you visit Dalhousie. It is famous for its apple orchards and natural greenery. There are temples here that are 1000 years old. The nomadic Himachali villages in Chamba are full of ethnic Himachali tribes. Chamba is best for shopping for Himachali and Tibetan handicrafts. Chamba is a year-round destination in Himachal Pradesh.

22. Beeji’s Park

One of the most unique places to visit in Dalhousie is Beeji’s Park. Indian Army built Beeji’s Park to respect soldiers who laid down their lives while fighting for the country. Beeji’s Park is a place where you can see life-size replicas of warships, war airplanes, battle tanks, jeeps, aircraft guns, fighter jets, missiles, torpedoes, etc. You can pose for photographs at this place. It is a beautiful place on the road to Khajjiar and you must stop by for some rest here on your trip.

23. Bhuri Singh Museum

Out of the many places to visit in Dalhousie, Bhuri Singh Museum is one of the best. The museum is dedicated to Raja Bhuri Singh who was a past ruler of Chamba. There is a rich collection of over 8500 objects and artifacts in this museum. You can visit galleries of archaeology, culture, anthropology, and art. The rare collection of musical instruments, coins, armor, miniature paintings, and copper plates showcases the rich and glorious heritage of Himachal Pradesh.

24. Jot Pass

Jot Pass is a little-known trekking destination in Dalhousie. You can drive on a bike and pass hairpin and sharp bends on this route. The route goes through deep forests and deep valleys. On the way, you can encounter shepherds grazing sheep and goats. The route is one of the immense natural beauty of Himachal Pradesh. Jot Pass is open during summers but is closed in winters due to heavy snowfall. You can also go for adventurous activities like paragliding and rafting here.