About:
Dr. Bharatkumar Bhate is M.S. General Surgeon (Gold Medalist) by qualification with an experience of 30,000+ operations and is based at Rajkot, Gujarat. He is an avid reader and a passionate writer. In this blog, he shares his travel experiences and creative writings.
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Blog:
(visited in March 2023)
The
Dhauladhar is a mountain range in the north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.
Dalhousie is a high-altitude town in Chamba district spread across five hills
in this mountain range. It is at 1,970 meters from sea level. British
Governer Lord Dalhousie founded this hill station in 1850 as a summer retreat
and loved to stay here and hence the place is recognised after his name.
British established a colony here. The
colonial-era buildings, including St. Francis and St. John’s churches date back
to the rule of the British Raj in the 1800’s. I walked into the St. John's
Church and was impressed to see the architecture. At the same time a veneer of
Tibetan culture has added a touch of the exotic to this serene destination.
Lord Dalhousie is known as 'Maker of modern
India' as he was responsible for introducing a variety of modern reforms
such as the railways, telegraph and postal networks and public works in India.
The Ganga Canal was completed during his tenure. But, he is most remembered for
the Doctrine of Lapse policy which many hold him directly responsible for the
Indian Revolt of 1857. Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi is notable victim of this
Doctrine of Lapse (See my blog on Madhya Pradesh).
I had a fantasy regarding Switzerland in
childhood. The dream came true at the age of 50 when I visited Europe. Today at
70 in 2023, I am getting the same feeling of being in Switzerland when I
visited Khajjiar at Dalhousie. It is truly called "Mini
Switzerland".
There is an interesting story behind this "Mini Switzerland". The Vice Chancellor and Head of the Chancery of Switzerland in India, Willy Blazer, called Khajjiar the ‘Mini-Switzerland.’ He had visited here on July 7, 1992. The comparison came into his mind due to the striking topographical resemblance of the place with Switzerland. Upon his instructions, a sign board was installed at the place which showed the distance of Khajjiar from Bern, the capital of Switzerland.
The story does not end here. He was so impressed by the place that he even took a stone from Khajjiar and installed it in front of the Swiss Parliament to remind them of the ‘mini Switzerland’ thousands of miles away.
I was pleasantly surprised to see this place on the hilly slopes of the Himalayas. It is a small picturesque saucer-shaped plateau surrounded by dense pine and deodar forests. It is a tiny tourist resort in Chamba about 24 kms from Dalhousie; at an altitude of 6,500 ft. above sea level.
On the way to Khajjiar from Dalhousie in March 2023, we saw lot of snow on the sides of road. Large glaciers were also seen where we took few photographs.
Paragliding, Horse Riding and Zorbing are recreational sports available at this place.
NAG
TEMPLE
Khajjiar is a wide grassy clearing around a
pond with a thick cedar forest. A few meters from the pond is the temple of
Khajji Nag that dates back to 12th century A.D. This temple is considered to be
the holiest shrine in Himachal Pradesh. This temple is constructed entirely out
of wood. The inner sanctum contains the idols of Lord Ganesha and Hadimba.
Attracted to the healing charm of this hill station, freedom fighter Subhash Chandra Bose stayed for many months at Dalhousie in 1937. The spring water fed Subhash Baoli and Subhash Chowk are named after him.
The Mall Road is a good place to shop for woollen Himachali shawls, Chamba rumals, traditional jewellery, Tibetan handicrafts and other items.
CHAMERA LAKE
On the route from Chamba to Dalhousie, the backwaters of Chamera Dam have developed into a lake. The Chamera dam is built on River Ravi. Water sport activities of boating, kayaking, canoeing, sailing and fishing are recreational and fun filled escapades to indulge in. To end a day, one can sit back and enjoy the splendour of a sunset as the calm waters reflect vivid colours.
DAINKUND HILL TOP
Overlooking the grasslands of Khajjiar, Dainkund is the highest mountain among the hills around Dalhousie. Panoramic views attract photography lovers.
KALATOP KHAJJIAR SANCTUARY
The higher hill range of Khajjiar forms the Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary. Although it is called Wildlife Sanctuary, wild animals are hardly seen. It is ideal for trekking and excursions out into the wilderness. Very rarely, wildlife is found in the sanctuary like the Himalayan black bear, leopard, ghoral deer, monal pheasant and others. Summers are pleasant but winters can pound Kalatop with heavy snow that at times can pile to a heap of over five feet. Kalatop is 13 km from Dalhousie.
There are jeep type four-wheeler taxis at the entrance which charge heavily and take you in deep forest through rough roads. There is a hut type restaurant where you drop down and wander in nearby area. As you climb down, there is a small ground where few recreational and adventure facilities are created. The things are costly here also. You don't lose much by skipping this place as there is nothing but forest. It is better avoided if you are not in group.
Single day is not enough for full sightseeing
of Dalhousie. However, we had to do shopping in hurry and return to hotel.
- Dr. Bharatkumar Bhate, Rajkot
bcbhate@gmail.com