KHAJJIAR - A LOVE/HATE AFFAIR

As we made our way to Khajjiar, the view took my breath away. The uniquely saucer shaped meadow surrounded by dense Deodar forests with a lake in the middle was just picture perfect. Also, I couldn’t help but notice that Khajjiar has a rare combination of three ecosystems – forest, pasture and lake. Since Khajjiar is situated at the base of the Dauladhar mountains, I was able to get panoramic views of the mountains.

I wish that the picture perfect destination was everything I had hoped it would be. But it was not. It was sweltering, and there is no place here to escape the heat. And talking about escaping, if you want to have some peace and quiet and escape the ‘people’, then this place is not for you. There are hundreds of tourists here, kids running around screaming, families having picnics.

Also, the Khajjiar Lake at the centre of this landscape looked quite dry and unkempt. Apparently, the major attraction of the place is the island that floats, which is actually a cluster of grass growing on the lake’s surface. But there was no grass – just garbage everywhere. It should have been managed better by the tourism department.

Since the sun was too harsh, we decided to first grab some lunch. We headed to the Government Hotel called Devdar Hotel. We actually had our brunch there. Service was slow, and the food was just okay. We stayed there till the weather improved.

Rather than being dispirited, I decided to make the most out of my trip. While there are tons of things to do in Khajjiar, it is primarily a family picnic spot. Most of the activities here are aimed towards kids. You can see popular activities like paragliding, zorbing and horse riding here. The downhill slopes makes it a perfect place for zorbing.

Once the sun began to set, and the heat subsided a bit, I took a stroll around the meadow. I soon saw the Khaji Nag temple. The temple is nestled near the houses and the restaurants in the meadow. Legend has it that the Khaji Nag temple was constructed by the king of Chamba and is dedicated to snake worship. The Khaji Nag temple was originally established in the 12th Century and was renovated in the 16th Century. It is a temple dedicated to ‘Nag Devta’. This is one of the oldest temples of Himachal Pradesh. Khaji Nag temple and the wood carvings reflect Hindu-Mughal architecture style and pattern. Resting on the bank of Khajjiar Lake, this temple boasts of idols of Shiva, Hidimba, and images of Pandava and Kaurava. And apparently, the age-old practice of goat sacrifice is still practiced here in the temple.

Moving on, I climbed the bridge to go over to the lake, only to be left disappointed. Since it was summer, the lake had dried up a bit. Even worse, it looked like no has taken care of the place in years. Talk about the star attraction being ignored.

Just when I was about to lose hope in this place, I saw very cute rabbits running around me. I soon realised that there were two kids – rabbit keepers – with two more rabbits with them. It turned out that it was a very popular activity among kids to get their pictures clicked with the rabbits for Rs 10 or 20 depending on the season (just like I did at Dainkund Peak). The rabbits were too cute to resist and I naturally went and played with them for a while.

And just not rabbits, I saw a lot of sheep in the meadows too. I thought I’d try my luck with them, but nada. They just all ignored me. Call me crazy but I felt rejected.

I also spent a good amount of time just patting the horses, and watching them trot around. There is a proper path defined for horses and this is one of the most popular activities to enjoy at Khajjiar. I also heard the horse owners tell the kids a few tricks to ride the horse.

You can also see the Khajji Cottage here.

I had heard that you can also have a photo shoot in Himachali dress, but I did not see anyone offering that activity anywhere so that was a bummer.

While this hill station was not suitable for a person like me, I must admit that I could spend hours just looking at the meadow ringed by the dense forest. It is just so mesmerising. I imagined how beautiful it would in winters with snow all around. Settled on a picturesque setting amid Himalayas, and snuggled amid a thick cover of deodar and pine trees with the snow-capped Himalayas in the backdrop, Khajjiar is a delightful picnic spot for friends and family. Bring your badminton rackets, Frisbee and a football and you’re guaranteed to have a great time with your family and kids.

Conclusion

Was I disappointed with Khajjiar? Not really. Though I was a bit sad that the place was a bit crowded, I could still salvage my trip. In my opinion, there was nothing wrong with the place specifically, it was just the sweltering weather that dampened my mood. If you’re looking to go to Khajjiar, just make sure that it isn’t insanely hot that day since there is no shelter from the sun there. Khajjiar did offer some of the best mountain views I’ve ever seen in my life. The major reason why I didn’t enjoy my trip was because I hadn’t planned it properly. I didn’t know what all I could’ve done there. All in all, a trip to Khajjiar, if planned properly, can leave you spellbound.

My tip? If you’re up for some family time, then this is perfect place to go to. Kids will absolutely love Khajjiar. There is no doubt about that.

But if you’re looking for some ‘me’ time, then this place isn’t really for you. Too many people during peak season. And I doubt you’d want to go zorbing or horse riding here. If you’re looking for some peace and quiet, it’s better to come in winters and enjoy the snow covered meadow. Though I doubt you can try any activity in winters and the lake would be snowed up, it hardly would make any difference since the lake is unkempt anyway. Also, there will be few tourists visiting so chances are that the whole meadow will be yours. Also, winters means no sweltering, and no sweltering means actually being able to enjoy being outdoors.

If you do plan on visiting Khajjiar during the summer season, here is a list of things (apart from strolling around, seeing the temple and the lake) to do and places to visit AND SOME TIPS to make your trip actually worthwhile.

1. Stay at Khajjiar itself.

I cannot stress it enough. There is accommodation for every budget. The sunrise and sunset at Khajjiar can be breath-taking. Do not miss the highlight of your trip.

2. Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary

The Kalatop Khajjiar Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary which has a wide variety of flora and fauna. It is densely covered with Deodar and Fir forest. The place is a popular spot for picnics and trekking. The wildlife sanctuary comprises of trees like Blue Pine, Green Oak, and Rhododendron, and one can spot barking goral, Himalayan black marten, langur, jackal, bear, and leopard within the sanctuary. There are small tributaries of River Ravi, that makes this place look scenic and spectacular.

3. Explore the Kailash Villages

One of the best things to do in Khajjiar, if you have time, is to explore the quaint and scenic Kailash Villages. The villages are known for their apple orchards and are hidden in the forests. Just stroll around the villages to soak in the scenic beauty.

4. Go trekking

Khajjiar is the starting point of various treks to Dalhousie and Chamba. You can choose to trek to Dainkund Peak. Khajjiar to Dainkund is a 3.5 kilometre easy to moderate trek. The trek starts 6 kilometres from Khajjiar on the Dalhousie-Khajjiar road and ends at Pholani Devi Temple at Dainkund. This trek with a well-defined trail and moderate ascent is an excellent trek for beginners and children. The trek offers excellent views and a beautiful camping site.

5. Panch Pandav Tree

Near the rest house stands a unique tree, with six shoots. Locals believe that five of the shoots represent the five Pandavas and the sixth shoot represents Draupadi. It is one of the must see things in Khajjiar.

6. Like any popular weekend getaway, Khajjiar can be best enjoyed on a weekday.

If Khajjiar still does not appeal to you, I have a couple of suggestions for hill stations you can pay a visit to. They are -

1. Bir-Billing - Paragliding at Bir Billing is a must! Read my paragliding experience at Bir Billing here.

2. Auli - A winter wonderland, Auli is the best skiing destination in India. Read my experience in Auli here.

3. Sainj Valley - Himachal's best kept secret. Truly beautiful with scenic views. We had our first homestay experience here at Astha Homestay. You can read our homestay review here. And you can read my Sainj experience here.

4. Tirthan Valley - Jibhi

Another gem in Himachal Pradesh, Jibhi has fast become a fan favourite among travellers. Splashing in the Tirthan River, trekking to the Serolsar Lake and trout fishing are some of the things you can do in Jibhi. You can read my Jibhi adventures here.

5. Lansdowne

For a peaceful and quiet and chill vacay, head over to Lansdowne!

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