How to spend 3 days in Dalhousie? Well, I have got you covered! This itinerary will help you explore Dalhousie in 3 days with must-visit places, day-wise trip plan and cost.
Bookmark this itinerary for future reference! 🙂
Dalhousie is a hill station in Chamba district. With its plunging pine-clad valleys and mountain views, this tiny town is a paradise tucked away in the lap of Himachal Pradesh. Travellers explore Himachal Pradesh for its unspoiled beauty.
It's great for scenic addicts, trekkers and temple admirers.
Major places to be covered
St. Francis church / St Patrick's Church / St John Church
Dainkund peak
Khajjar.
Road distance to Dalhousie
New Delhi to Dalhousie: 576 KM.
Chandigarh to Dalhousie: 312 KM.
Amritsar to Dalhousie: 202 KM.
How to reach Dalhousie
By Air
Depending upon your nearest city, take a flight to either of the airports above and take a taxi to reach Dalhousie.
Taxi fare varies from city to city. Assuming you are taking a taxi from Amritsar (nearest to Dalhousie), it will cost you around INR 4,500 (4 seater).
There are various car rental companies (like clear car rentals, cab bazaar, Gozo cabs etc.) offering good rates, however, you may want to compare them before booking.
By Train
Dalhousie does not have a train station, and the nearest station is Pathankot. From Pathankot, you hire a cab. The approximate fare will be around INR 3000. The distance from Pathankot to Dalhousie is around 85 Km.
By Bus
Travelling by bus would be significantly cheaper than any other mode. You can reach New Delhi and take a Volvo to reach Dalhousie. There are buses that run daily from Delhi. Volvo takes about 9-10 hours to reach.
The bus from Pathankot to Dalhousie will be around INR 80-100 and taxi fare will be between INR 900-1200.
Self-drive
If you are not on a tight budget, rent a car for 3 days for a scenic road trip. In this case, you will not have to worry about getting around / sightseeing in Himachal.
Let's make these 3 days in Dalhousie the most memorable one!
DAY 1 - DAINKUND PEAK AND LOCAL SIGHTSEEING
I recommend reaching Dalhousie the previous night to start your next day, early morning and utilizing the whole day. However, if that is not possible, try to reach Dalhousie before noon.
It is a beautiful town and it is more enjoyable if you can soak up its peacefulness.
DAIKUND PEAK
Start your day with visiting Dainkund peak. Located near an air-force base, this is the most uplifting spot around Dalhousie. Dainkund is around 12 km from Dalhousie.
If you hire a taxi, you need to park it at the air-force base, from which a scenic walk of 1.5 km leads to Jai Pohlani Mata Temple. The views up there are stunning.
Pro Tip: If choose to do not take a cab, you can trek to reach Dainkund peak. The trek isn't difficult. Usually, the starting point of the trek is Alha (6km from Dalhousie). The trekking trail is about 4.5 km that takes you to through lush green forest and with some spectacular sights to witness.
Return from the trek and spend some time in local sightseeing.
ST. FRANCIS CHURCH (Churches and Cathedrals)
St Francis Church is a catholic church built during the Colonial rule in India. This is a renowned church in Dalhousie. Located at Subhash road, this church commands a beautiful view of the surrounding hills. The church is built in 1894 and is built in British architectural style.
While you are at Subhash road, take a stroll at this chowk and the enjoy views.
ST. JOHN CHURCH (Churches and Cathedrals)
This is an ancient church on Gandhi Chowk. The peace and tranquillity around this place are enjoyable.
Take a stroll at Gandhi Chowk. It is the mall road and the main shopping centre of Dalhousie.
When you are at Gandhi Chowk, do not miss the Tibetian market, which is around 1km from Gandhi Chowk. Tibetian Market is a good place to buy souvenirs and for some tasty food.
Pro-Tip: The market areas at Subhash Chowk and Gandhi Chowk are linked by the lanes - Thandi Sarak (cold road) and Garam Sarak (Hot road). Garam sarak is a pleasant 1 km walk with plenty of sunshine throughout the year. While you walk, you will be encountered stunning hill views and valley. The British-era churches of St John and St Francis are located at opposite ends of the ridge.
The best way to explore Dalhousie is on foot. Taxi and cabs in Dalhousie are easily available.
There's not a lot to see in Dalhousie except to stroll the tree-shaded lanes. We will explore Chamba and Khajjiar on Day & 3 respectively.
DAY 2: DAY TRIP TO CHAMBA
Leave for Chamba early morning. The distance between Dalhousie and Chamba is around 55 km (2/2.5 hours).
EXPLORE CHAMBA TOWN
This beautiful hill town, perched at an altitude of 1,676 above sea level, is located on the banks of the Ravi River. It offers pleasant mountain views and serenity. The town sprawling on the bank of the river will take your breath away. Visit these places:
LAXMI NARAYAN TEMPLE (Religious Sites & Landmarks)
This is the oldest temple in Chamba, built in the shape of shikhara. The temple is famous for both architecture and history. It houses six of the most magnificent idols of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.
There are a couple of other temples like Bajreshwari Temple, The Chamunda Devi Temple, Hari Rai Temple in this town. If time permits and if it interests you, visit these too.
RANG MAHAL “HIMACHAL EMPORIUM”(Architectural Buildings & Shopping)
The Rang is a perfect example of an impeccable blend of Mughal and British architecture. It is one of the largest monuments in Chamba.
Over the years, the Rang Mahal has become government property and now, a Himachal Emporium. It is a popular shopping destination for beautiful hand-made goods.
Leave for Dalhousie. On the way back to Dalhousie, halt at:
CHAMERA DAM / LAKE (Activities and Sightseeing)
Chamer Dam/lake is situated at an elevation of 763m above sea level. The reservoir of the dam is known as Chamera lake. The lake is surrounded by lush green/snow-clad mountains and is a beautiful peaceful sight.
This spot is a hub of water sport activities, which is managed by the state government of Himachal Pradesh.
You can enjoy boating at this place and appreciate the surrounding beauty.
The best time to visit is throughout the day. The recommended time to be spent is about 1-2 hours.
ROCK GARDEN (Gardens & Parks)
This garden is close to Chamera Lake and en-route your way back to Dalhousie.
It is not a remarkable place, but if you happen to reach this place in the evening, you can enjoy some street food and tea. However, if you are tired or not very keen, you can skip this place and head back to your hotel.
This will be the end of Day 2.
PRO-TIPS
A must buy in Chamba the tastefully embroidered "rumal" (scarf).
Depending upon your interest and the maximum time that you wish to spend at a particular spot, you can also "start" your day with Rock Garden and "end" at Chamba Town.
DAY 3: DAY TRIP TO KHAJJIAR
Start early morning and reach Khajjiar.
Located at a distance of 24 KMs from Dalhousie, this place is known as "Mini Switzerland" of India for a reason. The moment you enter, you will be welcomed by picturesque views of deodar trees, lush-green meadows and mountains.
ADVENTURE SPORTS (Activities and Sports)
You can enjoy some adventure sports like paragliding zorbing and horse riding.
LAZE AROUND IN THE WOODS (Relaxing / leisure )
Spend some time in the dense forest with pines.
Spend time sitting there and relaxing to the sounds of water.
KHAJJI NAG TEMPLE (Sacred and Religious site)
This is a small ancient temple. If you wish to, you can visit this temple and seek blessings.
LORD SHIVA STATUTE (Sacred and Religious site)
About 2 KMs from Khajjiar, you can visit Jagdambe temple, which has a magnificent 85 feet statue of Lord Shiva. It is said to be the tallest statues in Himachal Pradesh.
Return to your hotel at Dalhousie and enjoy rest of the time left with you.
Go back home with happy memories! 🙂
This is a crisp slow-paced itinerary for people who do not like to run around too much for sightseeing.
Do you have less than 3 days in Dalhousie?
If you are running short of time and do not have 3 days in Dalhousie, it is possible to squeeze the above itinerary in 2 days as follows:
Day 1: Visit Dainkund Peak, and local sightseeing (Church/es and Market) in Dalhousie.
Day 2: Day trip to Khajjiar and Chamera Lake.
Make sure your day starts early in the morning.
Do you have more than 3 days in Dalhousie?
If you have more than 3 days in Dalhousie then you can add the following places to your list:
Hiking to Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary
Visit Panchpulla waterfall (camping)
Visit Bakrota Hills
Sach Pass.
Where to Stay
Budget Stay (INR 1,200 Onwards)
Zostel Dalhousie.
Hotel Monal
Birdsandchirps Homestay
Hotel Mohan Palace
3 Star and Above (INR 5000 Onwards)
Hotel Dalhousie Heights
Grand View Hotel
Snow Valley Resorts Dalhousie
Silverton Estate Guest House
Where to Eat
Dalhousie has a lot of options for cheap eats. Visit Punjabi dhabas at Subhash Chowk, Some of the popular eateries are:
Kwality Restaurant (Gandhi Chowk)
Old Shere-e-punjab Dhaba
The Dining Hut
Moti Mahal Restaurent.
Budget /Cost of Trip Break-up
Mode of Transport to reach Dalhousie.
Taxi from New Delhi will cost you around INR 8000 (2 seater).
Train from New Delhi to Pathankot (the nearest railway station) will cost you approx. INR 200 in Second class and approx. INR 800 in Third AC.
Bus from New Delhi to Dalhousie will cost you approx. between INR 660-1600 (depending upon the bus type you choose).
Mode of Transport for Sightseeing
By Taxi
There are plenty of taxis available in Dalhousie. For Day-1, explore local sightseeing on foot.
For day 2 & 3, hire a taxi that is easily available from the main market. The fare for 1 day will approx. be INR 2500 per day depending upon the rental company, type of car, season etc.
By Bus
There are buses from Dalhousie to Chamba via Khajjiar. The duration of journey is around 2.5 Hours and fare is around INR 80. Visit HRTC Bus Booking for more details.
Accommodation cost
Hostels or a budget hotel: INR 500 to 1500 per day
Mid-range hotels: INR 2000 onwards per day
High-range hotels: INR 6000 onwards per day.
Sightseeing / Activities
The entry to the Churches and Rock Garden is FREE of cost.
The following are the approximate rates of popular activities in Khajjiar and Chamera lake boating:
Horse riding: INR 250-350 per person.
Zorbing: 200-300 per person
Paragliding: INR 3000-4000 per person (Paragliding in Dalhousie will cost much lesser)
Chamera Lake Boating: Normal boating INR 400 per person; Speed boating INR 800 per person.
Essential Tips
If you do not want to restrict yourself only to regular sightseeing, opt for a trek. Dalhousie offers the most exciting scenic trekking trails. Usually, the most popular is "Dainkund-Jot-Khajjiar-Kalatop".
If you are on a tight budget, instead of taxis, opt for Buses that ply between Dalhousie to Chamba. It will cost you as low as INR 80 (one-way trip).
In case you are looking for a complete retreat in solitude, then you can book your stay in "Khajjiar" instead of booking at one of the hotels in Dalhousie.
How many days are enough for Dalhousie?
If you do not want to rush around, 3 days in Dalhousie will be perfect.
If you are short on time, it is possible to explore Dalhousie in 2 days as well.
Best Time to Visit
March to May
This is the most-visited season as the weather is pleasant. It is perfect for sightseeing, adventure activities and trekking.
October to February (Winter)
Visiting during these months is a good decision if (i) you enjoy snow clad mountains (ii) snow does not deter you and (iii) you enjoy less crowd. The average temperature is between 4-0 degrees Celsius.
Hope you liked this detailed itinerary. :-)
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