Short answer: Spend day 1 in Dalhousie (Gandhi Chowk, the Mall Road walk to Subhash Chowk, St John's church, Panchpula) and day 2 at Khajjiar (22 km away), stopping at Kalatop forest on the way and Dainkund peak on the way back. Pathankot station is about 80 km from Dalhousie, the nearest railhead.
Dalhousie is the gentle hill station. No crowds pushing on a Mall Road, no traffic jams. Just stone churches, deodar walks and long views over the Chamba hills. With Khajjiar next door, two days is the sweet spot.
Getting there
- From Pathankot station: about 80 km, 2.5–3 hours (taxi fares)
- From Gaggal Airport: about 125 km, 3.5–4 hours (taxi fares)
- From Dharamshala: about 120–130 km via Nurpur
Day 1: Dalhousie
Morning. Start at Gandhi Chowk, the heart of town, and walk to St John’s church (1863), the oldest in Dalhousie. Then take the flat, shaded Mall Road loop towards Subhash Chowk, past old shops and Tibetan stalls, with views opening on one side.
Lunch. Gandhi Chowk has plenty of options; try the local dham (rajma, madra and rice) if you see it.
Afternoon. Drive to Panchpula, a little valley of streams with a memorial to the freedom fighter Ajit Singh. Short walks, tea stalls and fresh air.
Evening. Back to Gandhi Chowk for sunset over the plains.
Day 2: Kalatop, Khajjiar and Dainkund
Morning. Leave around 9 am. Stop at Kalatop wildlife sanctuary for a walk in the cedar forest. It is cool, quiet, and you may see langurs.
Late morning. Reach Khajjiar: a wide meadow surrounded by deodars, with a small lake in the middle and the wooden Khajji Nag temple at its edge. Walk the loop, sit on the grass, or try the pony and zorb rides if you are with children.
Afternoon. On the way back, stop below Dainkund peak. A short climb leads to the Pohlani Mata temple and one of the best 360° views in the region.
If you have a third day
Go down to Chamba, a thousand-year-old royal town on the Ravi river, for the Lakshmi Narayan temples, the Bhuri Singh Museum and Chamba rumal embroidery. Our Dalhousie, Khajjiar & Chamba tour includes it.
When to go
- March–June: pleasant, green, clear
- July–August: monsoon, misty and slippery
- September–November: clear and crisp
- December–February: often snowy and beautiful; roads to Khajjiar can close briefly
Tips
- Dalhousie is spread over hills; stay near Gandhi Chowk if you like to walk
- Weekends from Punjab get busy, so go midweek if you can
- Carry a warm layer even in summer
- Combine with Dharamshala and Amritsar in our 5-day loop
Quick questions
How far is Khajjiar from Dalhousie?
About 22 km, 45 minutes to an hour by road through Kalatop.
Is one day enough for Dalhousie?
One full day covers the town itself. Add a second day for Khajjiar and a third if you want to see Chamba.
Written by the team at Ankush Travels, a tour and taxi company in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. We run these routes every week. Spotted something out of date? Tell us on WhatsApp.