Hi, Traveling with family (Mom,dad,hubby and kid) to Dalhousie in July. Going via train to Pathankot on the sixth night from Delhi,from there by road to Dalhousie.7th,8th and 9 July we plan to stay there and catch a train back to Delhi from Pathankot. Khajjiar is on the list. Not able to make out should we go to Dharamshala (4-5 hrs) journey from Dalhousie or Chamba? Can you suggest places that are must see and won't be a disappointment if we do happen to visit. Thanks in Advance.
If I was you I wont go to Chamba or Dharamshala and just stay the six nights at Dalhousie and Khajjiar. A lot of people make the mistake of trying to cover too many destinations in a short duration hoping to see something spectular at one of the places but fail to understand that they wont get a chance to relax and unwind at any of the places due to short stay. Being constantly on the run is not my idea of a holiday. Hope this helps.
Hello and welcome to the forum! It is possible to tour all these places in 7 days time. However, as what has been stated, it can be a bit rushed and you might even be stressed out instead of just being relaxed for the duration of your trip. However, for the sake of providing you some information, a possible itinerary including all those places is as follows: Day 1. Pathankot > Dalhousie. This is a 590 kms drive so about 14 to 15 hours of travel time. Once you arrive in Dalhousie, check in at the hotel. Have some dinner and rest early for the night. Day 2. After freshening up and having some breakfast, visit local attractions in Dalhousie: Kalatop Rest House. This can only be accessed by trekking for a bit, it has nice views from the top. Kalatop Wildlife Reserve. This is about 2,500 metres above sea level and is covered by thick deodar and pine forests. The Himalayan Black Bear can be seen here. Ganji Pahari. This is about an hour of trekking from the city centre. It's worth it once you reach the top as it offers picturesque views of the surroundings. Rest for the night. Day 3. Dalhousie > Khajjiar. This is about 26 kms so about 35 to 40 minutes of travel time. Check in once you arrive and have some lunch. Then visit the local attractions: Khajji Naga Temple. This temple is dedicated to Khaji Nag. There's some images of Pandavas and Kauravas in the temple as well. Khajjiar Lake. Several streams give life to this lake and the surrounding forest makes it a perfect spot for a picnic. Rest for the night. Day 4. Khajjiar > Chamba > Khajjiar. Chamba is about 916 metres from Khajjiar. After breakfast, depart early for Chamba and visit local attractions: Akhand Chandi Palace. Built by Raja Umedh Singh and renovated by Raja Sham Singh, this palace has a blend of Mughal and British styles of architecture. Champavati Temple. Best known for its intricate stone carvings. Lakshmi Narayan Temples. A fine example of Shikara style of architecture with gold plated roofs. Chamunda Devi Temple. You can find some wood carvings inside this temple along with different figures of deities. Bhuri Singh Museum. Features several artefacts and items that showcase the history of Chamba. Travel back to Khajjiar and have dinner. Rest for the night. Day 5. Khajjiar > Dharamshala. This is about 150 kms and can take a few hours of travel time. Once you arrive, check in at the hotel and have some lunch. Visit: In the afternoon, visit McLeodganj along with the tourist attractions there. These are: the Dalai Lama's Temple, Masroor Temple, Tibet Museum and Dal Lake. Day 6. Visit local attractions in Dharamshala: Masrur. Known for its various rock cut temples and also has images of deities like Lord Ram, Sita and Lakshamana. Kangra Museum. You could see various collections of artefacts, manuscripts and pottery that are very important to the Tibetan and Kangra Valley culture. Kangra Fort. This contains several forts, temples and watchtowers dating as far back as the 9th Century A.D. Day 7. Dharamshala > Delhi. Head back home. As I've said, you could get crunched for time. If you can just focus on two places, then that might be for the best. I hope this helps!
