As kids, most of us must have drawn mountains, rising sun, birds flying, and greenery all around, isn’t it? That’s exactly how it feels when you are at Dalhousie.
The small, little town in Chamba district, Dalhousie looks like a painting. Standing atop 5 mountains and surrounded by the thick, lush greenery of Deodar and Pine trees, Dalhousie is one of the most frequently visited destinations in Himachal Pradesh.
Dalhousie has many tourist attractions in and around. One of the key attractions is the Kalatop wildlife sanctuary.
So, here is a detail of what to expect and explore when you are at Kalatop wildlife sanctuary.
How to Reach Kalatop sanctuary
The sanctuary is like 45 mins drive from Dalhousie. There are frequent buses from Dalhousie that run to Kalatop sanctuary located near Khajjiar. However, if you are going by car, the road is via Lakkarmandi, which is also an interesting pitstop. The uniqueness of Lakkarmandi is that this village is the home of the famous Dhogri tribe that earns a livelihood by making charcoal.
Things to do at Kalatop wildlife sanctuary
Kalatop sanctuary also known as Khajjiar sanctuary is a vast jungle, thickly populated with pine, deodar, and oak trees. Walk into the sanctuary and it feels like walking under a nature-made canopy. The trees cinematically allow the sunrays to pass through. The rustling of the leaves makes you feel as if the trees are talking to each other. As you walk through the sanctuary, here is what you can do and expect to get a glimpse of:
1. Bird watching
The sanctuary is a home for many Himalayan species of birds and animals. For us, who live in cities and get to see a crow or a sparrow rarely, watching birds in this sanctuary is truly an experience. Keep your eyes fixed on the trees and you could see wide species of birds like Eurasian Jay, Black Headed Jay, Black Bird, White Winged Black Bird, Chestnut Billed Rock Thrush, and the Grey-Headed Cannery Flycatcher peeping out and blink at you.
2. Hiking
If you wish to explore a leisure walk amidst nature, then Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary has two beautiful and picturesque hiking paths i.e. Kalatop to Dainkund (4 km) and Kalatop to Talati (3km). If you are visiting Dalhousie in winter, then you can surely get a glimpse of snow on these paths.
3. Trekking and camping
Mountains are loved by the trekkers. So, if you are someone who loves trekking then, Kalaptop has multiple trek paths that are approximately 11kms. These paths stretch from Kalatop to Khajjiar. While you opt for trekking, do explore camping. Camping on the peaks of Daikund, Ganji Pahadi, and Pir Pinjal is an experience that you should not miss.
4. Paragliding
“Fly high in the sky,” is this is your mantra, then Kalatop is your destination as it offers paragliding. Fly high and get a bird’s view of the massive mountains that surround Dalhousie.
5. Wildlife photography
If you love lenses then Kalatop Sanctuary is a place that your lens would fall in love with. Every inch and a bit of the sanctuary is beautiful and while you walk inside the sanctuary, we bet you would not get a second to turn your camera off. From exotic birds to a wide range of animals like bears, leopards, jackals, langur, and more, you can find amazing species of Himalayan animals that you could capture in your camera.
Apart from these exclusive offerings, Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary has other attractions too for tourists who are looking for leisure time. Tourists can choose horse riding, boating, and other activities that are suitable for all age groups.
Some of the best places to visit in Dalhousie:
- Satdhara falls are the falls that sprout out of 7 streams
- Khajjiar and Chamera lake are perfect for boating and
- Bakrota hills and Daikund Peak that is perfect for trekking.
- Chamera lake, and
- Finally the colorful 5 bridges combination, Panchpula which is the most preferred picnic spot.
Where can you stay?
A lot of tourists ideally stay in Dalhousie and make a one-day trip to Kalatop. So, if you plan to homestay in Dalhousie, then there are various stay options like Brij Villa, Elgin Hall, Fortune park, and more.
However, if you wish to stay at Kalatop there are very good stay options as well. One of the most preferred stay options is the Kalatop Forest Guesthouse. If you are wondering how the Forest Guesthouse would be, then you should know that this is the same place where Sonakshi Sinha stays in the Lootera movie. So, now we are sure, you would be all excited to stay here. However, here is a word of caution: The Guesthouse is quite popular and in demand. Therefore, ensure you book the guesthouse well in advance.
Where to eat
No matter where you stay, you can be assured of some great food at Kalatop. Catering to all tastes and preferences, there are some amazing eateries like Alps Restaurant, Punjabi Rasoi, Lovely Restaurant, and Bon Appetite Bakes N Fries that offer diverse food. Be it finger food, or authentic Indian food, you can find them all. Apart from these, you can also indulge in yummy street food that offers chaat items.
Best times to visit Kalatop
Though Dalhousie is a place that looks beautiful and interesting in all seasons if you wish to see the sanctuary and explore it to the core, then the best time is March-April-May and June first week. In other words, ideally, summers are the best time to visit Kalatop as you get a chance to see the flora and fauna in full bloom. You can also see the migrating birds. During winters and rains, the roads turn tricky to trek or explore any other activity. Also, in winter you can hardly find the wildlife in the sanctuary.
Bottom-line
We hope that this guide gave you all the information that you would need to make a well-planned visit to Kalatop.
Enjoy your travel!!!!