Dalhousie Trek - [22nd - 29th Dec. 2013]

Dalhousie - A Beautiful Hill Station & Paradise for the Nature Lovers & Adventure seekers; situated at 6460 ft. in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, located on the Western edge of the Dhauladhar mountain range of the Himalayas, built on around five hills & surrounded by the beautiful scenery of snow-capped peaks!!!

Dalhousie is established by the British as a summer retreat for troops & named after Lord Dalhousie who was the British Viceroy for India at that time... It comprises mainly of colonial style buildings with narrow avenues & surroundings that resemble the highlands of Scotland, which are mostly covered in for & surrounded by fir & Pine trees... Dalhouse also acts as a gateway to an equally enchanting hill town of Chamba...

Started from Delhi on 22nd Dec. to Jammu, as first I wanted to visit Vaishno Devi... Afterwards Dalhousie trek was planned... Had Darshan on 23rd & on 24th caught a train from Jammu to Pathankot to reach to Dalhousie as 24th was my reporting day... But that day train got delayed & I reached to Pathankot very late in the evening at near about 6 pm... It was almost dark & I was feeling very uneasy with a thought that it will take long 2-3 hrs. (approx. 80 KMs) to reach to the base camp / how will I go to the base camp from the bus stand as its going to be very late; as it was my first time visit to that place!!! Fortunately I got a bus; just outside the railway station... But I didn't get a single seat to sit; hardly got a place to stand!!! It was so over-crowded as it was last bus of the day... So throughout the way for more than 2 hrs out of 3hrs of the journey I had to stand with my luggage... Very tiring journey!!! I met few people in the same bus who were also going to the base camp, so I was feeling bit relaxed... But couldn't enjoy the outside beauty coz of darkness & tiredness... So i have decided to go for this trek one more time!!!

Base camp                 : Banikhet
Trek route                  : Banikhet >> Dalhousie >> Kalatop >> Khajjiar >> Mangla 
Altitude                     ~ 1,970 m [6,460 ft]
Best time to visit       : Throughout the year

Weather                     :  Summer : 15°C to 35°C / Winter : (-2)°C to 15°C 

24th Dec. 2013 - Banikhet

1st day - reporting day & I reached at night approx. 9.30 p.m. Thankfully our base camp was just 2 mins walk from the bus stand... As it was the reporting day, Introduction & Orientation was already going on, so I joined the group & then had a dinner... Lights off at 10 p.m., so couldn't enjoy 1st day...

25th Dec. 2013 - Dalhousie [5kms / 2hrs]

2nd day - In the morning after having Tea & Breakfast there was a small session by our Field Director Mr. Chauhan about DO's n Dont's of this trek... Then we started for Dalhousie - very Easy & Beautiful track with fresh snow on the way... Reached to the Youth Hostel by the afternoon... Very Nice, Neat & clean youth hostel in Dalhousie... Snow covered ground in the front of the hostel made it more Beautiful & Enjoyable... In the evening we went to Dalhousie market & Church... Very pleasant weather & Nice place to roam around... Came back before the dinner time & had delicious food :) Very Smooth & Enjoyable day overall...

26th Dec. 2013 -  Kalatop [8kms / 5hrs]

3rd day - Awesome route - completely covered with 2-3 ft. snow with foot steps created by our previous batch mates... Everywhere it was like milky white sheet covered!!! One of the best view in Splendid surroundings of the hills... 

When reached to our Kalatop camp, amazed to see such a Magical view completely covered by snow all over!!! It was my happiest feeling to be in the midst of the snow for the first time in my life!!! Had Welcome drink, then Soup & dinner lil early because of weather condition... It is really appreciable & feeling blessed to get hot drinks & delicious home like nutritious food in minus temperature...

27th Dec. 2013 - Khajjiar [11kms / 7hrs]

4th day - Early morning we got bed tea at 5 a.m. in our room... After breakfast we started trekking to our next destination - Khajjiar...

Khajjiar is called as "The mini Switzerland of HP" - One of the Beautiful places in the Himachal... This route also was completely covered by snow till Khajjiar... We saw land almost after two days!!! In the evening we went outside to visit the lake which was frozen... Greenery all around with Beautiful snowy Mountains with a frozen lake, was giving a look of Switzerland :) Came back; had dinner, Bournvita & then lights off...

28th Dec. 2013 - Mangla [11 kms / 6 hrs] 

5th day - This route is most Memorable!!! Walking through those small small villages in the hilly area throughout the route!!! Very different & Unique experience I must say... People were very helpful, specially lil boys gives you company & helps you to cross their villages through the snow covered routes...

I still remember my jumps (like stepping down through the stairs) to come down through the snowy Mountains instead coming down through narrow & slippery route... Mind blowing experience overall till last camp Mangla... Had Welcome drink & Snacks (Aloo wada)... Then in the evening we all went to Chamba for shopping... Beautiful market in the midst of the mountains... Came back by the dinner time...

29th Dec. 2013 -  Return to Banikhet

6th day - We all were transferred by the bus to our base camp Banikhet... Group departed after lunch followed by Certificate distribution for the successful completion of this trek... I went to Pathankot by bus... Had to wait for 3hrs at Pathankot railway station to catch the train for Delhi...

Though my journey to Dalhousie was not very Easy & Comfortable, still I enjoyed Dalhousie trek a lot as there was a snow fall just before a day & it was my first experience in the snow... Can't wait to go again :)

Thanks to Himanshu for sharing pics...

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