KYNANCE:
Kynance is a private residential building of Dharamvirs.
This building was constructed during the year 1933 by Dr.
N.R.Dharamvir of Lahore. This building acquired historical
significance due to the reason that Neta Ji Subhash Chander
Bose, a class fellow of the wife of Dr. Dharamvir, stayed
with them for a period of 7 months beginning May, 1937.
Before arriving in Dalhousie, Neta Ji was in British Jail
where his health had deteriorated. On the request of his
younger brother the British High Court released Neta Ji
on parole on health grounds. It brought Neta Ji to the climate
of Dalhousie. Kynance is barely 50 kms. from G.P.O. It lies
hidden from the public eye below the road. An insignificant
looking board bearing the name of Kynance hangs from a tree
and is discernible to only those tourists who have an eye
for details.
SUBHASH
BAOLI:
Just approximatly 1 km from G.P.O. is a charming natural
spot called Subhash Baoli. Neta ji Subhash Chander Bose
during his 7 months sojourn in Dalhousie in 1937 is believed
to have spent most of his days by the side of this water
body, meditating amidst dense woods of Cedar and meeting
his party workers. This place lies on the G.P.O. - JandriGaht
Road. A canopy with seating facilities has been created
by the local administration at this place.
ST. ANDREW'S
CHURCH:
St. Andrew's Church commonly known as the Church of Scotland
was built in the year 1903 at Baloon by Protestant Christians.
The Church is approximately one and half kms. from Dalhousie's
bus stand. The Church building is in good condition, recently
a brick boundary wall has been erected around it to save
the building from mischief mongers.
ST. PATRICK'S
CHURCH:
This Church is situated in Baloon, Dalhousie Cantt., on
Military Hospital road approximately 2 kms. from main bus
stand. St. Patrick's Church is the largest church in Dalhousie
having a seating capacity of 300 persons in its main hall.
The Church was built in the year 1909 and the dressed-stone
building is still in good condition. This Church was built
exclusively from contribution made by officers and ranks
of the British Army. At present the Church is managed and
maintained by the Catholic Diocese of Jalandhar.
ST. FRANCIS'
CHURCH:
This Catholic Church is a very prominent monument on the
Subhash Chowk. This Church was built in the year 1894 from
the contributions made by Army and Civil Officers and Civilians.
This Church is managed and maintained by the Cathoilic Diocese
of Jalandhar. St. Francis' Church on Prtrain hill is believed
to have been built on the lines of a certain church in England.
Beautiful glass work and intricate stone work can be seen
in the Church. Service is conducted every Sunday.
By the
side of the Church is the residence of the Priest. The building
is called Alverna better known to the local people as "Lambe
Chole Wale Padri Ki Kothi".
ST. JONH'S
CHURCH:
This Church stands on the Gandhi Chowk approximately 2 kms.
from the main bus stand of Dalhousie. This Church was the
first to be built after the town of Dalhousie was founded.
Prior to 1863 a wooden structure stood at this place. The
idea to build a stone structure took birth with the arrival
of Rev. John H. Pratt who came to Dalhousie on 11-04-1863
and inspired the Christian community to build a permanent
church building at this place. Building of this church is
a copy of Roman Catholics church of England but this church
belongs to Protestants. The church building stands in a
good condition but its surroundings demand much better
care. Service is conducted on every Sunday.
LAXMI NARAYAN
TEMPLE:
This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and was built more
than 150 years ago. The temple enshrines a beautiful image
of Lord Vishnu. The temple is frequented by local devotees.
The temple is located in Sadar Bazar approximately 200 mtrs.
from Subhash Chowk.
SHIVKUL:
Shivkul is an Ashram of Vimala Thakur, a re-knowned religious
philosopher lady from Gujarat. Shivkul is on the Mall Road
betwen Gandhi Chowk and Subhash Chowk. From here one can
enjoy the beautiful panorama of Pir Panjal Hills, connecting
Chamba Distt. with Jammu & Kashmir. During summer when
Vimala Hi popularly known as Vimala Bahen comes to Dalhousie
many foreigners as well as Indian disciples of Vimala Ji
from all parts of the coutry and abroad gather in Dalhousie
to attend her lectures on spiritualism.
DAKSHINA
MURTI:
Dakshina Murti is a yoga institution created by Dr. R. P.
Kaushik of Sonepat/Delhi during mid seventies. Dr. Kaushik
travelled all over the world to teach yoga and spiritualism.
He died in July 1987. His followers still come to Dalhousie
and stay at Dakshina Murti 200 mts away from Subhash Chowk
on the small Mall known as Garam Sarak.
NORWOOD
PARAMDHAM:
Norwood is a beautiful House situated on the east of upper
Bakrota Hill of Dalhousie. This house is also known as Kainth
Wali Kothi is a local name given by people of Dalhousie.
Approximately 5 kms from Gandhi Chowk on the Bakrota Mall,
the kothi is surrounded by thick forest of deodars.
BANIKHET:
Seven kms short of Dalhousie is Banikhet - the gateway to
Dalhousie. At Banikhet the road bifurcates for Chamba and
Dalhousie. This small place has gained importance with the
setting-up of residential colony of Chamera Hydro-electric
Project. There is a PWD rest house at Banikhet. A Nag temple
in Padhar Maidan now called mini stadium is a place of worship
for the people of Banikhet and villages around. The temple
is approximately 150 years old.
KALATOP:
Kalatop and Khajiar are best explored if you take a three
days walk from Dalhousie to Kalatop, Khajjiar and back Dalhousie.The
trek is more or less level and requires good health, a pair
of sturdy walking shoes. Kalatop is 10 kms from G.P.O.
at an altitude of 8000 feet. Walking along the secluded
and forested road through upper Nakorota hills, one reaches
Lakkarmandi. Between G.P.O. and Lakkarmandi lies the Dalhousie
water system, Tibetan Handicraft Centre and Dalhousie Potato
Farm at Ahla. Lakkarmandi is nestled between 8600 feet high
DayanKund peak on its right and Kalatop on the left. Dayan
Kund has military installations and is closed to civilians
except the local people who visit Bhulwani Mata temple near
DayanKund.

KHAJIAR:
23 kms from Dalhousie by road and 13 kms from Kalatop is
the mini Switzerland of India at a height of 6400 ft. Hutchison
writes, "Khajjiar is a forest glade of great beauty, 6400
feet above sea level".
Khajjiar is often reffered
to as "Gulmarg of Himachal Pradesh". The lush green meadows
are surrounded by thick pine and cedar forests. Grazing
herds of sheep, goats and other milch cattle present a prefect
pastoral scenery. There is a small lake in the center of
the saucer shaped meadow which has in it a floating island.
Much of the lake has degenerated into slush because of heavy
silting during rains. Still the landscape of Khajjiar is
picturesque and a photographer's delight.
A little away from the lake
is the temple of Khajji Nag belonging to 12th C. AD. In
the mandapa of the temple one can see the images of the
Pandavas and the defeated Kaurvas hanging from the roof
of the circumambulatory path. The sanctum of the temple
has been beautifully carved from wood.
There is a Tourism Hotel and
some Tourism cottages at Khajjiar where the tourists can
stay . Besides there are two rest houses one each of P.W.D.
and Forest Deptt. A couple of private hotels have also come
up, which do not match the above places in terms of location
and amenities. Bus service to and from Khajjiar is limited
and timings change according to local demands. There used
to be a golf course in Khajjiar which is not maintained.
The best entertainment in Khajjiar is to walk around the
lake or to go for long walks in the thick pine forests.
Children enjoy this place because of the freedom of movement
and the slopy terrain which permits them to roll down to
the lake without getting hurt. Another attraction like any
other hill station is horse riding.
MANI-MAHESH:
In the month of August/September the famous JATRA of Mani-Mahesh
commences from Laxmi-Narayana Temple in Chamba. The CHHARI
is taken to the sacred lake of Mani-Mahesh, which is one
of the chief tirthas in the district. Off late people from
north India and beyond have started visiting this sacred
lake. According to an estimate nearly one lakh people visit
this sacred lake every year and take a holy dip. The lake
is situated at the height of 13,500 feet above sea level
and at the base of Mani-Mahesh Kailsah peak (18,564 feet).
Mani-Mahesh kailash is a virgin peak. In 1968 an Indo-Japanese
team led by Nandini Patel made an unsuccessful attempt to
scale the peak. The devout attribute the failure to the
divine prowesses of the holy mountain. On the margin of
the lake is a small marble Shivlaing called CHAUMUKHA.
CHHATRARI:
45 kms from Chamba via road is this famous village of Chhartrari.
The village is inhabited mostly by the Gaddies who are semi-postral
lot engaged in rearing of sheep and goats. This village,
situated at a height of 6000 feet, its famous for its remarkable
hill-style temple of Shamti Devi.
The temple of Chhatrari is
regarded as one of the holiest ones competing with well
known temples of "Lakshna Devi" at Bharmour and of "Bhawani"
at Kangra. The construction of the temple is simple. It
consists of a small Cell or sanctuary in which one of the
rare brasses by the master craftsman Gugga is enshrined.
The walls of the temple are built of rubble masonry alternating
with beams of wood. The structure is surmounted by a sloping
roof of slate. The roof is supported by richly craved wooden
posts which form a VARANDAH or circumambulatory path round
the sanctum. The Shakti Devi temple is of interest owning
to the elaborate decoration of its facade, ceiling and pillar.
The sanctum, its architecture and sculpture betray a conscious
effort on part of its builder to introduce a highly refined
post Gupta art in this remote part of Chamba.
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