5/5 ANANT S. 4 years ago on Google
My
first
memory
or
impression
of
Dalhousie
is
of
a
quintessential
English
garrison
town
nestled
high
up
in
the
Himalayas.
This
impression
was
formed
because
the
entrance
to
the
town,
through
the
main
chowk,
had
a
Tank
among
other
military
memorabilia
welcoming
us.
It
is
said
that
this
town
is
spread
across
5
hills.
There
is
an
old-world
charm
about
the
place
and
amongst
the
many
colonial-era
buildings
and
churches
that
dot
the
town's
pristine
landscape.
There
is
a
fragrance
of
Scottish
and
Victorian
architecture
in
the
air
and
the
ambiance
is
ripe
with
a
British
hangover.
Some
of
the
churches
here
are
St.
Francis
and
St.
John’s,
which
date
back
to
the
1800s
during
the
British
Raj.
It
also
offers
a
mesmerizing,
natural
landscape
with
pine-dotted
slopes,
misty
mountains,
flowing
rivers,
spectacular
views,
pollution-free
air,
and
natural,
fresh-water
springs.
No
wonder
it
earned
the
sobriquet
"Little
Switzerland".
Of
all
the
hill
stations
I
have
visited
over
the
years,
Dalhousie
stands
out.
It's
the
kind
of
place
you
would
want
to
settle
down
at
once
you
retire.
Among
the
most
famous
peaks
you
can
trek
up
and
down
here
are
Panch
Pulla,
Satdhara
Falls,
Kalatop
and
the
Daikund
peak.
A
trek
up
Dainkund
Peak,
2755
meters
above
sea
level
and
the
highest
point
in
Dalhousie,
leads
to
the
Pholani
Devi
Temple.
The
peak
is
right
on
the
border
with
China
and
you
have
restricted
access
as
the
Air
Force
has
radar
and
other
sensitive
equipment
installed
in
the
area.
This
peak
is
a
must-visit
as
it
offers
a
bird’s
eye
view
of
the
astonishing
verdant
valleys
below
and
mountains
across.
Dalhousie
also
has
a
mountaineering
school
instituted
by
the
Indian
Army
to
raise
high-altitude
combat-capable
regiments.
To
the
north,
you
will
find
the
Subhash
Baoli,
a
peaceful
area
with
pine
trees
and
panoramic
views.
It
is
named
after
Subhash
Chandra
Bose,
the
father
and
founder
of
the
Indian
National
Army
and
one
of
our
most
prominent
freedom
fighters.
He
had
spent
a
lot
of
time
in
the
Dalhousie
region,
and
this
is
where
he
used
to
sit
and
meditate,
while
he
was
recuperating
from
an
illness.
It
is
said
that
the
natural
mineral
springs
in
this
area,
and
their
medicinal
properties,
rejuvenated
Bose
and
he
returned
to
raise
the
INA.
Today,
a
plaque
and
a
spring
at
the
Baoli
stand
testament
to
Bose's
time
here
and
to
the
spring's
curing
abilities.
Any
individual
suffering
from
ill-health
or
weakness
on
account
of
illness
can
stay
at
this
peaceful
place,
meditate,
take
a
bath
in
the
medicinal
water
of
the
stream,
and
revitalize
his
or
her
health.
Dalhousie
is
a
little
paradise
on
earth.
We
are
fortunate
it
is
in
India.
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