Dalhousie

Dalhousie was established in 1854 as a hill retreat and named for the governor general, laid out across five hills between about 1,900 and 2,400 metres with the Dhauladhar range in view. It kept much of that character: colonial churches including St John's and St Francis, bungalows in the pines, and two level walking circuits round the hills, Garam Sadak and Thandi Sadak, the warm and cold roads, named for how much sun each gets. Subhash Baoli and Panchpula are spring and waterfall spots on the walks. Rabindranath Tagore stayed here as a boy, and the town has a long literary association.

What you actually see

• The two circuit walks - Garam Sadak and Thandi Sadak round the hills.
• The colonial churches - St John's and St Francis in stone.
• Panchpula - streams and a waterfall on the walking route.
• The Dhauladhar view - the range visible from the upper hills on clear days.

When to go

March to June and September to November; the monsoon brings heavy rain in this part of Himachal. Winter is cold with occasional snow. May and June are the busy season.

Honest expectations

The town is spread over hills with steep walking between the parts. Development has grown but it remains quieter than Shimla or Manali, which for some is the point and for others means less to do.

Nearby

Khajjiar lies northeast; Chamba is further on.