Dalhousie
About the city
In fact, its abandoned remains, disowned by Lahore due to Partition, have unflatteringly been labelled Dull and Lousy. Yet, a walk around its three malls and wooded loops is anything but dull. It has, for instance, as many as five functioning churches, British-style country houses now converted into hotels, a cemetery spread over nine terraces, a beer brewery (now in ruins) and several colourful rock frescoes painted by the first flood of Tibetan migr's. For most visitors who hop into Dalhousie, the hill station doesn't stretch beyond Gandhi Chowk (earlier the GPO), Subhash Chowk (originally Charing Cross) and a day trip to Kala Tope. Which is just as well, since it has left the rest of the hill station relatively unexplored. In fact, it is still one of those places where an intrepid traveller can, like Rabindranath Tagore in 1873 and Subhash Chandra Bose in 1937, make his own private discovery.Delightful Dalhousie, a hill resort par excellence sprawls picturesquely on five hills on the outer slopes of the Dhauladhar ranges. Lord Dalhousie, the governor-general of British India between 1854 and 1856, founded the resort and conceived it as a sanatorium due to its bracing climate and scenic beauty. The quaint little hill resort surrounded by oak and pine trees still retains the colonial ambience, which is very well reflected in its gable-roofed bungalows and churches. Panchpula or five Bridges: This scenic site has five small bridges over the streams emerging from natural tank. A ‘Samadhi' erected in the memory of Sardar Ajit singh, a freedom fighter and uncle of great martyr Bhagat singh is located here.
Kynace
Netaji subhash Chandra Bose stayed here after his release from British jail. Subhash Baoli: the enchanting water body amidst dense woods was the favourite place o Nataji during his 7 months stay in Dalhouse in 1937. Laxmi Narayan temple: the 150 year old shrine at Sadar Bazar enshrines a beautiful image of Lord Vishnu.Churches
Dalhouse is also known fot its four beautiful churches St. andrew's church and St. Patrick's church at Balum; St. Francis church at Subhash chowk and St. John's church at Gandhi chowk.Radha Swami Satsang Bhawan & Hospital: It is an important site for the followers of the Radha Swami sect of Beas (Punjab). The satsang Bhawan near Moti tibba is visited by large number of followers. The present Radha swami chief Baba Gurinder singh ji visits Dalhousie twice a year.
Yet one more in the list of the summer getaways of the Raj, Dalhousie was once the poor man's Simla. Named after Lord Dalhousie who founded the hill town, it continues to be a popular tourist getaway during the oppressive summer months. Its main attractions even today are largely remnants from the Raj --a legacy of Scottish and Victorian architecture found in its churches and old bungalows. Its culture, however, is mostly Pahari in nature and Tibetan. and it is not for nothing that Dalhousie was declared a popular Raj resort --it is surrounded by the natural beauty of the Dhauladhar range with its snowy peaks and pines. With ample opportunities for treks and walks in its beautiful environs, this lovely hill station is a great escape from the urban summer.
History
Dalhousie was established as a sanatorium by the British in 1853. Here, the sun shone warmly on scented forests of pine and oak, the air was crisp and invigorating, the scenery beautiful. Negotiations were carried on with the Raja of Chamba and in 1853, the plateau of Kathlog, Portreyn, Tehra and Bakrota were transferred to the Government of India against a compensation of Rs. 2000 as an annual tribute to Chamba state. The new sanatorium was named Dalhousie, after Lord Dalhousie, the first British Governor General of India. In 1866, the cantonment area of Balun was also taken over and remains a cantonment to this day.The Dhauladhar range, home to a host of tribals like the Pangwal and Bhot tribes who have inhabited the many hills of this region for centuries, was purchased by the British from the Raja of Chamba in 1853. In 1854, British Governor General Lord Dalhousie created this colonial town and developed it into a hill-station for the benefit of the officers and bureaucrats of the Raj who suffered from the intense heat of the tropical colony.