Travel destination in India, Khajjiar

 
 

General Information about KHAJJIAR

Khajjiar : Switzerland of India.
Altitude : 2,000 metres.
Language : Hindi, Parhari .
Best Time to Visit : mid-May to mid-October, late December to March.
State : Himachal Pradesh.
STD Code : 01899.

About Khajjiar

A few kilometers from Dalhousie lies Khajjiar, which is one ofthe major tourist attractions in the area. Dubbed "Switzerland of India" by tourism authorities, Khajjiar features beautiful emerald meadows surrounded by thick deodar (cedar) forests. Located at the center of the sloping meadows is a small bog-like pond into which water from the surrounding meadows and forests drains. Khajjiar was probably a glacial bowl formed during the last Himalayan ice age and left with a morainic lake that gradually withered away.

Khajjiar is among the 160 locations in the world that bear topographical resemblance with Switzerland. In 1992, Mr. Willy T. Blazer, Vice Counselor and head of Chancery of Switzerland in India, brought Khajjiar on the world tourism map by christening it "Mini Switzerland". The counselor also took from Khajjiar a stone, which will form part of a stone collage around the Swiss Parliament to remind the visitors of Khajjiar as Mini Switzerland of India. Khajjiar is embedded beneath a dense pine forest, surrounded by high mountains and fringed by gigantic deodars. Along its fringes, amidst the thick forests above the woods and in the center of the glade, is a small lake fed by streams that traverse the green carpet.

CLIMATE

In winter, the temperature hovers around freezing point with snowfalls, heavy woolens are required. In summer, the climate is mild and light woolens/cottons are recommended.

HOW TO REACH THERE


By Air : Nearest airport is Gaggal ( Kangra ) 134 km. via 'Siunta' and Amritsar 213 km.

By Road : Khajjiar is connected by road and is 26 km from Dalhousie and 24 km from Chamba. It is 520 km from Delhi.

By Rail : The closest railhead is at Pathankot, 120 km away.

MAIN ATTRACTIONS IN KHAJJIAR

Golden Devi Temple : Adding to the charms of Khajjiar is a golden domed Devi Temple. The golden spire of Devi's abode beckon's one to the fringe of the lake.

Khajjiar Lake : Khajjiar lake is in Chamba district. 16 kms from Dalhousie and 25 kms from Chamba. Fed by slim streams, this small lake rests in the centre of the large glade of Khajjiar. The glade and the lake are held sacred to Khajjinag - after whom the place is named. Khajjiar has the thick forest of the Kalatope sanctuary surrounding its soft green grass.

Kalatope Khajjiar Sanctuary : It's possible to trek 30-km from Dalhousie to Chamba along the eastbound road from Gandhi Chowk. A short but steep ascent leads to the Kalatope wildlife sanctuary, from which one can walk into a pleasant track.

Khajji Nag Temple : A little away from the lake is the temple of Khajji Nag belonging to 12th century A.D. 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.

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