Dalhousie, Hill station in Chamba district, India
Dalhousie is a hill settlement in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh state, spread over five forested hills at roughly 1970 meters (6460 feet) elevation. Roads wind between pine and deodar trees, while buildings scatter across the sloping terrain.
British colonial authorities founded the settlement in the 1850s as a summer residence and named it after Lord Dalhousie, the then governor-general of India. Officers and soldiers retreated here to escape the hot plains and built churches, schools and administrative buildings.
The settlement serves today as a quiet retreat for Indian families and carries the name of a 19th-century British governor-general. Small wooden houses on the slopes show elements of pahari building style, while markets offer local produce and hand-woven shawls.
The warm months from May to September are best for a stay, while winter months from December to February often bring snowfall and closed mountain roads. Visitors should bring sweaters and waterproof clothing even in summer, as fog and rain can arrive at any time.
The surrounding forests house bears and leopards, which can occasionally be seen at dusk on the edge of the settlement. Freezing nights between December and February turn water sources into frozen sculptures and leave frost on tree branches.
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