Khajjiar, Himachal Pradesh

Khajjiar, located at an altitude of 1960 m above sea-level, is often called the Switzerland of India, with its rolling meadows, majestic deodars, bubbly streams, and the sheer opulence of its natural beauty. The snow - line appears above its lush woods, and at the very centre of this divine glade, is a lake fed by countless streams that criss - cross the area.

Also called as 'Gulmarg of Himachal Pradesh', it has been aptly described by Hutchinson as - "Khajjiar is a forest glade of great beauty, 6,400 feet above sea level".

Khajjiar's is located between Dalhousie and Chamba. It is a major landmark is a 12th century, golden - domed temple dedicated to Khajjinag, which houses huge, life size wooden images of the 5 Pandava brothers.

Khajjiar that is located in the north-western part of the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is perched at an altitude of 1951 m above sea level. Khajjiar is 22 km from Dalhousie and 24 km from Chamba.

History of Khajjiar

The local Rajput rulers ruled Chamba valley in the 6th century ad and made it their capital city. This region became the part of the Mughal Empire in the medieval period and later came under various Sikh kingdoms. Finally, it was taken over by the British. It became a part
of the state of Himachal Pradesh when it came into being on April 15, 1948.

Places to Visit

The Lake Set in the rolling green turf is a small lake. One gets out of the car to go to the lake but the ground seems to give way. The earth is 'spongy' due to dense growth of weed called 'vacha' over which dust has formed a thick layer of earth.
Khajinag Temple

Khajjiar, known as one of the most charming spots in the Himalayas, derives its name from its ancient, golden-domed temple of Khajinag. The 12th-century Khajinag temple is a small shrine dedicated to the local Goddess or the Devi. This temple is also known as the Golden Devi temple, as it is adorned with a golden dome and spire. Pilgrims visiting the Chamba valley often come to this temple.

Nine Hole Golf course

A nine-hole golf course is an added attraction at Khajjiar.
Climate of Khajjiar

The climate of Khajjiar is alpine Summers (April-June) are mild and winters (November February) are cold and bitter. It experiences southwestern monsoon rains in July-September.

The best time to visit Khajjiar is between March and June

Nearby Sight-seeing Places

Chamba
The town of Chamba is 24 km from Khajjiar. Chamba is located in a picturesque valley, amongst the Shivalik ranges and is famous for its medieval temples.
Dalhousie
The hill station of Dalhousie is 22 km from Khajjiar and is a popular
summer retreat set amongst the lower Himalayan ranges.

To reach Khajjiar, follow the following routes-
By air

The nearest airport is at Gaggal, in Kangra ( 180 km ).
By Train

The nearest railhead is at Pathankot ( 120 km ).
By Road

Khajjiar is connected by road, and is 26 km from Delhi and 24 km from Chamba.

The quiet and tranquil place of Khajjar is located in Himachal Pradesh, near Chamba and Dalhousie. The place serves as the perfect travel destination for those travelers who want some respite from maddening crowd of cities.

Kangra - A Valley to Watch

Kangra Valley is located in the western province of the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is 18 km south of Dharamshala and is one of the prettiest valleys of Himachal with its lush green terraces & orchards, overlooking a gushing stream - the Banganga.

Kangra valley routes out near Mandi, runs north, then bends west and extends to Shahpur near Pathankot.

The valley, sheltered by the sublime Dhauladhar range, is green and luxuriant. The area around Kangra is known for its old temples and serene surroundings and as a centre of the arts. Despite the onslaughts and political upheavels, the arts and crafts of the region continued to develop and found lyrical expressions. Crafts like the exquisitely designed shawls and miniature paintings of this region are internationally appreciated.

There are several tea gardens dedicated to the production of both green and black tea. The people of the valley are well built and are known for their dedicated services to the nation as soldiers. Kangra Valley, is an ideal place for adventure and sports activities like mountaineering, trekking, rock climbing and fishing , it is this valley which witness annually Hang-gliding rally.

Topography of the region allows existence of many peaks between 3500 m to 5000 m in Dhauladhar ranges. Most of the treks are operational from May to October. Pilgrims flock to Kangra in the month of April for the Navratra celebrations, and in September-October, before the Dussehra festival, to pay their homage to Goddess Durga at the Vajreshwari (Kangra Devi) temple.


Weather

The weather in Kangra is alpine. Summers (April-June) are mild and winters are cold (November-February). It experiences south-west monsoon rains in July-September. The Kangra region receives the second highest rainfall per annum. The best time to visit Kangra is between March and June.
Places to Visit in Kangra

There are many a attractions in the green picturseque valley to pay a visit. These include Brajeshwari Devi Temple, Kangra Fort, Maharana Pratap Sagar, Kangra Art Museum, Masroor, Dharamshala , Jwalamukhi Temple, Pong Dam Sanctuary.

Kangra Fort

This ruined historical structure, Nagar Kot is located 2.5 km south of the town, perched on a high windswept ridge. One can enjoy the panoramic view of the surroundings, which includes the confluence of Manjhi and Baner rivers from its top.

Maharana Pratap Sagar Dam
Named in honour of the great patriot Maharana Pratap (1572-97 AD), over the river Beas, the Pong dam was completed in 1976. Its reservoir covers an area of about 45,000 hectares at maximum possible flooding.The level varies every season and averages around 30,000
hectares. Over 200 villages with a population of over 85000 people lie along the wetland. The lake is well served by a network of roads.
Kangra Art Museum

This museum has miniature paintings from the Kangra school of art, which flourished in the Kangra valley during the 17th century, it also has elaborately embroidered costumes of Kangra people, woodcarvings and tribal jewellery

Jwalamukhi Temple

The famous temple of Jwalamukhi is 30kms. from Kangra and 56 kms from Dharamshala. Dedicated to the "GODDESS OF LIGHT", the temple is one of the most popular Hindu temples in northern India. There is no idol of any kind the flame is considered as a manifestation of the goddess. An eternally burning and shining blue flame emanates from the rock sanctum and is fed by the priests with the offerings of devotees. The golden tower (dome) of the temple was a gift from the Emperor Akbar.

Masroor

Known for its monolithic rock temples, Masroor is 15kms. south of Kangra. There are 15 rock cut temples in Indo-Aryan style and richly carved. The temples partly ruined now are profusely decorated with sculptural ornamentations , conceived in the same manner as the great temple of Kailash at Elora in Maharastra with which they bear a striking resemblance. The main temple is dedicated to Lord Ram, Lakshman and Sita.

Pong Dam Sanctuary

Pong Dam Sanctuary, the lake, created by damming the Beas River in 1976, lies in Kangra District on the border with Punjab State. The area under this Sanctuary is 32,270ha using digitised maps. The lake level fluctuates between 335m and 436m. All land above 440m within a 5km radius of the lake (an area of about 20,000ha) is notified as a buffer zone. Pong Dam Sanctuary lies between the outer Siwaliks and Daula Dhar, Pong Dam is the largest standing water body in Himachal Pradesh and covers about 7,000ha at its maximum extent. It includes
one permanent island (Ransar) and several others that are periodically connected to the shore. Five perennial streams flow south-west into the reservoir, namely Bul Khad, Dehr Kad, Dehri Kad, Gaj Khad and Baner Kad. Conditions are monsoonal, with hot humid summers and cool,
dry winters.
Brajeshwari Devi Temple

Just outside the town is the temple dedicated to Brajeshwari Devi. It was completely devastated in 1905 by an earthquake and then was rebuilt in 1920. A large number of devotees gather in the temple premises during various Hindu festivals.


To reach Kangra that is 170 km from Chandigarh, 110 km from Amritsar, 55 km. from headquarters at Dharamshala, the closest railway stations are at Mukerian 30 km, and Pathankot at 32 km. The closest airport is Gaggal 40 k.m.