Thanks to Bollywood movies, we all, at some point in our life, have dreamed of visiting the Swiss Alps. But who said you need to go all the way to Europe to enjoy such landscape? Because, right here, in India, we have the same landscape, put together in a compact little Himalayan town. Welcome to Khajjiar- the official Mini Switzerland of India. The Himalayan town in the Chamba Valley of Himachal Pradesh assumes the classic look and feel of an Alpine settlement with little cottages dotting the velvety slopes and enveloped by grasslands, pine and deodar forests, and not to mention, the wonderful weather.
How Best to Reach Khajjiar
The tiny hill town is located in the north-west part of Himachal Pradesh, about 22 KM from Dalhousie and 24 Km from Chamba. The place serves as a pit-stop for travelers heading to Dalhousie or other neighboring towns. You can start your journey from Delhi via cab or bus. There are also trains till Chamba. But for a safe, comfortable journey, book one of the most reliableand popular chauffeur-driven cabs and enjoy the scenic route.
When to visit
The best time to travel to any mountain location is either when nature is in full bloom, or when it is covered in snow. With an alpine climate and vegetation, Khajjiar calls for a visit in the spring-summer months between March and June, when you can actually experience fresh greenery and the wonderful weather, giving you a heavenly experience of the locale.Rent a Savaari car from Delhi and hit the road! Alternatively, if you are looking to spend a white Christmas, then try visiting in winter and enjoy the snowfall between November and February.
What’s in store?
The village of Khajjiar is named after the local presiding deity- Khajinag and the temple named after the sacred goddess. Later, as world travelers explored and discovered the beauty of Khajjiar, the place earned quite a recognition and its sobriquet. In 1992, Vice Counselor of Switzerland, Mr. T. Willy Blazer, found this town uncannily similar to the Swiss villages and named this hamlet “Mini Switzerland.
So, while you are in Khajjiar, here are a few things you can do and a few places you can explore for the ultimate experience:
Stay at an alpine resort- There are a handful of accommodation options within the town perimeters. But each one of them provides you with the best view of the landscape and lets you enjoy the locale.
Explore the Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary- This forested area with dense coverage of pine, deodar, and other Himalayan trees, is a popular trekking zone. Take a walk through the nature trails that run parallel to the streams and meet the Ravi River. The sanctuary is home to deer, the extremely rare Himalayan Serow, jackals, leopards, black bear, wild cats, barking goral, Himalayan black marten, among many other rare and endangered species of wildlife.
For those traveling with family, the rolling meadows of Khajjiar make for a great outdoor time. Take a ride on a pony and saunter across the grassland or enjoy have fun with a zorbing session on the green slopes. You can also do paragliding and enjoy the panoramic views of the locale.
If you are looking for a more relaxed day, head to the only nine-hole golf course in the area and enjoy a tee-time!
Sit by the Khajjiar Lake and absorb the breathtaking vistas of the Himalayas, the grasslands, and the bounties of nature that turn this place into a live painting.
And that pretty much sums up a couple of days’ trip to mini Switzerland. On your next holiday, lose yourself to the charm of this fairytale land, without having to travel far and wide.