Khajjiar Hill Station

Khajjiar, referred as Mini Switzerland by many tourists, is a little charming hill town located in Himachal Pradesh. It is a perfect place to be explored during an Indian hill station trip. The tranquil Khajjiar town set in the picturesque surroundings lies nearly an hour drive away from Dalhousie. Khajjiar grabbed the attention of Indian and International tourists in 1992 when Willy T. Blazer, then vice Counselor of Switzerland in India termed the Khajjiar region as Mini Switzerland. A signboard put by him showing the distance between Khajjiar and Swiss capital Berne (approx. 6194 km) was seen as a growing significance of the town as a hill resort and tourist destination.

Today, Khajjiar surrounded by dense forests and high peaks appears like a magical land on earth. The region offers numerous tourist attractions, including Kalatope Khajjiar Sanctuary, Khajjiar Lake, Devi Temple, Khajji Nag Temple, etc., for the tourists to enjoy during Khajjiar tour. The climate of Khajjiar remains pleasant throughout the year. The town is easily accessible from other parts of the country and offers nice facilities for the tourists during their Khajjiar trip. Several rest houses dating back to British period add more charm to the splendor of this tranquil place. A number of small villages are settled in Khajjiar area including Rota, Ladi, Khajjiar, etc., which can be visited by the tourists. The view of the charming lake in the middle of the vast open ground is a memorable experience for tourists on Khajjiar tour.

Main Tourist Attractions of Khajjiar

Khajjiar Lake
Resting in the middle of the vast open ground of Khajjiar, this is a lovely attractive lake that gets water from little streams. The lake is considered to be very sacred by the local people as a legend associates it with Khajji-nag, the deity enshrined in the Khajji-nag Temple and worshipped by the local people.

Kalatope Khajjiar Sanctuary
One can explore Kalatope Khajjiar Sanctuary while driving from Dalhousie to Khajjiar. The sanctuary filled with tall, dense deodar trees is a pleasant place to explore during Khajjiar trip.

Khajji Nag Temple
Dating back to 12h century, this temple is dedicated to deity Khajji Nag. The temple lies a short distance away from the lake, and features an impressive carved sanctum made of wood. Pictures of Pandavas and Kauravas are put in temple's mandapa.

How to Reach Khajjiar
Khajjiar lies nearly 25 km from Chamba and is well connected to the other regions of the state by excellent roads. The distance between Khajjiar and Dalhousie is also nearly 25 km. Pathankot, about 120 km away, serves as the nearest railhead to the Khajjiar. Gaggal Airport in Kangra serves as the nearest airport to Khajjiar. Taxis are available from the airport for the Khajjiar town.

Best Time to Visit Khajjiar
April to July and September to mid-November are the best months for Khajjiar trip. From early December, the minimum temperature starts dipping and hovers around freezing point mark for the whole January and mid-February. From March onwards, the weather becomes pleasant and remains such till June. The town receives good rainfall during the rainy months of July and August making the Khajjiar travel somewhat difficult for the tourists.