Best place for a summer sojourn. Review on Dalhousie

From the scorching heat of chennai, I had been to Dalhousie.. via delhi. The trip from Delhi to Pathankot by Shalimar express, to say the least, was irritating. Despite traveling in a reserved coach, there was a maddening crowd getting in the compartment at all stations, forcing us to adjust seating with them (to the extent that 6 ppl were sitting in a 3-seat bay)..the journey was an ordeal till ambala station..

All this was forgotten the moment we landed in Pathankot and hired a taxi to Dalhousie..the temperature change in the climate become evident half-way through and the journey was getting more pleasurable..

Once in Dalhousie, we had booked in ''Hotel Spring'', which is a 10-minute walk distance from ''Gandhi Chowk'', the main shopping area in Dalhousie. Though the place does not boast of many items which are not common in other places, it is good. In fact, I could buy a casette for my latest panasonic video camera there !!(which I really assumed I wouldn't get there).

Though Dalhousie doesn't boast of a mall a la Simla, or of many site-seeing places a la Kulu, Manali, etc., it still has a few delights to offer.. like the Kalatope sanctuary. This place, situated higher than Dalhousie in terms of sea-level it still cooler and a delight. Also, the Panchpula.. where there is a small waterfall.. there are all indications that water rushes there in the winter months.. but in the peak summer, still there was a small steady flow of water and the climb up, which was a small trek was wonderful..then, there's the champa like to visit..

I stayed for 3 days in Dalhousie.. and every evening, we used to visit the gandhi chowk and do window shopping. Locals suggest not to purchase clothings, etc in Dalhousie, the reason being that they are priced very high..

I would strongly recommend ppl. willing to take a break in summer, to visit Dalhousie and be close with nature...