DALHOUSIE Area in Sq Km : 17 Population : 8600 By Air Dalhousie does not have an airport. The nearest international airport is Delhi. International flights from all over the world land here. It is connected to all destinations within the country by Indian Airlines and other national carriers such as Jet Airways and Sahara. The closest domestic airport is at Jammu. By Train Dalhousie does not have a railhead. The closest railway station is at Pathankot which is 9 hours by train from Delhi. The distance between Pathankot to Dalhousie can only be negotiated through a bus or a taxi. By Road Dalhousie is very well connected by buses. There are direct buses from Delhi, Shimla, Chandigarh and Pathankot. Between March and November is the best time to visit this city. From the Airport You can hire a cab to Dalhousie from the Delhi airport. The option is to go to the city and catch a bus or a train to Pathankot. The rest of the journey can only be done by road. There are several deluxe and ordinary buses available from Pathankot to Dalhousie. From the Railway Station Taxis or buses are easily available at the Pathankot railway station From the Bus Station Though taxis are available, you can walk to your place of stay from the local bus stand. Porters are available to carry your luggage. Most of Dalhousie can be seen on foot. Taxis and buses are available for trips out of town. At a height of 2,000m approximately, nestled in the thick pine forests of the Shivalik Ranges, is the quaint little town of Dalhousie. Though this is the most frequented hill station in the Chamba valley it has retained all it's old-worldly charm. The town itself is spread over five hills and is characterized by a winding road that connects at focal points or Chowks. The British bought the area of Dalhousie from the Raja of the princely state of Chamba in 1853. Thereafter, the town was named after Lord Dalhousie, the Governor General of Punjab (1849-56). In 1867, it became a municipality and in the 1920s and 20s it became a cheaper alternative to the hill station of Shimla. Today, it provides a cool retreat for the traveller. The best way to see Dalhousie is to walk; there are umpteen number of short walks that one can take. Most of these have splendid nature views and are far from the crowded streets that form Dalhousie's centre. Walks around town which interest tourists are the rather piquantly named Thandi Sadak (Cool Street) and Garam Sadak (Warm Street). Both take you off the Mall and show you the quieter side to Dalhousie. The walk around the Sacred Heart School at Subhash Chowk is also great fun. The road forms a figure of eight from Sacred Heart to the GPO. The old quarters of Dalhousie too give the town a musty, nostalgic air. Dalhousie has four old churches which you will encounter during your walks; do look inside, they are worth a look. The Subash Chowk and Gandhi Chowk are the main market areas. Dalhousie has a cool and pleasant climate throughout the year, barring winter, which is extremely cold with occasional snowfall.