A small hill station in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, Khajjiar has earned itself the name of Mini Switzerland in India, or even Mini Switzerland in Himachal Pradesh. This place has a peaceful, and uplifting vibe to it, the lightly snow-capped mountains, picture-perfect views, and much more.
How often do we compare beautiful sites, culture, dishes, and something else that is Indian, looking down on them, and singing words of praise for something international? It might make you uneasy, but this is what happens, even though those words of praise are well deserved, yet handed out so effortlessly, setting up the international level as the benchmark.
Despite all this comparison, there is one thing that absolutely cannot be denied, and that is the beauty of India, and its places to visit. One such place that boasts of its unparalleled beauty, putting even the international benchmarks to shame, is the Mini Switzerland of India– Khajjiar.
Khajjiar isn’t said to be mini Switzerland in India just because it’s a beautiful hillside with breath-taking views, it has got a lot more to offer you, be it the activities here, the culture, the food, and much more. Ready to unwrap the secrets and hidden beauty of Khajjiar, hop along, as we lay bare the beauty of this place, for you to cherish.
While traveling to the Mini Switzerland of India, do not forget to explore the following places:
- Khajjiar Lake
- Khajji Nag Temple
- Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary
Also, do not worry about lodgements, the following restaurants are the best in the town to cater to you with an opulent stay in Mini Switzerland in India:
- Fortune Heights
- Aamod Anantham
- Country Resort
- Deodar Manor
- Fortune Park Dalhousie
- Hotel Mini Swiss Khajjiar
- Zostel Dalhousie
All the foodies here is some good news for you too. After discovering the things to do in Khajjiar, the following dishes must be on your itinerary when you feel like delving into delicacies:
- Sidu
- Patande
- Kull Trout
- Grilled Fishes
- Guchhi Matta
- Kaddu Ka Khatta
- Sepu Vadi
Places to Visit
There is beauty in everything that you see in Khajjiar, but for those, who are planning to hold off their trip to Khajjiar just because there isn’t any tourist spot here, hold your horses, because you are in for a beautiful surprise.
Even though Khajjiar, is one of the remotely known, best-kept secrets when it comes to the hill stations of India, that doesn’t stop Khajjiar from flaunting its fair share of beautiful places, some of them listed below:
- Khajjiar Lake
- Khajji Nag Temple
- Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary
Khajjiar Lake-
Amidst the saucer-shaped meadows and the dense cedar forests, Khajjiar Lake is one of the most beautiful spots. If you are looking for things to do in Khajjiar, then a visit to this lake should be on your list. The main highlight here is the floating island, which is nothing but grass growing on the lake’s surface. Hordes of backpackers descend on the lake to urge their adrenaline fix – from paragliding to horse riding and zorbing, there are many activities on offer. Not keen on an adventure? Fret not – you’ll simply relax and soak in spectacular views of Mount Kailash from the lake.
The best time to visit Khajjiar lake and enjoy the best of this Mini Switzerland of India is in the summer. The months from April to July have a moderate climate and also happen to be the peak tourism months of the year.
-
Khajji Nag Temple-
Out of all the places to visit in Khajjiar, the Khajji Nag temple stands amongst the most peaceful ones. The Khajji Nag temple is an 800-year-old temple stationed on the banks of Khajjiar Lake. Dedicated to the Lord of Serpents, Khaji Nag, the temple catches the attention with its Hindu and Mughal architecture, complete with a gilded dome and complex wood carvings. The temple was erected in the 12th century and has idols of snakes, Lord Shiva, and Goddess Hadimba, also as images of the Pandavas and Kauravas.
The summer months of April to July are the ideal ones to visit the Khajji Nag Temple. You can visit this temple when you reach Khajjiar as it is only 1 km away from there.
-
Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary-
How much nature is too much nature? The answer to that, if you are looking for would be, that nature can never be enough, the idea and the view might change, but nature is forever, and the connection with nature cannot be severed no matter who you are, where you are. With this thought in mind, there is no way you can miss out on Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary.
Head out to the lush, bounties of the kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary, for your natural refill. The sanctuary, which is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, is one of the major attractions for those on a trip to mini Switzerland of India. Be prepared to go face to face with the yellow-throated martens, jackals, leopards, gorals, deer, bears, and langur monkeys. The dense deodar forests provide the perfect habitat for the animals here and a beautiful and picturesque appeal to the entire area. On top of that, if you are a big fan of trekking, you are going to fall in love with this place!
The months from April to October are considered to be the best to visit the kalatop wildlife sanctuary during your trip to Khajjiar. The sanctuary remains open from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm so you can drop by the day anytime when you visit. The sanctuary is 15 km away from Khajjiar, you can easily find cabs or local transport services to take you there.
Adventure Sports in Khajjiar
Let’s be honest here, who doesn’t love a little adventure? Well, we all do, as long as there is some guarantee of safety along with it. But, even then, we only live once, so, it’s not like we have got multiple lives to try it again, so why not live in the moment, and just do it.
You plan a trip to Khajjiar and don’t include some thrilling activities in your itinerary, now that doesn’t look like a sensible choice to make. In a place like Khajjiar, where everything from the weather, price, and environment is perfect for such activities, how can someone turn a blind eye to these activities? Sure enough, neither can you, all you lack is insight and in no time you will be planning a full-fledged trip to Khajjiar, with all these activities as a part of your beautiful itinerary.
-
Horse-riding:
You simply cannot miss the adventure sports in Khajjiar. An activity that has a huge fanbase not just among the tourists, but the locals as well. Horse riding is not just an adventure activity for the people in Khajjiar, but a popular means of commuting as well. The bonding with nature fits well for the people, as not only do they get their livelihood out of this but also help develop deeper ties with the fauna of the place. This activity is not only for people of all age groups, but rather it is soothing and rejuvenating to some, at the same time, the children love this activity.
Read more: 19 Hidden places to visit in South Goa: Get the Best Experience!
-
Paragliding:
The basic starter pack for adventure activities, if there were any, would include paragliding in it for sure. No matter what hill station, this activity can be found almost everywhere. The basis for this activity is the same almost everywhere, but here in Khajjiar, when you glide above those vast, beautiful meadows, and let those beautiful views sink in, the peace that settles in is out of this world. Paragliding in Khajjiar is not just an activity, it is a complete experience in itself. The activity can be done near the Khajjiar park at a verdant green hilltop, which also offers abundant views of the holy Mount Kailash.
What’s more, the price range for this activity makes it even more lucrative, with the price range falling between the 1500 to 4000 rupees bracket, this is sure to be a win-win deal for you.
-
Zorbing:
Safety in an adventure activity? Sounds fishy right? But that is what this activity is actually about. Let yourself be put inside a ball, with cushioning on each side to help keep you secure. Once you start zorbing in Khajjiar and set to roll, the real fun starts.
The meadows add to the fun, roll-off steep slopes, or even run free on the open grounds, as you take your turn tumbling and turning, without worrying about your safety even once. Bump into others, push others, there is a lot that you can do by being an active or a passive participant in this activity. One round of zorbing costs roughly INR 200 for one person at Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary.
Also Read: 32 Best Winter Vacation Destinations in India in 2022
-
Ziplining:
Enough with the fun and games, this is where the real fun kicks in, the ziplining in Khajjiar. No matter what the activity is, this one is sure to get your adrenaline pumping. Feel the blood rushing through your body as you hang from a rope and travel from one end to the other. As if the activity itself wasn’t enough fun, the breathtaking scenery makes up for the lost view, that you would have failed to capture from the ground otherwise.
Pick a high spot, and as you travel down, let the meadows and mountains all shrink in size right in front of your eyes. Allow yourself to become one with the wind, as you zoom past the meadows and let nothing but wind carry you.
Read More: 15 Amazing Hill stations near Kolkata
Local Dishes of Mini Switzerland
Amidst the fun and travel, another major aspect of travel cannot be missed out, food. You got that right, to travel, and to maintain the energy to have fun, it is important to keep the hunger at bay. And what more to do, other than the amazing food in Khajjiar.
- Sidu is one of the popular cookeries of Himachal and is made from wheat, savored along with adulation. It’s considered a special delicacy and is generally prepared on auspicious occasions.
- Patande is also another popular dish in the Sirmour quarter of the state. Patande is made of wheat and is analogous to that of a hotcake. The delicious meat that you will eat here is intrinsically cooked with several regional spices like clove, cinnamon, and cardamom, adding to a tempting aroma and taste, which is enough to stone your appetite.
- Grilled Fishes, Kull Trout and Chicken Anardana are some of the popular dishes belonging to the non-vegetarian group.
- The submissive excursionists can try Guchhi Matta, Kaddu ka Khatta, and sepu vadi, some of which are the famed special delectables of this state.
Conclusion
All in all, this trip is worth being on your itinerary as this mini Switzerland in India has continued to entice all visitors with its beauty and charm ever since. Pack your bags and be ready to commence this unforgettable yet incredible trip during your next summer vacation or weekend getaway. All these activities and all you have to do is join hands with HotelDekho.com for more of these fun activities, like cycling tours, travel tours, and much more.
