Kalatop Forest — Attraction in Himachal Pradesh

One of the best places to be visited near Dalhousie. Cannot be missed if possible. It has forest rest houses in the sanctuary. One can actually book them prior. For booking one needs to contact circle office of the PWD department. Most information regarding phone numbers and procedure can be searched for. This place has lush green surroundings. On can have early morning tea breakfast at the roof top restaurant here with snow clad mountains view. This rest house is around 3 kms inside from the diversion point on the way to khajjar. Small taxis are available at main entrance point. They charge Rs. 1000 for an omni that can carry 6 people. Rs. 250 entry charge is included in this amount. This forest is famous for leopards and brown bear. It's highly risky to travel towards khajjar in the night hours as one needs to pass by this sanctuary. Roads are very rough with valley on one side and mountain on another . So you are left with just around 5 feet width of road. One can also plan to trek in the forests but would be great if in a group. Do plan your journey here if you planning to visit Dalhousie...

A nice and quiet place to go hiking. Starting from Lakkad Mandi, there is a 3km mud road surrounded by deodar trees, ending at Forest Rest House Kalatop.

The main attraction of this place is the hiking experience. It may not be worth visiting if you plan to take a car till FRH Kalatop because there is not much to see on the way or at the destination. If you are the kind of traveller who expect to get a view or see something at the destination, this place may disappoint you. But if you are someone who travel for experiencing, then this place is for you.

We had visited here in last week of December, 2022, and were lucky to experience our first ever snowfall (though a very slight one) from here.

There is bus service from Khajjiar at around 10-10.30am till Lakkad Mandi, and from there you can hike 3km till FRH Kalatop and...

This a forest turned into a tourist attraction. The place claims to contain animals like deers and has boards for snow leopard(lol), tiger and birds. Reality- expect no animals to be seen as the path inside forest has cars which honk due to single lane, yet even if u go in morning or evening there is very low probability. Instead go to this place for thinking it as nature walk as u will be surrounded by tall pine trees and there are resting spots inside the 3km dirt road. U will also see snake plant and many fallen wood logs making a good offroad path or temporary trampoline (must try). Pro tip- at the half way mark or the first gazebo turn left and u will see a narrow walking path - its a shortcut to end. This place can be visited by elderly people (only the car path) and they will enjoy...