It was the afternoon of Christmas eve in 1982, when I first
reached Dalhousie. From the bus stand one agent guided me to Fair View Hotel. The rooms
were absurdly cheap in those days. In off season a room with attached bath cost rupees ten
only per night.
Food was excellent and I remember ordering whole tanduri chicken which I had with relish.
Next morning, I found to my great delight, snow had covered the hills, the road, the
rooftops and lingered on the deodar pine branches. There was bright sunshine and I stepped
off in great mood to savour this winter atmosphere. It was a wonderful experience with
oaks and pines, shifting layers of mist and sunshine that penetrated the translucent misty
curtains with yellow shafts of light.
In those days, Dalhousie was not crowded and life was much more easy going there. Ravens
cawed and flapped their wings from the branches of Himalayan oaks and occasionally one or
two monkeys would appear.
People walked along thandi and garam sadaks in an unhurried way. Some sat on folding
chairs out side their shops near Gandhi Chowk.
Dalhousie town does not take many days to explore in the topographical sense, but when
speaking of the magical sylvan beauty, it may take a lifetime to know and enjoy the hidden
beauty spots in this town of artist’s delight.
From my porch at the hotel, I made several studies in microtip pen on my sketch books. The
tall Himalayan oaks, and the town that peeps behind the trees, the stately apricot tree
with its branches cascading down the embankment, the town clinging on the hill slope, all
found place in my sketch books. I came back to Dalhousie again next year in summer.
The road to Bakrota in its secluded beauty, and the view from the pavilions of Thandi
Sadak (the cold road) and the Garam Sadak (the warm road) are indeed delights for any
lover of nature and art. The panoramic view of snow covered Pirpanjal from Dalhousie is
superb and majestic. The deep bluish green valley below often shaded by layers of clouds
create a mystical aura in the landscape of beauty.
In summer, wild flowers on the grassy knolls spread a starry design of joy. Green ferns
with their decorative leaves adorn the base of the gnarled moss covered tree trunks.
The little water fall and the stream near S. Ajit Singh memorial near Panchpulla and the
secluded walks that are a little off the tourist frequented roads are glimpses of paradise
on earth.
Common tourists, wander about and sit on the benches at Gandhi Chowk and Subhash Chowk
generally. These two chowks are two small malls or plataus in Dalhousie town.
The road from Banikhet to Dalhousie is a beautiful one to treck along in summer. The
overhanging leafy cover on the embankments provide an absorbing area of interest for
nature lovers. The town of Dalhousie has a mellow atmosphere that has a soothing
influence.
Nature in the main attraction in Dalhousie and the easy going peaceful time under the
shades of the leafy foliage provide a soothing balm for the visitor to this hill town.
I visited Dalhousie many times since then, as I purchased a plot of land in a village
situated at about forty kilometers from Dalhousie.
I made many sketches and studies of land and people of this area. These sketches are first
hand studies that record many aspects of this area at the time when the drawings were
made.
As my collection of drawings grew, my love for this hill town increased. I made large
pastel drawings of Dalhousie and published a portfolio of Dalhousie too.
I view Dalhousie from the view point of an artist. This web site is an artist’s way
of presenting Dalhousie to the world.
Prabal Pramanik
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