| Dalhousie, an artist’s view
Nestling in the hills covered with lush flora of different species, Dalhousie in Himachal
Pradesh, India, is a beautiful hill station that has been able to retain its sylvan charm
even today.
Though the overcrowding by hotels in recent times have greatly destroyed the former
pristine atmosphere of Dalhousie, it is a place worth visiting still.
Winding lanes under the shade of Himalayan oaks and deodars are soothing in their play of
light and shadow and offer the opportunity of enjoyable walks..
The panoramic views of high mountain ranges rolling down to greenish blue valleys often
marked with geometric patterns of terraced farming are a special treat that seem to
refresh my soul every time I visit this hill station.
My own studio is not far from Dalhousie.
In fact it is on the way to Dalhousie from Pathankot, and I can see the hills of Dalhousie
from my studio when the weather is clear enough.
I had made many pen and ink drawings of Dalhousie. I made pastel works too of that place.
These pastel works are my personalized impressions of this area and of some views from
this place.
Some of these pastel works have been reproduced in this portfolio.
There are eight pictures in this portfolio.
1. A view of Gandhi Chowk, Dalhousie, on a misty evening. When the mists start covering
Gandhi Chowk in the evening, the shop and street lights shine through them, penetrating
the layers of mist, creating a magical effect.
Gandhi Chowk is generally quite crowded in the evenings as most of the tourists frequent
Gandhi Chowk and Subhash Chowk, the two malls of Dalhousie town, I was sitting on the
steps near the library at Gandhi Chowk when I made this picture.
2. The snow streaked peaks of Pirpanjal. The view of the Pirpanjal ranges from Dalhousie
is grand indeed.
The peaks are snow streaked and in winter covered with snow.
The clouds balance the snowy peaks against a contrasting background.
I made this picture from a sketch I made from Youth Hostel, in Dalhousie.
3. From the grounds of St. Francis Church, Dalhousie.
Going up the lane in the Church area, I was impressed by the majestic deodar pine trees.
Pink cosmos flowers bloomed on the ground and the place was decorated with interesting dry
wood sculptures.
4. A view from Dalhousie, looking towards the Cant.
Lush green of many shades and textures have created a picture of Sylvan delight. The
clouds play with the hills, covering the peaks beyond with their fleecy abundance.
5. A view from Khyber house grounds, Bakrota, Dalhousie. I went to Khyber house in Bakrota
to make this pastel work. It was a very pleasant afternoon, awash with sunlight, silver
wild flowers with golden centers dotted the green grass like stars in the night sky. Pines
with their deep cool shades and the bluish green hills beyond under a sunny sky made an
enjoyable reminder of a holiday mood.
6. Looking towards Subhash Chowk, Dalhousie from one of the roads that goes down from
Subhash Chowk. I parked my van on this road and went to a small arcade to sit and draw. In
my front was the road on which light and shade played.
This road led to Subhash Chowk where I saw quite a lot of people, mostly tourists. The
embankment by the road supported different types of vegetation. At places bare patches of
soft earth showed.
Himalayan oaks branched out, adorned by their shiny green leaves. Tall tree trunks allowed
the vertical frame a striking composition.
7. A view of Dalhousie. I went down the road from S. Ajit Singh memorial. That road led to
some villages in the outskirts of Dalhousie town.
From that point I could see a part of Dalhousie town half hidden by the trees, clinging on
the hill slope.
The yellowish light of the late afternoon sun bathed the sky and tinted the foliage below.
A composition of depths and highlights on the hills made the picture interesting.
8. A view from Subhash Chowk. A typical old hotel building with the old world charm,
against the backdrop of greenery, dominates one side of the view from Subhash Chowk.
Late afternoon mist was slowly covering the trees that would play hide and seek with the
curtains of haze shifting now and then. A monkey sat on the rooftop making the composition
more representative. I sat on an iron bench in Subhash Chowk to work.
This set of pictures gives a general impression of Dalhousie from my viewpoint. The
pictures capture the essence of Dalhousie.
- © Prabal Pramanik
Pictures and text copyright reserved by
Prabal Pramanik ©
A view of Dalhousie
Reproduction from a Pastel work
by Artist Prabal Pramanik ©
A view of Dalhousie
Reproduction from a Pastel work
by Artist Prabal Pramanik ©
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A view of Gandhi Chowk,
Dalhousie on a misty evening.
Reproduction from a Pastel work
by Artist Prabal Pramanik ©
Snow streaked peaks of Pir Panjal
mountains, a view from Dalhousie.
Reproduction from a Pastel work
by Artist Prabal Pramanik ©
A view from Subhash Chowk
Reproduction from a Pastel work
by Artist Prabal Pramanik ©
Looking towards Subhash
Chowk, Dalhousie.
Reproduction from a Pastel work
by Artist Prabal Pramanik ©
A view from Khyber House garden,
upper Bakrota, Dalhousie.
Reproduction from a Pastel work
by Artist Prabal Pramanik ©
Stately trunks of deodar trees from
the grounds of St. Francis Church, Dalhousie.
Reproduction from a Pastel work
by Artist Prabal Pramanik ©
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