Shopping at Natural Nirvana

Dalhousie

Pop: 9,900 Area Code: 018 99

This hill station (2020m) built on five small hills dates from the British times. It is a pleasant place to spend a few days. Not many foreign tourists come here, but it is popular with Punjabis. Dalhousie is named after Lord James Ramsey, Marquis of Dalhousie, who became the Governor General of India in 1848.

To get here, it is usually best to go first to Pathankot (3½ hr bus ride away, 80km southwest). This place can be visited from Amritsar or Chamba (30km north). Dalhousie is 8 hr from Dharamsala and 18 hr northwest of Shimla. Summer: Max 33ºC, Min 15ºC; Winter: Max 11ºC, Min 1ºC.

Orientation
Dalhousie is spread out over five hills. The Mall connects Gandhi Chowk, an area with many shops, to Subash Chowk, an area with hotels and restaurants. The Mall consists of two roads on which no heavy vehicle traffic is permitted.
The north road of The Mall is known as Thandi Sarak (Cold Rd); the south road is known as Garam Sarak (Hot Rd), because it gets more sunshine than the other road.

Information
The Tourist Office (42136) is opposite the bus stand (Mon to Sat 10 am to 5 pm). It operates tours of Dalhousie, Khajiar, and Chamba.
Punjab National Bank, next to the Aroma-n-Claire Hotel, changes cash and travelers cheques (except on Wed.).

The post office is on Gandhi Chowk.

Span Tours & Travels (40341; fax 42841) is a reliable travel agency who can book flights, trains, and luxury buses. Trek-n-Travels (40277) can arrange guides and porters.

What to See and Do
There are some nice walks in the area. There is a Tibetan market above the bus stand.

It is a short walk south of Gandhi Chowk to Panch Pulla, where five bridges go over a flowing stream.

From Subhash Baoli, 2km from the center of town, there are good views of the area.
Kalatope Wildlife Sanctuary, 8km from the downtown, has barking dear, black bear and a wide variety of birds. It is a nice place to walk around with good views. To enter the park you have to get a permit from the District Forest Officer in Chamba (85 2639 in Dalhousie; 018992 2639 from anywhere else).

Shopping
Dalhousie is a good place to get woolen shawls. Tibetan Handicraft Centre, on the road to Khajiar, has Tibetan carpets. Himachal Handloom Industry Emporium on Thandi Sarak has a good selection of shawls. The Tibetan Handicraft Centre Showroom, on the road running parallel to Garam Sarak, has carpets and bags.

Where to Stay
During the high season in May and June and around major Indian holidays, it can be difficult to find a room.
The Youth Hostel, a five-minute walk from the bus stand, is fairly run-down. Dorm beds are Rs 35 for members and Rs 70 for nonmembers and there are rooms for Rs 125 for members and Rs 150 for nonmember.
Hotel Glory (42533), next to the bus stand, has clean rooms with bath for Rs 150/225. Bucket hot water.
Hotel Goher (42253) has single rooms with common bath for Rs 125 and double rooms with bath for Rs 175 and a room with a TV, bath and hot water is Rs 500.
Hotel Satpushp (42346) has rooms for Rs 175 up to Rs 600.
Moonlight (42439), on Panch Pulla Rd, near Gandhi Chowk, is a good place.
Hotel Shangrila (42134) has rooms starting at Rs 350. Rooms have a good view.
HPTDC Hotel Geetanjali (42155), off Thandi Sarak, on the hill next to the bus stand, has large rooms with bath and hot water for Rs 550. It is a bit run-down.
Hotel Craigs (42124), on Garam Sarak, has rooms for Rs 400 up to Rs 600. It has good views, but is not in perfect condition.
Hotel Green’s (42167), on Garam Sarak, has rooms with bath and TV for Rs 550 to Rs 800.
Chanakya (42670; fax 42671), The Mall, is a good place with rooms for Rs 800 to Rs 1000. The better rooms have views.
Aroma-n-Claire Hotel (42199 ), Court Rd, dates from the 1930s and has large rooms for Rs 700 to Rs 1600. It has seen better day, but there is an assortment of interesting rooms with character.
Hotel Mount View (42120; fax 40741), above the bus stand, has single rooms for Rs 350 and large double rooms ranging from Rs 600 to Rs 1200, which includes breakfast and another meal.
Hotel Grand View (42623), near the bus stand, is a Raj-style building dating from the 1920s with large rooms that have balconies for Rs 1100 and suites for Rs 1400. Good discounts in off-season. Recommended.

Where to Eat
Royal Dhaba, Court Rd, off Subhash Chowk, is a cheap place.
Preet Palace, Subhash Chowk, has South Indian food.
Kwality Restaurant, near Gandhi Chowk, is a popular place that has Indian, Chinese and Continental food.
Milan, near Gandhi Chowk on The Mall, has good food and good views. Recommended.
Lovely Restaurant, Gandhi Chowk, has South Indian and Chinese food. You can eat outside.

Local Travel
A taxi from the bus stand to Gandhi Chowk is around Rs 40 and to Subhash Chowk Rs 45. The shortest way from the bus stall to The Mall is to walk up the steep hill.

Travel
The closest railway station is in Pathankot.
There are buses to Pathankot (3 hr, several daily), Dharamsala (6½ hr, 8 am), Chamba (2½ hr), Khajiar (1 hr) and Jammu (7 hr). The booking office at the bus stand is open 9 am to 5 pm.
There are porters at the bus stand to carry bags. In season, they charge Rs 30 to carry a bag to Gandhi Chowk and Rs 20 to Subhash Chowk. The rates are around half this in the off-season.

If you know of a informationthat is not correct or if you would like to help update our listings, please e-mail us at:

Vegetarian Fast Food Options

World Vegetarian Restaurants Guide

Amazing Colon Cleaning Program

Our own Vegetarian, Vegan, Alternative & Spiritual Sales Shop

Please Help Support This Site and buy our own USA Vegetarian Restaurants Book

Please check out our Natural Nirvana Store, which we started to help pay for the maintenance of this Website. Natural Nirvana is dedicated to selling vegetarian, spiritual and alternative products. We sell only animal-friendly and cruelty-free clothing, gifts, health foods, books and beauty products.

!! DVD Kurma Great Vegetarian Dsihes Cooking Videos Set for just $49. Individually each video costs $14.95.for a savings of over $100

24 Devotional DVD Set for just $99 Individually each video cost $14.95 for a savings of over $200

Fantastic Natural Herbs from the Amazons
(Best source of natural herbs in the world)

Infomation on Partnering with John Easterling &Amazon Herb formulas
Make a steady Income distruibuting natural herb products

Amazon Herbs Articles

Good News from the Amazon An interview with John Easterling

Interview with Sherrill Sellman

Journey to Porveneer
by Kosa Ely

How the Amazon Rainforest
Can Improve Our Relationships
By “Amazon John” Easterling

Returning to our Roots The Evolution of Environmental Consciousness
by Kosa Ely

CamuC Serum
Nature’s Ultimate Recipe for Glowing, Youthful Looking Skin

VEGAN BAGS
Hemp Bags
Vegetarian & Animal Rights Message Bag
Hemp Backpacks
Indian Quilted & Embroidered Bags
Ecolution Bags
Splaff Bags

CLOTHES
Vegetarian T-Shirts
Animal Rights T-Shirts
Vedic Gods T-Shirts
Hemp Gloves
Vegan Message Hats
Animal Rights Beanies
Hemp Hats
Vegetarian Message Hats
Indian Men Clothing
Indian Women Clothing
Scarves
Indian design Stoles
Indian Sarongs
Sacred Threads Tops
S. T. Dresses
S. T. Pants
Sacred Threads Children Clothing

Bedding & Pillows (beautiful)
Indian Bedspreads
Indian Design Quilts
Indian Design Pillows

FOOD
Raw Foods
Vegan Foods

AYURVEDIC MEDICINES
Ayurvedic Medicines
Neem Products
Ayurvedic Books
Herbal Vedic
NeemAura
AyurvedicSupplements
Ayurvedic Incense
Organic South Neem
Ayurvedic Soaps
Ayurveda Toothpaste
Ayurveda Massage Oil

VEGAN HEALTH
Vegan Vitamins
Vegan Herbal Remedies
Massage Oils
Sport Supplements
Vegan Protein
First Aid Products
Cold Medicines
Olbas
Well-In-Hand
Skin & Blemish
Herbal Salves & Balms

VEGAN BODY CARE
Vegan Soaps
Vegan Shampoos
Vegan Hair Spays
Vegan Toothpaste
Tongue Cleaners
Neti Pots
Vegan Perfumes
Vegan Sun Care
Lip Balm
Contact Len Cleaner
Skin Treatments
Men's Products
Dental Floss
Natural Mouthwashes
Vegan Hair Removal System

INCENSE & OILS
Incenses
Essential Oil
Vegan Candles

VEGAN BELTS & WALLETS
Vegan Wallets
Hemp Belts
Vegan Belts
Hemp Guitar Straps

VEGETARIAN & VEGAN BOOKS
Vegan Books
Vegetarian Books
Vegan Cookbooks
Vegetarian Cookbooks
Restaurant Cookbooks
Raw Food Book

VEG COSMETIC
Eyeshadows & Liners
Nail Polish
Blush
Lip Stick
Mascara
Powders
Nail Polish

VEDIC & SPIRITUAL
Mandala Publishers
OM Jewelry
Krishna Photos
Radha & Krishna Dolls

JEWELRY
Anklets
OM Jewelry
Nose Rings & Studs
Toe Rings
Astrological Gems
Earrings
Pendants
Silver Tulasi Beads
Neckbeads
Necklaces
Silver Jewelry
Gold Jewelry

BUTTONS STICKER
Animal Rights Buttons
Vegan Patch
Jam Bands Stickers
Jam Band Stickers (20 stickers for $5)

SPIRITUAL BOOKS
All Books
Holy Places
Vedic Scriptures
Mandala Publishing
Art Books
Kurma Cook Books
Bhagavat Gita
Caitanya Mahaprabhu
Children
Srimad Bhagvatam
Spiritual Biography
Vedic Coloring Books

SPIRITUAL MUCIC
Bhajans
S. Prabhupada Bhajans
Kirtana
New Age
Musical Instruments
Spiritual Lessons
Audio Vedic Books

VEGETARIAN VIDEO
Vegetarian Cooking
Vegetarian

SPIRTUAL VIDEO
Devotional Movies
Interactive CDs
Vedic Puppet Shows
Vedic Art & Culture
Indian Music Lessons
Bhativedanta Swami Prabhupada

Spiritual Photos & Art
Krishna Posters
Krishna Pictures
Vedic Gods Photos
Vedic Gods Posters

OTHER PRODUCTS
Putumayo World Music
Pet Products
Outdoor Neem
Air Garcia T-shirt

Bob Marley Reggae
Hats
Shirts
Key Chains
License Plates
Scarves
Books