KHAJJIAR HISTORY

Khajjiar is a small but immensely beautiful hill station in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh State. This hill station is just 23 km from Chamba and at 22 km from Dalhousie. The glorious mountains of Khajjiar have enormous unblemished & immaculate exquisiteness to offer to its tourists. The hill station beautifully resides in the Western Himalayas and is at 2000 m height from sea level. The hill station has famous Khajjiar Lake in its middle that adds to the beauty of the place magnificently. The lake is considered very sacred in the city.

The hill station is a unique blend of nature’s three gifts – green lush, pasture and forests. With Khajjiar you can experience the splendid beauty of unscathed natural surroundings. The thick pine natural forests add to the scenic charm of the city. The hill station is widely credited for being very peaceful and naturally green, simply wonderful to beat the city blues. The breathtaking natural views of Khajjiar have a bizarre quality that makes a tranquil setting for the visitors to enjoy calmly the astounding beauty of Mother Nature. This magical paradise is referred to as ‘Mini Switzerland’ worldwide.

The history of Khajjiar is related to rulers of Chamba. Khajjiar was ruled by local royal Rajput kings who ruled the entire Chamba valley in the era of 6th century. Afterwards, it came under the Mughals during their reigning period and then under Sikh kingdom for some time. Then Britishers took over the place and after independence it became a part of Himachal Pradesh State on 15th April in 1948.

Geography

Khajjiar is a small hill station in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh and is at a distance of 22 kms away from Dalhousie. It has a small lake, stream-fed, in the middle. The lake is covered with spongy weeds. This hill station is about 2000m (6500 feet) above sea level and is located at the foothills of popular Western Himalayas’ Dhauladhar ranges. This area is a part of Kalatop Khajjiar Sanctuary.

The hill station is fully surrounded by dense forests and green meadows. The flourishing green meadows are bounded by thick cedar & pine forests. Khajjiar is widely famous for having a rare combination of 3 ecosystems all together – pasture along with lake and forest. The weather is extremely pleasant in summer while quite cold in winters. Winters in Khajjiar are accompanied by snowfall as well.

So, history has been your favourite subject since school? And even now, when you go to a destination, you feel like exploring how the culture of that place has been shaped by its unique history? Well, be grateful to all those historians before you who have made your quest easier.

Along with Dalhousie, Khajjiar is a lovely hill station in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. It is located at the foothills of the Dhauladhar mountain ranges of Himalayas. Notably, this is one of the very few places on the globe that boast of 3 different ecosystems in one single place-lake, pasture and forest.

The place derived its name from its ancient idol called Khajji Nag, which is still revered highly and worshipped by the locals. Khajji Nag is a stone idol which has a mace in hand and a khanda (a double dagger) in the other. The town of Khajjiar has a temple dedicated to this deity, called Golden Devi Temple, which is believed to have been built in 12th century.

The history of Khajjiar is intertwined between the history of Chamba valley and that of Dalhousie. The last account of the region is that of 6th century when Chamba valley was being ruled by Rajput leaders as the capital of their kingdom. The Mughals took over the territory in the medieval times and then it was captured by the Sikh rulers. Later, the British empire established a monopoly over the region. Dalhousie too was established by them.

Post-independence, Khajjiar was made a part of the state of Himachal Pradesh on April 15, 1948. The picturesque Khajjiar is known as the Mini Switzerland of India, owing to its resplendent valleys and green meadows, apart from bearing a topographical resemblance to Switzerland. Khajjiar was christened so on July 7, 1992 by the then Vice Counselor and Head of Chancery of Switzerland in India, Willy Blazer.

The Chamba district that surrounds this place is home to ancient Hindu tribes such as Gaddis and Gujjars, which has consequently affected the culture of Khajjiar also. The populace is warm and hospitable and many still adhere to the old-world charm that the British legacy has left behind it. Since it is a small town, the society is quite close-knit and people do not quite follow the metropolitan lifestyle. Tourism and trade are important economic activities. It is a popular destination for honeymooners.

All in all, the fine deodars and pines, the pleasant climate conditions and the particularly amazing apple orchards always leave visitors wanting for more.

Yes, we know you are already reaching for that suitcase. Go ahead and unfold the magic of this place!

 

Often referred as Mini Switzerland, Khajjiar is a popular hill station located in the Himalayan mountain range about 26 km from Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh. Situated at a height of 6500 feet, the hill station is bestowed with natural beauty and pleasant climate.

Vast expanse of green meadows and dense forests besides vistas of majestic snow-clad Himalayan peaks make Khajjiar a popular destination with tourists. Khajjiar Lake and Chamera Lake add to the charm of Khajjiar. For its stunning natural beauty, Khajjiar is also referred as Gulmarg of Himachal Pradesh.

 

The picturesque landscape of Khajjiar has acted as a magnet for tourists from across the world. Khajjiar’s picturesque beauty evokes strong comparisons with Switzerland. Khajjiar was bestowed with the title of Mini Switzerland in 1992 by Wiily Blazer, Vice Chancellor and Head of Chancery of Switzerland. Khajjiar is one of the 160 places in the world that bear tropical resemblance to Switzerland.

It is popular destination with trekkers too. The hamlet serves as the starting point for treks to Chamba, Dalhousie, Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary, etc. Trekking is the best way to explore the Khajjiar. Zorbing, a popular recreational activity that involves rolling downhill from inside a plastic orb, is a popular activity in Khajjiar during April-May.

Khajjiar Kalatop sanctuary is a delight for nature lovers and wildlife photographers. One can spot a wide range of exotic flora and fauna in the sanctuary.

Not much is known about Khajjiar’s history. However, temples dating back to 12th century still stand in majestic splendour in Khajjiar. The Khajji Naga temple is the most sacred shine in Khajjiar.

People of Khajjiar generally speak Himachali. However, almost all of them are comfortable with Hindi as well.