Khajjiar

Meadow & lake · Himachal Pradesh

Khajjiar

A saucer-shaped meadow ringed by deodar forest near Dalhousie, often called the 'Mini Switzerland of India'.

4.7· 18 reviews
Get directionsSee photos(6)
From Pathankot
≈ 100 km
about 3 hrs by road
Trip length
1–2 days
Best time
March to June and September to November
Altitude
≈ 1,920 m

Overview

About Khajjiar

Khajjiar is a wide green meadow at about 1,900 m in Chamba district, with a small lake at its centre and dense deodar forest all around. It earned the nickname 'Mini Switzerland of India' in 1992 and a signboard marks the spot.

The 12th-century Khajji Nag temple stands at the edge of the meadow, and the Kalatop–Khajjiar Wildlife Sanctuary lies along the road from Dalhousie. Expect horse rides, zorbing and paragliding on the meadow in season; it's quietest early in the morning.

Places to see

Places to visit in Khajjiar

  1. Khajjiar

    Khajjiar Lake & Meadow

    The central meadow and small lake.

  2. Edge of the meadow

    Khajji Nag Temple

    Old wooden-roofed temple dedicated to the serpent deity.

  3. Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary, Khajjiar03

    ≈ 10 km towards Dalhousie

    Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary

    Deodar and pine forest with trails and birdlife.

Things to do

Things to do in Khajjiar

  • Picnic on the meadow

  • Zorbing and paragliding

    Seasonal; agree prices first.

  • Forest walk

    Short trails around the meadow.

Itinerary

Khajjiar itinerary

Pick the plan that matches how long you have.
  1. 1

    Morning

    Drive via Dalhousie, reach Khajjiar early.

  2. 2

    Midday

    Meadow, lake and Khajji Nag temple.

  3. 3

    Afternoon

    Kalatop on the way back to Dalhousie.

Plan your trip

Plan your trip to Khajjiar

From Pathankot

≈ 100 km

about 3 hrs by road

Get directionsView on map

How to reach Khajjiar

By road: about 100 km from Pathankot via Dalhousie, roughly 3 hours; Khajjiar is about 22 km beyond Dalhousie. Nearest railway station: Pathankot. Nearest airport: Kangra (Gaggal).

Best time to visit

March to June and September to November; snow in winter

Where to stay

HPTDC Hotel Devdar and private hotels; many visitors stay in Dalhousie.

What to eat

Simple Himachali and North Indian food at stalls and hotels around the meadow.

Travelling with family

Yes — open space for kids

Good to know

Khajjiar travel tips

  1. 01

    Go early — the meadow gets crowded by noon in summer.

  2. 02

    Agree prices for horse rides and activities beforehand.

  3. 03

    Snow can close the road in winter; check conditions.

Why travellers love this

About these reviewsReviews written by visitors to Khajjiar.

4.7(18 reviews)

  • Ankit M.

    Moga · Jul 2026

    Our second visit to Khajjiar and it was even better. It is a great place for photos. We sat by the water for hours and nobody wanted to leave. Food stalls nearby have good tea and pakoras. Loved it.

  • Ajay S.

    Mukerian · Jun 2026

    We planned Khajjiar as a day trip. It is a great place for photos. The water and the hills together look amazing. Local people were very helpful. Highly recommended.

  • Lovepreet Khanna

    Phagwara · Jun 2026

    Took a short trip to Khajjiar from Phagwara. The water and the hills together look amazing. The air is fresh and it is much cooler than Punjab in summer. There is a lot of greenery all around. Toilets could be cleaner. Carry snacks and water, food options are limited. Nice place, but facilities need work.

  • Sukhjinder Anand

    Amritsar · Jun 2026

    Our second visit to Khajjiar and it was even better. There is a lot of greenery all around. We saw many birds near the water. Some signboards are missing on the way. Highly recommended.

  • Ajay Bhardwaj

    Moga · Dec 2025

    Finally visited Khajjiar after hearing a lot about it. It is less crowded than the famous hill stations. The water and the hills together look amazing. Carry a water bottle. Must visit if you are nearby.

  • Ramandeep Bedi

    Mohali · Dec 2025

    We went to Khajjiar on a Sunday. Sunset here is something you must see. It is a great place for photos. Toilets could be cleaner. Carry snacks and water, food options are limited. Good place, we enjoyed it.

  • Rupinder Puri

    Sujanpur · Oct 2025

    Our second visit to Khajjiar and it was even better. Sunset here is something you must see. We saw many birds near the water. It is less crowded than the famous hill stations. It was too hot in the afternoon. Please do not leave plastic behind. We will surely come again.

  • Simranjeet P.

    Kapurthala · Aug 2025

    Came to Khajjiar with friends from Kapurthala. We sat by the water for hours and nobody wanted to leave. We saw many birds near the water. Highly recommended.

  • Sahil Grewal

    Mukerian · Aug 2025

    We planned Khajjiar as a day trip. Sunset here is something you must see. It is a great place for photos. There is something for kids and elders both. Loved it.

  • Balwinder Malhotra

    Mukerian · Aug 2025

    Went to Khajjiar with my parents. We sat by the water for hours and nobody wanted to leave. It is less crowded than the famous hill stations. We had a great time with friends. Must visit if you are nearby.

  • Mehak Bhatia

    Dinanagar · Jul 2025

    Our second visit to Khajjiar and it was even better. We went boating and the kids loved it. Sunset here is something you must see. Some signboards are missing on the way. Plan to reach by 10 am. Would go again.

  • Ravneet Anand

    Mohali · May 2025

    Finally visited Khajjiar after hearing a lot about it. The water and the hills together look amazing. Sunset here is something you must see. There is a lot of greenery all around. Toilets could be cleaner. Worth a visit.

  • Nitin Sharma

    Phagwara · Mar 2025

    Visited Khajjiar with my family. The water and the hills together look amazing. We went boating and the kids loved it. It was a lovely family trip. The road is narrow near the end. Start early so you have time to come back before dark. Loved it.

  • Jatin Anand

    Hoshiarpur · Dec 2024

    We planned Khajjiar as a day trip. Sunset here is something you must see. The water and the hills together look amazing. Carry a water bottle. Must visit if you are nearby.

  • Sukhjinder Singh

    Dasuya · Dec 2024

    Our second visit to Khajjiar and it was even better. Sunset here is something you must see. The water and the hills together look amazing. We sat by the water for hours and nobody wanted to leave. Food stalls nearby have good tea and pakoras. Must visit if you are nearby.

FAQs

Questions about Khajjiar

Why is Khajjiar called Mini Switzerland?

The nickname was given in 1992 for its Swiss-like meadow and forest setting.

How far is Khajjiar from Dalhousie?

About 22 km.

How far is it from Pathankot?

About 100 km, roughly 3 hours.

Keep exploring

More places to visit near Pathankot

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Plan your visit

Planning a trip to Khajjiar?

Khajjiar is ≈ 100 km from Pathankot — about 3 hrs by road.

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Photo credits
  • Khajjiar Lake & Meadow: Mywik2023 (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
  • Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary: Truewebsolution (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons
  • Khajjiar gallery: SriniG (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons
  • Khajjiar gallery: Harvinder Chandigarh (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
  • Khajjiar gallery: Harvinder Chandigarh (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
  • Khajjiar gallery: Anujpanwar92 (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons