7 Things to Do in Khajjiar, the Meadow Himachal Calls Its Mini Switzerland

Khajjiar sits on a high meadow in Himachal Pradesh's Chamba district, a flat green bowl at around 1,920 metres ringed by deodar forest, with a small lake at its centre that has carried the nickname Mini Switzerland for decades among Indian visitors. Roughly half an hour from Dalhousie by road, it stays smaller and quieter than that comparison suggests, its entire tourist circuit walkable in a single day.

1. Khajjiar Lake and its floating island

The small lake at the meadow's centre holds a patch of grass and reeds that has grown into a genuine floating island, drifting slowly across the surface depending on wind and season. Paddle boats operate on the lake in season, and the surrounding meadow is the default spot for a picnic or a lie-down between the temple and the viewpoint walks.

View on Google Maps →

2. Khajji Nag Temple

A wooden temple dedicated to Khajji Nag, a local serpent deity, stands at the meadow's edge and is thought to date to around the 12th century, its carved panels blending Hindu and Mughal-era decorative styles. It remains a working shrine rather than a purely historical stop, with local pilgrims outnumbering tourists on most days.

3. The nine-hole golf course

Khajjiar's meadow doubles as a nine-hole golf course, laid out across the open grass with the deodar treeline as a backdrop, one of the more unlikely settings for a round of golf in the Himalaya. It's a modest, informal course rather than a resort-standard one, and clubs can usually be hired on site.

4. Dainkund Peak

A steep road and short trail lead up to Dainkund Peak, the highest point above Dalhousie, with views on a clear day stretching across the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges. The peak also holds a small shrine and is known locally for strong winds, which have made it a minor paragliding launch point.

5. Paragliding and zorbing on the meadow

Short tandem paragliding flights and zorbing (rolling downhill inside a large inflatable ball) both operate seasonally on Khajjiar's open ground, run by local operators rather than any single formal outfit. Availability depends on weather and season, so treat either as a bonus rather than a guaranteed activity.

6. Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary

On the road between Dalhousie and Khajjiar, Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary protects a stretch of dense deodar and oak forest home to Himalayan black bear, barking deer and a range of pheasant species, with a forest rest house available for those wanting to base themselves inside the sanctuary rather than passing through.

7. A side trip to Dalhousie

Dalhousie itself, a former British hill station built across five hills, sits close enough for an easy half-day add-on, its colonial-era churches and Mall Road giving a different, more built-up counterpoint to Khajjiar's open meadow.

Traveller tips

• Pathankot is the nearest railhead, roughly three to four hours away by road; Dharamshala's Gaggal Airport is the closest airport.
• Peak season runs April to June and again around October; winters can bring snow and temporarily closed roads.
• The meadow gets crowded with day-trippers from Dalhousie by late morning; an early start gives a quieter first look at the lake.
• Warm layers are worth carrying even in summer, since evenings at this elevation turn cold quickly.