Kalatop Khajjiar Wildlife Sanctuary

At a distance of 10 km from Dalhousie, 16 km from Khajjiar, and 38 km from Chamba, Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary or Kalatop Khajjiar Sanctuary, is a wildlife sanctuary located in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. It is one of the most popular wildlife sanctuaries in India, and among the must-include places in Dalhousie tour packages.

Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary was founded in 1958 and is one of the most popular wildlife sanctuaries in Himachal. The sanctuary lies in the catchments area of river Ravi, with an altitude ranging from 3910 feet to 9134 feet. This sanctuary is spread over an area of 1962 hectares and the landscapes are thickly covered with Deodar trees interspersed with little streams flowing into the Ravi River. The sanctuary is one of the best places of wildlife near Chandigarh.

The sanctuary boasts a wide variety of wildlife. Leopard, Bear, Deer, Squirrel, Barking Goral, Serow, Langur, Jackal, and Himalayan Black Marten are some of the animals that are inhabited in the Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary. This wildlife sanctuary also houses as many as 117 species of rare birds and pheasants. Some of these are cheers, kaleej, koklas and Himalayan monal. The birds that you can find here are Eurasian Jay, Chestnut Billed rock thrush, and white-winged blackbird.

The best way to experience the beauty of this place is by trekking and hiking. There are two trekking trails at Khajjiar and Kalatop. A guide is a must, especially after dusk. Visitors can also go for a wildlife safari in the sanctuary. There are 5-holiday homes inside this sanctuary area that provide accommodation facilities to the visitors.

There is a checkpoint at Lakkar Mandi from where the forest rest house is a further 3 km and the road takes through beautiful deodar forests. Prior permission is required from District Forest Officer (DFO), Chamba for the Rest House & vehicle entry. Need to book your accommodation in advance to stay at the resthouse.

The best time to visit the sanctuary is from March to May and September to November.

Timings: 7 AM to 6 PM.