Aamod at Dalhousie - stunning views of Pir Panjal Himalayan Range

4/12/2017

Aamod at Dalhousie is undoubtedly the best property in Dalhousie by far. Adding on to all the luxury, it gives unobstructed panoramic views to the Pir Panjal Range of Himalayas. It is located 5km ahead of Dalhousie on the Dalhousie-Khajjiar Road. It is an ideal long-weekend getaway destination from Delhi. Dalhousie is 12 hours drive from Delhi, or it can be approached by train to Pathankot and 3 hours drive from there, or a flight to Dharmsala and 4 hours drive from there.

It is a standalone resort perched on a mountain amidst dense cedar forests, with no other construction around it. It is set in a serene environment and makes a splendid place to live close to nature and relax your mind, body and soul. The cedar trees are covered with snow in winters. It is a delightful experience to live in the resort in winters when everything around is covered with the white gold.

The eco cottages and rooms are luxuriously designed to give beautiful views of nature from every corner. Waking up to the chirping of the birds and views of forests on one side and the snow-clad mountains on the other side, with a black coffee (without sugar) in my hands, was an indulgence in itself. Yes, I sleep with my gadgets around me on my bed :) The rooms are huge with ample space to move around and the beds are imperiously cosy.

As much as I loved cozying up in the room, I wouldn't want to miss the early morning views of the Pir Panjal Himalayas. As the sun gradually rose up from the other side, the snow covered mountains revealed their beauty and vastness in the clear blue sky.

It is difficult to get enough of Himalayan view from Aamod at Dalhousie and it is very tempting to spend as much time as possible in the Alfresco restaurant. It was a pleasure to meet Gaurav Jain, the owner of the Aamod Resorts. He is a "been there, done that" person with distinguished experiences in varied dimensions. His humility, intellect, wisdom, goodness, values and choice of staff define the DNA of Aamod Resorts.

The food at Aamod Resorts is one of the most sought after experiences. The colonial restaurant is recognised as the best restaurant in Dalhousie. The restaurant has indoor sitting as well as Alfresco dining. The staff recommends to try out Himachali cuisine called Dham, at least for one meal and that is an offer no one should refuse. The chef also likes experimenting on creative dishes on the Indian and continental menus like the avocado salad in the picture below.

Bonfire with jamming sessions, is the best experience one can get when the life slows down in the Himalayas in the chilly evenings. Open bar and live grill under the stars is all that I could ask for to wind my day on a soothing note. Aamod Resorts give a good platform to local talent to perform. Aamod resorts give unique dining experiences of "you pick a spot and we set the table".

Places to visit around Aamod at Dalhousie

Aamod resorts provide luxurious and an experiential stays. They recommend and arrange interesting activities and places to visit around the property.

Khajjiar

Khajjiar is small hill station in Chamba district very famous for its unparalleled beauty. It has a small plateau with meadows and a lake in the middle. It is surrounded with dense pine forests and magnificent Dhauladhar mountains. This pretty little place is just 15 kms away from Aamod at Dalhousie and makes a great place to spend evenings.

There are a couple of old houses from the British era, which are now converted into guest houses run by the government. One of the houses is believed to be an ancient ghost house.

Hike to Dainkund for panoramic views of Dhauladhar Range

There's a 5 km trail that starts from Aamod at Dalhousie which takes you through airforce base and further to Pholani Devi Temple and then to Dainkund Peak. It is believed that in olden times, witches (Dains) lived there who troubled the villagers. The walk through the beautiful woods is peaceful.

Dainkund Peak gives breathtaking views of the snow-covered Dhauladhar Himalayan Range. It is a fabulous place with green meadows overlooking the layered mountains, where I could spend most of my day admiring the grandeur of the Himalayas.

Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary

The Kalatop Wildlife sanctuary is 3 kms away on the same mountain ridge as Aamod at Dalhousie. The sanctuary is home to many species of birds and animals. The dense forests of the sanctuary, under the snow-covered Pir Panjal Range are clearly visible from Aamod Resort.

Hike to a village to enjoy local Himachali food

Aamod at Dalhousie had arranged an exclusive hike to a nearby village for us.

A short downhill walk through the fields and woods took us to a small village .

The village had rustic mud houses painted with myriad shades and covered with slate roofs. There were beautiful birds to dropped in to say 'Hi' to us.

The local residents cooked a sumptuous Himachali meal for us. Home cooked food in the villages is an unbeatable experience. Aamod employs local staff and helps them earn through alternate sources as well. Our lunch was arranged at one of the employees' house in the village.

I had driven 300 kms from Tirthan valley to Dalhousie. And with so many activities to do around, I needed that extra comfort and pampering. I was offered with an extended session of Deep Tissue Massage, just the way I wanted it. The Keralite couple who serve as masseurs here, make sure to leave a smile on every face.

When I'm at Aamod Resorts, all I need is to sit back and relax while I get pampered with black coffees, delicious food, massages, beautiful hikes though the woods, stunning views of the Himalayas and evenings under the stars.