Nothing dull or lousy about Dalhousie

Dalhousie has always captured my memory and imagination, as summer holidays meant a long sojourn in this verdant and mountainous town. Growing up, other places took over, but anytime I need a mental refresher, I just close my eyes and catapult myself to the many summers I spent there.

Watching our family plan for a Dalhousie break, friends would often ask why we loved the town that is known as Dalhousie=Dull + Lousy. As far back as I remember, and believe me, it is quite a lot: since my first visit was when I was 1 and I’m over 60 now, there was never a dull or lousy moment during any summer holiday there.

Jumping into the Panjpulla waterfall, encountering a bear at the window of a guest house at Kalatop, skidding down the slopes at Khajjiar, gossiping about the fashion parade at Gandhi Chowk and the steep run down to Balloon Cantonment — I can’t think of any other adventure that give this level of a happiness rush. Every time the world gets too much for me, I envision the pine trees on the hills of Dalhousie and hum, “Yeh kaun chitrakaar hai!”

Deepti Gupta, Chandigarh