The Kalatop Wildlife sanctuary is one of the most popular wildlife sanctuaries of Himachal Pradesh. It is a very well maintained area with lush green meadows and velvety grass. The sanctuary was founded in 1958 and the most interesting attraction is the river Ravi flowing through it. The area of the sanctuary starts from the initial elevation of Dalhousie and stretches till the opposite side, covering the whole valley. There are also small villages located within this area. This place is just about a kilometer away from LakkarMandi.

This stretch of beautiful deodar and fir forests is situated at a height of 800 meter above sea level. There is also a small water body in the middle of the sanctuary also. The sanctuary is a part of the bio-geographic area of the North-Western Himalayan range. This place is marked by sub-tropical vegetation with alpine trees in some areas.

The beautiful flora varieties in this wildlife sanctuary are that of conifers mostly such as cedar, blue pine, oaks like moru and ban, deodar, rhododendron and firs. This region also has a unique vegetation of medicinal plants and shrubs.

This wildlife sanctuary 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 black bird. There are many other species also apart from these very rare ones.

The beautiful animals that takes up the charm of this place are Himalayan Tahr, goral, ibex, bears, Himalayan squirrel, langur, barking deer, musk deer, Himalayan marten, leopard, Indian Muntjak and the most conserved Himalayan serow.

This place is not only an ideal place for wildlife enthusiasts but also for nature lovers who love the serenity and company of Mother Nature.

• The best way to experience the beauty of this place is by trekking and hiking. There are two trekking trails at Khajjiar and Kalatope. A guide is must especially after dusk.
• There are 5 holiday homes inside this sanctuary area which provide good facilities to the visitors.
• The summer months from March to May are the best time to visit. You should avoid the monsoons. The winters should also be avoided because of the heavy snowfall.

• The nearest railway station is at Pathankot.
• The nearest airport is at Gaggal and Kangra.

Love this? Explore the entire list of places to visit in Dalhousie before you plan your trip.

Fancy a good night's sleep after a tiring day? Check out where to stay in Dalhousie and book an accommodation of your choice.