Kalatop Khajjiar Sanctuary :
Altitude : varies from 1185 meters to 2768 meters. Annual Rainfall : mean annual rainfall is 800 mm. Temperature : temprature varies from -10 to 35°C. Area : 2,026.89 hectares ( 20.27 sq. km. ). Location : 36 km. from Chamba town. and 13 km. from Dalhousie Approaches : Dalhousie to Lakkadmandi ( inside the sanctuary 10km. ) then to kalatop 3km.
This small sanctuary lies in the catchment of the Ravi River, and contains patches of good coniferous and Oak forests. A lovely bowl-shaped meadow at Khajjiar, with a lake and a ‘floating’ island, is a popular tourist spot. There is a ‘golden’ domed temple at the edge of this meadow, dedicated to the deity ‘Khajinag’, from whom the area derives its name. Kalatop place commands a beautiful and grand panoramic view of the surrounding landscape and eye travels wide over hill and dale, field and forest, smooth and ruggedness, till in the direction of Jammu and Kashmir, it meets a horizon of snow peaks. A motorable road to Kalatop Rest House leads from the Dalhousie - Khajjiar - Chamba road at the point named Lakkad Mandi. The track from Lakkad Mandi to Kalatop Rest House is plain and the walk through the dense forest is amazingly refreshing. To obtain permission to ply the vehicle and stay in Rest House, one can contact Divisional Forest Officer, Wildlife, Chamba.
Flora
Mixed blue pine and Deodar forest with some green oak and the Phododendron
Fauna ( Mammals )
Himalayan Black Bear, Brown Bear, Leopard, Cat, barking Deer, Goral, Jackal, Langur, Marten, Serow, Kashmiri and common giant flying Squirrel.
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