Thick deodar foliage, a plethora of wildlife, snowcapped mountains, carpets of verdant grasslands and easy on the eye streams of fresh water make up the Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary. Popularly called the Kalatop Khajjiar Sanctuary, it is located in the picturesque hilly Chambal district of Himachal Pradesh. The name Kalatop means 'black cap', which probably refers to the thick black forest cover on the highest hilltop in the sanctuary. Situated few kilometres away from the Chamba dam and Chamera reservoir on the river Ravi, it is known to be rich in flora and fauna. Hundreds of small streams of freshwater empty themselves into the Ravi river to the north of the sanctuary. Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary is the perfect weekend getaway destination, with very few other places coming close to its natural charm.
Animals like the Himalayan black bear, Himalayan black marten, mountain cats, leopard, jackal and langur are the inhabitants of the 30.62 square kilometre sanctuary. There are also 120 different species of birds such as the Himalayan Monal, Eurasian jay, Asian koala, khalij pheasant etc. The well laid out trekking and hiking trails offer a pristine, mesmerizing experience with nature and are arguably the best means to explore the beautiful untouched forests of the park area. The proximity to the splendid hill station of Dalhousie makes it an adventurer and nature lover's paradise, surrounded by majestic hills, snowcapped mountains and thick forests.
Views of the towering and immaculate Pir Panjal range from Kalatop resthouse is a breathtaking sight to immerse yourself in. The wildlife sanctuary is present in between Dalhousie and Chamba with the flora and vegetation here mostly comprising of fir, deodar and blue pine due to its high altitude (varying between 1185 meters to 2768 meters) and Himalayan terrain. The countryside landscape is sure to provide you with a sense of astonishment and wonder. Over the years, it has gained popularity as an extremely scenic picnic spot and a great place for trekking and nature walks.