Salooni

Salooni Salooni
town
Salooni Show map of Himachal Pradesh Salooni Show map of India Location in Himachal Pradesh, India
Coordinates: 32°43′N 76°3′E / 32.717°N 76.050°E / 32.717; 76.050Coordinates: 32°43′N 76°3′E / 32.717°N 76.050°E / 32.717; 76.050
Country	India
State	Himachal Pradesh
District	Chamba
Elevation	1,829 m (6,001 ft)
Languages
• Official	Hindi
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	176320
Telephone code	01896
Vehicle registration	HP 81
Nearest city	Dalhousie
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Dalhousie

Salooni (Hindi: सलूणी) is the tehsil headquarter and Sub-Division in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, India. Salooni has a mini secretariat, SDM office, Government senior secondary School, Degree College, community health centre and many other Sub division level important government offices. Salooni falls under Dalhousie as its legislative constituency. Chamba is very attractive full of many beautiful places and valleys. It is wholly mountainous with few plain valleys in between two mountain ranges and alongside rivers. The last snowy range is Dhauladhar. The river Ravi rises from snow peaks of Bara Bhangal in Dhauladhar range a range of 2000 meters height run south of snow range. On this range lies Salooni town on the top of a hill at the height of 1829 and 56 km from Chamba and offers a breath taking panoramic view of snow covered peaks. Situated at the top of a ridge and opening into the Bhandal valley, this scenic spot of great beauty leads also to Bhadarwah (J&k). Salooni is famous for its view of the Pir Panjal Range, you can have a crystal clear view of these ranges which are usually snow-capped all around the year. It has a population of about 2000 and lies at a height of 1829 to 2000meters. The main entrance to the village contains a series of shops and the small ground of ancient temple dedicated to Goddess Kali, temple has been renovated in recent past.

Physical features

Salooni, at a height of 1829 meters and 56 km from Chamba, offers a panoramic view of the snow-covered hills and peaks. It is of course, the captivating landscape around Chamba that completes the picture. It all begins with a range of about 7,000 feet between the Pir Panjal and the Dhauladhar and a place called Salooni. Salooni is a vantage point for some of the finest views in this kaleidoscopic topography. It stares into the picturesque Bhandal valley. This pleasant place links Chamba with Kashmir valley. The Salooni is also famous for its Apple Orchards, vegetables and toughest roads.

• Bhandal Valley (1,730 m) (trek to Kishtwar J&k)

The beautiful Bhandal Valley with its wealth of wildlife is at the western extremity of Himachal Pradesh. Approachable from Chamba, it is the base for a trek route that connects Chamba to the Kishtwar region of Jammu and Kashmir over the Dagni Dhar. The route begins along the right bank of the River Ravi, goes past Pukhri, down to the Siyul stream, then rises to Salooni on the Prithvi Jor ridge to finally arrive above the valley. From Bhandal via Langhera one reaches Kishtwar J&K. The highest point on the track is the Padri Gali at 3,200m.

• Salooni has also been featured in many Bollywood movies^[1] such as Badhaai Ho Badhaai, Vinashak – Destroyer and Dor.

Tourist sites

• The Gamgul Siahbehi Wildlife Sanctuary lies 20 km from Salooni with Musk deer, Barking deer, Snow Leopards, Himalayas tahr, Pheasants, Rabbits and large species of fauna and colourful birds. It lies at an average height of 1800 to 2800m. It has an area of 70 square meters.
• Jujurana (Western tragopan) Population Distribution. Five populations are known from Kohistan, Kaghan valley, Kishtwar, Chamba, Kullu and an area east of the Satluj river. They are found from an altitude of 1,750 to 3,600 m, going higher in summer. Their preferred habitat is the dense understorey of temperate, subalpine and broad-leaved forest. In Salooni Western tragopan found at Gamgul Sanctuary and nearby places.
• Snow leopards are also found here.
• Baira Siul is a hydropower project^[2] on the riverbank in Surgani. It is the first project^[3] of the NHPC in India and produces 180 megawatts of electricity.
• Taleru boating point is the only boating spot in the locality. Boating is done on the lake formed by Chamera Dam.
• Bhalei Mata Temple, situated 28 km from Salooni toward Dalhousie, is an ancient temple with a portrait of Kali Mata. It also is surrounded by panoramic views.

Rest house

There are number of rest houses in locality, run by HPPWD, IPH Department and Forest Department. The HPPWD rest house in Salooni is constructed way back in 1908. It is beautifully built, surrounded by deodar trees. Salooni has quite a few other rest houses owned by IPH Department and various other government departments. Other nearby rest houses are in Kihar, Sundala, Dhargala, Bhandal, Himgiri and Diur.^[4]

Climate

There is snowfall^[5] between December and March, when temperatures may fall down to -15 degree Celsius.^[6] In summers temperatures seldom crosses 29 degree Celsius. Weather throughout the year is pleasant. Annual rainfall is 1490 mm.

Transport

Salooni is well connected to Chamba by road. It also has a helipad.

References