Radisson Dalhousie Palace

The Radisson Dalhousie Palace sits on a hill‑top ridge that looks out over the pine‑clad valleys of Himachal, a relic of the British Raj doing its best to masquerade as a boutique resort while still clutching its colonial pomp. Arrive in September or early October when the monsoon haze lifts and the tea‑green hills are crisp; the summer crowds melt away and the winter chill hasn’t yet turned the terraces into icy ledges. Book a king‑size room on the north wing – the ones with the original high ceilings and the cracked‑gold ceiling fan – because the southern wing rooms overlook the parking lot and rarely catch sunrise. The lobby bar, “The Imperial”, is worth a sit‑down at 07:30 for a steaming cup of Darjeeling and a plate of aloo‑paratha; the view of the mist‑veiled ridge is far better than any rooftop pool. Skip the “heritage dinner” on the second floor; the cuisine is an over‑cooked pastiche of Anglo‑Indian dishes, and the price is justified only by the chandeliers. The real treat is the tea‑garden walk at 17:00, when the hotel’s own staff haul you a vintage Koozey‑handi of butter‑tea and you can watch the sun sink behind the Chamba range. If you’re hunting authentic Himachali culture, stay a night or two in the modest guesthouses of Khajjiar or Bassa; the palace is a comfortable base, but its charm is skin‑deep and its price tag will eat up the budget you could otherwise spend on local food and trekking.