Kasauli Tourist Places: Monkey Point, Christ Church, Gilbert Trail and Day Trips (2026)

Updated: November 2026

Short answer: The main Kasauli tourist places are Christ Church (1853) and the Mall, Monkey Point with its Hanuman temple inside the Air Force station, the Gilbert Trail and Sunset Point, the old Kasauli Club and Baptist church area, and quiet walks along the Upper and Lower Mall. Close by are Sanawar (about 5 km), Dharampur (about 12 km), Dagshai with its 19th-century jail museum (about 23 km), Subathu (about 26 km), Barog (about 27 km) and the Timber Trail cable car at Parwanoo (about 21 km). Kasauli is small: one full day covers the town, and a second day covers Dagshai, Barog or Parwanoo.

Which are the top tourist places in Kasauli town?

Kasauli is a ridge-top cantonment, so most of the town is walkable and parts of it are Army or Air Force land. Distances are from the main bus stand and market.

Two buildings come up in every Kasauli history but are not tourist sights: the Kasauli brewery and distillery, founded in 1835, and the Central Research Institute, set up in 1904 as the Pasteur Institute of India and still a working vaccine institute. See them from the road; do not plan a visit inside.

What should you know before visiting Monkey Point?

Monkey Point is inside an Indian Air Force station, so it runs on Air Force rules, not tourist ones. Carry a photo ID for every adult. In recent years visitors have had to leave phones, cameras and food at the gate, and food is a bad idea anyway because of the monkeys. The gate usually opens around 9 am and closes around 5 pm, but it can shut without notice for security reasons. You can drive close to the gate and walk the last stretch, or walk from the Mall in roughly an hour each way. If it is closed on your day, Sunset Point and the Gilbert Trail give similar views.

Which places near Kasauli are worth a half day?

All distances below are by road from Kasauli market, from OpenStreetMap routing, rounded.

The Kalka–Shimla toy train passes Dharampur and Barog, but the Kalka end of the line has been shut for repairs this autumn: as of late October 2026 the Kalka section was closed until 30 November 2026. Check our toy train status page before you plan a ride.

How do you reach Kasauli?

Parking in the town centre is limited, and parts of the cantonment restrict vehicles, so plan to park at your hotel and walk.

What is the best time to visit Kasauli?

Kasauli works almost all year because it is lower and closer than most hill stations. March to June gives warm, clear days and is the busiest period, especially on weekends from Chandigarh and Delhi. July and August bring monsoon fog and the occasional landslide on the approach roads. September to November is clear and calm. December to February is cold and dry; snow is rare and light, as our Kasauli snowfall guide explains, so for snow drive on to Chail, Kufri or Narkanda.

A simple 2-day Kasauli plan

• Day 1: Arrive from Chandigarh by late morning. Christ Church and the Mall, lunch in the bazaar, Monkey Point in the afternoon (carry ID), then the Gilbert Trail to Sunset Point.
• Day 2: Drive to Dagshai for the jail museum and Subathu, lunch at Barog, then either return to Chandigarh via Parwanoo (Timber Trail if running) or continue up to Shimla.

Most of our guests add Kasauli to a longer trip rather than going alone. It sits naturally at the start of a Shimla route; see our Shimla tourist places, the Chandigarh Shimla tour (3N/4D) and the wider places to visit in Himachal list. All our routes are on the Himachal tour packages page.

What this means for your trip

• Kasauli is a slow, walking town: one night is enough for the sights, two if you want rest.
• Carry ID for Monkey Point and expect to leave your phone at the gate.
• Avoid arriving on a Saturday morning in May–June if you dislike traffic at Parwanoo.
• Do not plan a winter trip around snow in Kasauli itself.

Frequently asked questions

What are the famous tourist places in Kasauli?

Christ Church and the Mall, Monkey Point (Hanuman temple inside the Air Force station), the Gilbert Trail, Sunset Point and the colonial walks of the Upper and Lower Mall. Nearby are Sanawar, Dharampur, the Dagshai jail museum, Subathu, Barog and the Timber Trail cable car at Parwanoo.

Is one day enough for Kasauli?

Yes for the town itself: Christ Church, the Mall, Monkey Point, the Gilbert Trail and Sunset Point fit into one full day. Add a second day for Dagshai, Subathu, Barog or Parwanoo.

Are mobile phones allowed at Monkey Point?

Monkey Point is inside an Air Force station, and visitors have had to deposit phones, cameras and food at the gate and show a photo ID. Rules can change for security reasons, so check at the gate.

How far is Kasauli from Chandigarh?

About 50-60 km by road, depending on where you start, or roughly 1.5-2 hours via Zirakpur, Kalka and Parwanoo. On our published 2026 rates a one-way sedan drop from Chandigarh to Kasauli starts at Rs 2,499.

Does it snow in Kasauli?

Rarely. Kasauli is at about 1,800 m, so most winters bring cold, clear days and only the odd light snowfall between late December and mid-February. For likely snow, go on to Chail, Kufri or Narkanda.

Which is better, Kasauli or Shimla?

Kasauli is smaller, quieter and only about 50-60 km from Chandigarh, so it suits a short break. Shimla has far more to see and better access to snow at Kufri and Narkanda. Many travellers stop in Kasauli for a night on the way to Shimla.

Can you visit the Kasauli brewery or the Central Research Institute?

They are working establishments, not tourist sights. The brewery dates from 1835 and the Central Research Institute from 1904; you can see the buildings from the road but should not plan a visit inside.