General Information - Kangra
Altitude615mBest TimeMid-May To Mid-October.
LocationHimachal Pradesh.
Fast facts - One of the well known hill stations in India, Kangra is located in the eastern part of the state of Himachal Pradesh.
Did you know - Kangra in Himachal Pradesh is spread over an area of 55,673 square Kms. It is surrounded by hills on all sides.
Must do - Visit the popular tourist spots like Mannuni Lake, Gopalpur Zoo, Nurpur Fort, Chamunda Devi temple.
One of the well known hill stations in India, Kangra is located in the eastern part of the state of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its scenic beauty and idyllic surroundings. Every year, thousands of tourists come to Kangra to spend some time in the midst of beautiful natural surroundings.
Kangra in Himachal Pradesh is spread over an area of 55,673 square Kms. It is surrounded by hills on all sides. The River Beas flows through the town. The town is located at an altitude of 2404 feet and has a sprawling vegetation of Sal, pine, eucalyptus and rhododendron trees. The town was also known as Nagarkot in the ancient times.
The ideal time for traveling to Kangra is between the months of March and October when the weather is pleasant. Being a hill station, the town experiences mild climate all over the year. The summer months are pleasant and mild while the winter months are cold.
Prime Attractions of Kangra
Behna Mahadev
This is one of the largest gable-roofed Hindu temples in the Satluj valley. The mandapa and corridor around the sanctuary are open to all sides. Angled struts support the overhanging stone-tiled roof, which is steeply gabled in two tiers.
Brajeshwari Temple
It is said to have been founded by the divinity of that name at a famous 'Ashwamedh' or horse sacrifice, which was held on the spot. The famous Mehmood of Ghazni is said to have invaded the district and destroyed the temple, building a mosque on its ruins.
Brijraj Behari Temple
On the spread of 'Vaishnavism' in Himalayas Vogel says, " Though 'Saivism' prevails everywhere and all the principal temples and 'tirthas' are dedicated to 'Mahadeva' or 'Devi', under various names, there seems to be a great deal of Vishnu or Krishna worship in Rajas.
International Himalayan Festival
As winter arrives, anglers shift to the Pong Dam. With the blessings of Nobel Laureate, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Internation Himalayan Festival is he;ld in Kangra district.
Kangra Art Gallery
This treasure trove of Kangra valley arts, crafts and rich past, displays artifacts that date back to 5th century. It includes a gallery of Kangra's famous miniature painting and a representative collection of sculptures, pottery and anthropological items.
Karaeri Lake
Surrounded by thick woods and the visually stunning backdrop of the Dhauladhar mountains, Kareiri Lake is a beacon for trekkers in the area.
Masrur Temple
At an altitude of 8,00m and 15-kms to the south of Kangra, is the town of Masrur. Here are 15 Shikhra Temples, cut out of solid rock and built in the 10th century. Built in the Indo-Aryan monolith style, these temples have got a great resemblance with the Ajanta-Ellora temples.
Sujanpur Fort
Close to the district border of Kangra, is the fort of Sujanpur. Popularly known along with its twin title 'Tira', this was built by Raja Abhaya Chand of Kangra in 1758.
The Judges Court
The Judge's Court is set in some eight acres of land and has a fairly eclectic character about it. The floor plan follows the layout of a colonial bungalow and the embellishments are part local and part Saracenic.
Gaddis
The Gaddis are shepherds who move their flocks of sheep from lower pastures in winter to higher ones after snow melt. To them the Dhauladhars are not just a mountain range but like their mother.
Kangra
Kangra is accepted as one of Himachal's most picturesque areas, thousands of streams flow through its enchanting valleys.
Kangra Fort
The remains of the fort of the rulers of Kangra are located on a strategic height, overlooking the 'Ban Ganga' and 'Manjhi' rivers. Among its ruins, besides the temple of goddess Ambika Devi, there are two Jain temples too.
Kangra Tea
As the sun rises over palampur, the dew drops that have settled over the night on the dark leaves of the tea bushes act as scores of little prisms that disperse the first light - and announce to the world that they nurture yet another fine crop of Kangra tea.
Pong Lake Sanctuary
Pong Dam reservoir is 65-km from Panthankot and 115-km from Dharamsala on the Beas River. The Pong Dam Lake is significant for a wildlife sanctuary with wild life species like Nilgai, Sambar, Barking Deer, Wild Buar, Clawless Otter, and Leapord. The reservoir is developed on a large scale for promoting water sports for tourists.
Shiva Temple
The Shiva temple at Katgarh is lesser known as compared to other temples in Kangra. It is located at the periphery of Kangra district. It has many legends woven in to Folklore. The temple enshrined a human-size 'linga', which is vertically spilt in to two parts.
Siddhanatha Temple
The Siddhanatha temple at Baijanath is similar in its arrangement both in its interior and exterior to that of Mahadeva temple commonly known as Siddanatha temple.
Excursions from Kangra
Jwalamukhi Temple (30Km.)
Jwalamukhi is 34-km from Kangra. Recognised as one of the 51 Shaktipiths of India, the picturesque temple, built against a wooded spur, in the Indo-Sikh style, has a dome that was gilded by Mughal Emperor Akbar.
Nadaun (43Km.)
This town became famous when the Kangra rulers shifted their Capital here after they lost Kangra Fort to the army of Jahangir. However, it lost its glory when Raja Sansar Chand re-captured Kangra Fort and became the strong ruler of Kangra valley again. It is situated on the Shimla-Dharamshala road on the bank of Beas River, 20-kms from Hamirpur town and 43-km from Kangra. It is peaceful town with a good Rest House, an Old Palace and Shiva temple. The Palace building at Amtar still houses some of the paintings of that time. Jawalajee (also spelt as Jawalaji) temple is also not very far and can be visited from here.
How To Get There - Kangra
By AirKangra airport is 7-km away and has got straight flights from Delhi.
By Rail
Nearest broad-gauge railhead at Pathankot is 86-km away and one is situated at Mukarian is 30-km. Kangra Valley express is a narrow gauge train, starting from Pathankot and continues to Bajinath.
By Road
Kangra is well connected by road with Dharamsala, which is 18-km away.
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