Himachal Pradesh, India

Devbhumi : "Land of the Gods"

Kangra Travel Guide

The picturesque Kangra Valley ( 2000 feet) lies in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The exotic Kangra Valley lying between the Dhauladhar and the Shivalik foothills in the state of Himachal Pradesh is the conglomeration of valleys and plateaus of the Himalayas. It is one of the most pleasant and relaxing destination in the Himalayas. The Valley was called as the Nagarkot in the ancient times, as it was the ancient capital of the hill state of Nagarkot. Renowned for its natural beauty, the valley attracts thousands of tourists every year.

Kangra Valley is well protected by the Dhauladhar range. The valley provides the magnificent view of the Dhauladhar Range in gentle slopes covered with the forests of pine, orchards, tea gardens and terraced fields. The valley is known for the scenic beauty, ancient temples and numerous adventure sports.

Dotted with some of the most revered temples of India, like the temples of Brajeshwari, Baijnath, Jawalamukhi and Chamunda Devi, a tour to Kangra Valley is blessed with all the ingredients necessary for that dream vacation.

Kangra is also famous for Kangra paintings. The pictorial art of Kangra is one of the finest gifts of India to the art-world.

Climate

The valley enjoys the alpine climate. Summers are mild an the winters are cold.

Average Temperature (Approximate)

Summers : Maximum 34°C - Minimum 20°C Light Clothes

Winters : Maximum 20°C Minimum 1°C Heavy Woolen

How to reach

By Air 

The airport at Gaggal in Kangra is at a distance of 7 km, this is the nearest airport. There are daily flights from Delhi to this place.

By Bus/ Taxi: Distance from Kangra

By Rail 

The nearest broad gauge railhead is Pathankot, 70 km away. Pathankot is on Delhi Jammu Railway line and there are plenty of trains to choose from at different timings. It takes two and a half hours from this place to reach Kangra. The narrow gauge rail head is Kangra itself. The Pathankot Kangra rail distance is about 97 Kms and it takes about five hours to reach there. The 164 Kms long narrow gauge line from Pathankot passes through Kangra, Maranda (Palampur), Baijnath and reaches Joginder Nagar offering breathtaking views.

On this rail line, there are 20 crossings stations, 7 passenger halts and 971 bridges. Both luxury trains and ordinary trains offer services. One of the luxurious trains, Kangra Queen runs between Pathankot and Palampur, passing through the picturesque regions of Kangra in Himachal Pradesh.  Passing through Dhauladhar ranges of the Himalayas to the north and the foothills to the south, this track has two tunnels which are of 250 ft and 1,000 ft in length, respectively. The scenic beauty of the serene ambience offers memorable experience for travelers on this rail route.

Places of interest in Kangra

Brajeshwari Devi Temple

Situated just outside the Kangra town, this temple dedicated to Brajeshwari Devi, was once filled with a legendary fortune in diamonds and pearls. Hearing the wealth of this temple. Mahmud Ghazni plundered in the 11th century. Feroz Tughlak clearned out the restored fortune three centuries later. Final sack was carried out by Timur the lame before Mughals who followed and restored the shrine to its glory. Destroyed completely in 1905 by an earthquake, it was rebuilt in 1920.

Nagarkot Fort

The ancient fort of Nagar Kot is another place to visit in Kangra. Although the fort is not well-kept, you can climb to the top to have a stunning view of the valley and the meeting point of the Manjhi and Baner Rivers. There are two Jain temples inside the fort as well.

Chintapurni

Chintapurni, 80 km south of Dharamshala, and Trilokpur have famous stone temples. This place is a must while visiting Kangra temples for pilgrims and tourists alike.

Adventure Activities And Sports In Kangra Valley

Kangra valley, is an ideal country for adventure and sports activities like mountaineering, trekking, rock climbing and fishing, it is this valley which witness annually hang gliding rally.

Hang Gliding

3.5 km from Palampur is predominantly Buddhist town of Bir and 14 km from Bir is Billing, a beacon for Hang gliders, the world over. In the month of May/June a tented colony is set up by Himachal Pradesh tourism to facilitate hang-gliders. At this time all the roads lead to billing.

Trekking & Mountaineering

There are many peaks between 3,500m to 5,000 in Dhauladhar ranges. Most of the treks which start from Dharamsala, Palampur or Baijnath are of 5 to 8 days duration and ultimately terminate at Bharmaur and Chamba, over the majestic Dhauladhar ranges. Dharamshala to Chamba over Bhimghasutri Pass, Dharamsala to Holi and then to Manimahesh over Talang Pass; Palampur to Holi over Shinghor Pass; Palampur to Dharamsala via Indradhar Pass and Baijnath to Manali over Thamsar Pass, are some of the existing treks.