One of the most picturesque valleys of the lower Himalayas, Kangra is lush green and protected by the Dauladhar Ranges. Kangra is famous for its number of temples and the historical Kangra Fort which is witness to many battles.
Location of Kangra
A municipal council of Kangra district, Kangra is located at an average elevation of 2404 feet in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The district of Kangra extends from Jalandhar Doab to the southern ranges of the Himalayas. The district of Kangra includes Lahul, Spiti and Kullu.
what to see in Kangra ?
Kangra Fort: Built by BhumaChand of Katoch Dynasty, the historic fort of Kangra had been a major tourist attraction. It is located on the banks of Ban Ganga and temples of Laxmi Narayan and Adinath are located at the foreyard of the fort. Kangra Art Museum: This art museum displays arts and crafts of Kangra Valley which date back to 5th century AD. It includes a paintings, pottery, sculptures and anthropological items. You can also see on display dresses worn by royalty and local people.
Martyr’s Memorial: This war memorial was built in 1972 to commemorate soldiers and officers who fought at the Indo-China and Indo-Pak War. Names of 1042 martyrs are inscribed on memorial. The memorial is built near the entry point to Dharamshala in Civil Lines.
Bajreshwari Devi Temple: Once known for it legendary wealth, this temple is dedicated to Bajreshwari Devi. It was destroyed completely in the 1905 earthquake but was restored in 1920.
Maharana Pratap Sagar: Maharana Pratap Sagar is a beautiful reservoir in Kangra named after the great patriot Maharana Pratap. It is also known as Pong Dam and you can enjoy several water sports like rowing, boating, water skiing.
Gopalpur Zoo: Gopalpur Zoo was established by the Himachal Pradesh Govt and located on the Dharamshala-Palampur road. Animals like Asiatic Lion, red fox, Himalayan black bear, Sambar, hog deer, Leopard, barking deer, angora rabbits can be seen here.
Excursions from Kangra
Masroor Temple: This temple lies almost 22kms from Kangra and 40kms from Dharamsala. It is a rocky sandstone rock, the highest point which has been separated from the rest by two transverse and more or less parallel cuttings. This temple is comparable to temples like Mahabalipuram and Ellora and Dhammar aves. The black stone images of Ram, Lakshman and Sita are located at the centre of the complex.
Accomodation selection in Kangra
There are not too many accommodation options available in Kangra. However, there are plenty of options in Dhramasala. Judge’s Court and Taragarh Palace of Welcome Heritage Group are luxury hotels in Kangra. Best Western Hotel, Anand Palace is a 3 star hotel in Kangra, City Center.
Best season to visit Kangra
The best time to visit is during April and June. Winter months are very cold in the Kangra
How to reach Kangra
By Air: The nearest airport is Gaggal, 8kms from Kangra.
By Rail: The nearest broad-gauge station is Pathankot while the nearest narrow gauge is Kangra.
By Road: Kangra is well connected by road from Shimla, Pathankot and Dharamshala.
