Kangra is one of the popular hill stations of Himachal
Pradesh. The main town of Kangra is located at a distance3 of about 18 km from
Dharmasala. This scenic hill station is placed between the Dhauldhar and
Shivaslik ranges. The region has a rich soil and pleasant climate which allows
the cultivation of various types of spices and other agricultural products.
Attractions
Kangra is one of the favorite destinations for adventure
enthusiasts. As to the scenic location of this hill station, the place offers
various forms of adventure sports like rock climbing, trekking, fishing and
mountaineering. The place also organizes hang-gliding and paragliding events
once in a year. Most of the trekking routes that are found at this place are
open from the months of May to October.
Apart from the adventure activities that you can enjoy at
this place, it is also known among the tourists for its various religious
temples. The most popular and historic temple that you can at this place is
Jwalamukhi Temple. The temple is situated at a distance of about 34 km to the
southern part of Kangra.
As the name of this temple suggests, it is dedicated
to Goddess Jwalamukhi. The most amazing aspect about this temple is that you
will find natural flames coming out of the rocks from the nine different
directions of the temple. The temple does not have any idol and the devotees
worship the main deity of the temple in the form of fire.
Another chief religious site of Kangra is Vrajeshwari
Devi Temple. It is one of the most important shrines of the region. Kangra was
destroyed in 1905 and again rebuilt in the year 1920. It serves as one of the
significant pilgrimage centers in the state of Himachal Pradesh.
The place also has a historic fort called Kangra fort,
which is also known as Nagar Kot. This magnificent monument is placed at the
confluence of Banganga and Manjhi rivers. The fort is frequently visited by the
tourists due to the Maharaja Sansar Chandra Museum attached to this place.
Best Time to Visit
The place experiences cooler type of climate throughout
the year. The months of December and January should be avoided as the region
experiences heavy snowfall during this time of the year. The best time visit
the place will be from September to June.
Accommodation
The accommodation facilities in Kangra are of standard
quality which has been designed to make the stay of the visitors into a
comfortable one. The guest houses that you can find in Kangra are ranged at
affordable rates and you can also enjoy the mesmerizing view of the surrounding
region and the mountains from these places.
The hotels dotted along this area
are also equipped with alluring facilities like fitness centers, swimming
pools, ayurvedic massages and horse riding. Some of these hotels hold inlet stores
which sell items like opium, honey, rice and other spices that are cultivated
in Kangra. If you
are planning to visit this place, it is advisable to make advance bookings
as the place experience large number of tourists during the peak tourist
season.
How to Reach
By Road: Kangra is easily accessible through
road from several major destinations in Himachal Pradesh, namely Manali (225
km), Dalhousie (150 km), Shimla (215 km), Pathankot (70 km) etc. Regular bus and taxi services are available
from these places to Kangra.
By Air: The nearest airport to this place is
Gaggal, located at a distance of about 7 km. The airport conducts daily flights
to Delhi.
By Rail: The nearest major railway station to this place is Pathankot, located at
a distance of about 70 km. There are various modes of transportation available
outside the station to Kangra.
