Kangra Valley is one of the most beautiful destination, which predominantly lies in the state of Himachal Pradesh in India. It is situated in the Western Himalayas. it is a popular tourist destination, with the peak season around March and April. But people can visit here any season.
T
h
e
The valley is filled with numerous perennial streams, which irrigate the valley for the whole year. Kangra Valley is a striking and stunning region which is ample for attracting tourists. Valleys rolls down the southern edge of the magnificent Dhauladhar range. The valley has an average elevation of 2000 ft. The highest peak on the Dhauladhar range which marks the boundary between the valley and Chamba, reaches 15,956 ft.The peaks of the range are approximately 13,000 ft above the valley floor, rising sharply from its base with no low hills in between. Stunning view and lush green landscape make this destination a favorite hub among tourists.
Dharamsala, the headquarters of Kangra district, is also the headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile, headed by the His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Dharamshala, lies on the southern part of Dhaula dhar in the valley. A distinct regional dialect, Kangri, is spoken here. There are many important towns which have famous places around Kangra. Dharamshala, McLeodGanj, Norbulingka,Palampur and Bhawarna, Sidhbari, Kangra Art Museum, Kangra Fort,Baijanath, Maharana Pratap Sagar Lake, Brajeshwari Devi Temple etc. McLeodganj is a major shopping area here.
The shops in McLeodganj Bazaar deal in Tibetan handicrafts, metal ware, woolen carpets, hand knitted cardigans, jackets, gloves, jewelery and much more, which attracts tourists to shop with choice. Norbulingka is located in Sidhpur, a suburb of Dharamsala, about 30 minutes from McLeod Ganj. Norbulingka Palace is situated in the west side of Lhasa, a short distance to the southwest of Potala Palace. Norbulingka covers an area of around 36 hectares (89 acres) and considered to be the largest man made garden in Tibet. It is amazing to know that there are more than 370 rooms inside its premises. From the moment you step inside the gates of Norbulingka, it is as if you are transported to a different world.
Norbulingka is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and was added as an extension of this Historic Ensemble in 2001.It was built by the 7th Dalai Lama and served both as administrative centre and religious centre. It is a unique representation of Tibetan palace architecture. Norbulingka Temple is open every day from 9-5:30. There is a guesthouse, café, temple, museum and shop remain open every day. The best months to visit are March- May and October-December. Winter is quite mild in Dharamsala, but the monsoon, from July-September can be very wet. At the entrance, you will be asked to pay a small fee of 40 Rs. for locals and 100 Rs. for tourists, which goes towards the maintenance of our grounds. Baijnath Temple is famous for its 13th-century temple dedicated to Lord Shiva as Vaidyanath, it is nearby Palampur town.
The temple attracts a large number of tourists and pilgrims from all over India and abroad throughout the year. The present temple is a beautiful example of the early medieval North Indian temple architecture. Numerous images are also fixed or carved in the walls of the temple. Other popular temples include Chamunda Devi, Jawalamukhi, and Brajeshwari. Things to do in Kangra Valley: If you are an adventurous person, there can be nothing more exciting than trying paragliding. Mountaineering, hiking and trekking are also some of the popular activities here. Most of the treks begin at Baijnath, Palampur or Dharamsala. Bird watching and Butterfly observation has also become popular.
Transportation:
Road: The valley is reached by roads from other parts of Himachal Pradesh. There are huge network of HRTC to cater the needs of people. Almost every part of the state linked by road.
Railway: Pathankot is last railway station.Kangra Valley Railway is a 164 km long narrow gauge railway line that connects the valley with Pathankot, the nearest railhead on broad gauge railway network.
Airport:
Gaggal Airport, alternatively known as Kangra Airport or Dharamsala-Kangra Airport, is an airport located in Gaggal near Kangra.14 Kilometres South-West of Dharamshala. If you are planning to visit for some panoramic, stunning, lush green beauty and adventure, then it makes for the perfect destination to unveil the charm and secrets of Nature. In addition, the scenic views of the valley, miniature paintings, adventure sports, forts and temples, hospitable nature of the locals made your tour unforgettable.