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FACTS
& FIGURES
Languages : Hindi,
Himachali, English
Best time to visit : March-June
STD Code : 01892
KANGRA: THE CAPITAL OF THE CHAND RULERS
The small town of Kangra was the capital of the
erstwhile rulers of the Chand dynasty. It is set amongst
the picturesque settings of the Kangra valley at the
foothills of the majestic Dhauladhar range. The area
around Kangra is known for its ancient temples and picturesque
surroundings, which attract the tourists.
LOCATION
Kangra is located in the western part of the
state of Himachal Pradesh, in the northern region of
India. It is 18 km south of Dharamshala. The weather
in Kangra is alpine. Summers (April-June) are mild and
winters are cold (November-February). It experiences
southwestern monsoon rains in July-September. The Kangra
region receives the second highest rainfall per annum.
VISITING TIME
The best time to visit Kangra is between
March and June.
THE PAST
The town of Kangra has a chequered past.
It has been sacked a number of times because of the
wealth accumulated within the Vajreshwari temple. The
immense wealth of this temple attracted Mahmud of Ghazni,
the famous plunderer from Central Asia. He looted an
enormous treasure trove of gold and silver and jewelry
from this temple in AD 1009. The Tughlaq rulers of the
Delhi Sultanate again plundered it in 1360. However,
the town made a good recovery, and during the reign
of the Mughal emperor Jahangir in the early 17th century,
this temple was paved with plates of pure silver. This
area was ruled by local rulers and was later annexed
by the British, who established a garrison in Kangra.
TOURIST SPOTS
The small town of Kangra is famous for
its Vajreshwari Devi (Kangra Devi) temple. Though the
original temple was destroyed in a devastating earthquake,
the present one is rebuilt on the same site. A large
number of devotees throng this temple during various
Hindu festivals. The ancient fort of Nagar Kot is located
2.5 km south of the town, perched on a high windswept
ridge. Although this fort is in ruins, the travelers
can enjoy the panoramic view of the surroundings, which
includes the confluence of Manjhi and Baner rivers.
SITES NEARBY
There are a number of important temples
near Kangra. The small town of Masrur, 15 km from Kangra,
is known for its intricately carved temples. Masrur
has a group of 15 sandstone-hewed monolithic rock-cut
temples belonging to 10th century AD. The carvings and
sculpture found in this group of temple reminds one
of the world-famous rock-cut temples of Ellora in the
state of Maharashtra. Though most of the temples and
sculptures are in a bad shape, yet they reflect the
glory of the bygone era. The road from Kangra to Masrur
offers magnificent views of the Dhauladhar range. The
temple of Jawalamukhi is 34 km south of Kangra. A marvel
in itself, it is perhaps the only temple in India where
natural jets of flame flare out from the hillside covered
by the ancient, holy edifice. The temple has been a
major attraction for an assortment of people down the
centuries.
FAIRS AND FESTIVALS
Pilgrims flock to Kangra in the month
of April for the Navratra celebrations, and in September-October,
before the Dussehra festival, to pay their homage to
Goddess Durga at the Vajreshwari (Kangra Devi) temple.
HOW TO REACH
Kangra does not have an airport. It
has two railway stations: Kangra station, which is 3
km south of the town, and the Kangra Mandir station,
3 km east of the town. Indian Railways has introduced
the "Kangra Queen" between Pathankot and Palampur.
This luxury train running on narrow gauge covers a distance
of 128 km in 4½ hours with two halts-Jawalamukhi
and Kangra. The entire route provides panoramic view
of the snow-capped Dhauladhar range. The Kangra bus
stand is located north of the Bazaar, along the Dharamshala
Road. Bus service from Kangra to Dharamshala (45 minutes)
and Palampur is frequent.
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