| FACTS
& FIGURES
Languages
: Hindi and Himachali
Best time to Visit : Throughout the year
STD Code : 01894
THE TEA
CAPITAL OF NORTH INDIA
Palampur is the tea capital of
North India. This hill station is not only known for
its numerous tea gardens and paddy fields but it also
known for its colonial architecture and temples. One
can enjoy the scenic beauty of the Dhauladhar range
and the slopes of the Kangra valley from Palampur. Palampur
and places around it are popular for adventure sports
like hang-gliding and trekking.
LOCATION
Palampur is located in the northwestern
part of the state of Himachal Pradesh, in the northern
region of India. It is situated in the Kangra valley,
near the Dhauladhar ranges. It is located on an altitude
of 1,220 m above sea level. Palampur is 30 km from Dharamshala.
The weather in Palampur is moderate. Summers (April–June)
are mild and winters (November–February) are cold
but pleasant. It experiences southwestern monsoon rains
in July–September.
VISITING TIME
Palampur has a mild climate and can
be visited throughout the year. However, the best time
to visit Palampur is between March to June and mid-September
to November.
THE PAST
Palampur got its name from the word
pulum that means abundant water. It was a part of the
local Sikh kingdom and later came under the British
rule.
TOURIST SPOTS
The tourist can take a walk in Palampur
and enjoy its colonial architecture. The tea factory
and St John’s Church are important places to visit
in Palampur. A walk beyond the town will take one to
the Bundla Chasm, where a waterfall drops into the Bundla
stream. One can see the captivating Dhauladhar range
from Neogal Park, which is 1 km from Palampur. One can
go on innumerable promenades along the tea gardens and
the nearby forests or into the Dhauladhars.
SITES NEARBY
There are a number of places of tourist
importance near Palampur: The village of Andretta is
13 km from Palampur and is an important craft center,
which is known for its pottery. A number of well-known
artists had made their base in Andretta. Sujanpur Tira,
which is 42 km from Palampur, is famous for its fort
and old temples. The town of Baijnath is 16 km from
Palampur and is famous for its Shiva temple. A mini
zoo is also located at Gopalpur, which is at a distance
of 13 km from Palampur. The Chamunda Devi Temple located
on Baner River, 10 km from Palampur, is an important
place to visit. There is a Tibetan monastery at Tashijong,
which is 12 km away from Palampur. The monastery complex
is famous for producing traditional Tibetan handicrafts.
ADVENTURE
Several trek routes lead out of Palampur,
particularly over the Dhauladhar Mountains towards the
town of Chamba. Some important treks are over the Sanghar
pass to Bharmaur via Holi and from Baijnath over the
Jalsu pass to Bharmaur. A four-day trek will lead the
traveler to Holi, via Waru La.
Twenty-eight kilometers from Palampur is an important
center for the adventure sport of hang/paragliding.
It also has numerous Buddhist monuments and is famous
for its Tibetan handicrafts. The town of Billing, which
is 42 km from Palampur and 14 km from Bir, is also an
important center for hang-gliding.
SHOPPING
Palampur is an ideal place for the purchase
of exquisite Kangra tea, local handicrafts, Tibetan
carpets and pullovers.
HOW TO REACH
Palampur does not have an airport or
railway station. The nearest railway station is at Maranda,
which is 2 km from Palampur and on the narrow-gauge
line between Pathankot and Jogindernagar. The main bus
station is located 1 km south of the main Bazaar. The
bus service from Palampur to Dharamshala (2 hours),
Mandi (4 hours), and Pathankot (4 hours) is frequent.
Travelers can also make use of taxis to travel to these
towns from Palampur.
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