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Palampur has numerous Buddhist monasteries and is famous for its Tibetian people as they have helped in making things
extra beautiful.
Palampur is an important city located in Kangra Valley. It is a famous hill station and was once a part of the Jalandhar
kingdom. The town came into being when Dr. Jameson, Superintendent of Botanical Gardens, introduced the tea bush from
Almora in 1849. The bush thrived and so did the town which became a focus of the European tea estate owners with an
exception of the famous (former) Wah Tea Estate which was owned by Nawab Muhammad Hayat Khan and his descendants, until
1947.Since then, the Kangra tea of Palampur has been known internationally.
The first prime minister of independent India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru visited Palampur in 1941 when it was still
British India. There is a Nehru Chowk in Palampur to commemorate this event.
Several trek routes lead out of Palampur, particularly over the Dhauladhar Mountains towards the districts of Chamba
and Kullu, Himachal Pradesh. Some important treks are over the Sanghar pass to Bharmaur via Holi, the Thamsar Pass
(4,747 metres above MSL) from Billing to Manali via Bara Bhangal, over the Jalsu pass from Baijnath to Bharmaur, and
the forest trek from Mcleodganj to Triund. A four-day trek will lead the traveler to Holi, via Waru La. Twenty-eight
kilometers from Palampur is Billing, near Bir, Himachal Pradesh|Bir, an important centre for paragliding. Paraglider
pilots often land near Palampur after cross-country flights starting from Billing.
History
Palampur is an important city located in Kangra Valley. It is a famous hill station and was once a part of the
Jalandhar kingdom. The town came into being when Dr. Jameson, Superintendent of Botanical Gardens, introduced the tea
bush from Almora in 1849. The bush thrived and so did the town which became a focus of the European tea estate owners
with an exception of the famous (former) Wah Tea Estate which was owned by Nawab Muhammad Hayat Khan and his
descendants, until 1947.[2] Since then, the Kangra tea of Palampur has been known internationally.
The first prime minister of independent India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru visited Palampur in 1941 when it was still British India.
There is a Nehru Chowk in Palampur to commemorate this event.
Climate
Palampur has a monsoonal-influenced humid subtropical climate (Cwa) with hot summers and cool winters.
Late summer and early spring see massive amount of monsoonal rain.
Culture
The hill town of Palampur promises loads of relief to people who are on a lookout of peace and tranquility and who
need a break from the busy city life. The region of Palampur is a heavenly abode for tourists as it is blessed with
natural beauty and the spread of lush tea gardens coupled with the dense pine forests provide a intriguing touch to the
landscape. The people of Palampur are also very rich culturally and there are a number of festivals that are celebrated by the people of Palampur. The people here
practice Hinduism and Buddhism as religions and both these religions have a number of celebrations throughout the year that keeps the town of Palampur vibrant and
lively.
Fairs and Festivals of Palampur
Palampur is a hills station located in the state of Himachal Pradesh. This is one of the major tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh, which is full of
wonderful and scenic places. Palampur attracts tourists because of its excellent climate and the remains of colonial architectures which still stand tall to this day.
The entire state of Himachal Pradesh is rich in terms of culture and tradition, Palampur being no exception. In Palampur, there are numerous festivals which are celebrated
with lots of enthusiasm, besides there are different kinds of fairs which are held every year. These events come as an added attraction to the tourist visiting this
part of Himachal Pradesh
Festivals at Palampur
As mentioned, Palampur celebrates numerous festivals. Here are the 3 of the most important and popular ones among them.
Holi – The Festival of Color: Like in other parts of India, Holi is being celebrated with immense enthusiasm in Palampur. In other parts of India, the
festival of Holi is celebrated for 2 days, whereas in Palampur it is celebrated for 4 days. In places like Pragati Maidan, public celebration of Holi is carried out.
The festival is being inaugurated by the honorable Governor of Himachal Pradesh. In Palampur, the women offer puja and aarti during the festival of Holi. Small twigs
are collected from the trees and are then colored in yellow and red. Then these twigs are placed inside a bamboo basket, which is called Khartoo. Women place roasted
grams, jaggery, vermillion powder and thread inside the basket and then carry it to the oldest man in the village. This man is known as Dandochh. The actual
celebration of Holi begins only after this ritual is completed. For the tourists who visit Palampur during Holi are blessed with some wonderful experience.
Sair: Sair is a local festival and is unique to this particular place. Puja and aarti are being offered to Sair, a deity heavily regarded in Palampur. This
festival is celebrated during the Chaitra month. In the ancient days, Palampur used to experience a heavy flood. It is believed that offerings to Sair are what
protect them from the floods.
Transportation
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.
BY AIR -
The nearest airport to Palampur is Gaggal airport in Dharamsala, which is located at a distance of
around 40 km. This airport is well-connected through regular flights from important Indian cities like Chandigarh,
Delhi and Kullu. The second nearest airport is Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar, around 231 km.
BY RAIL -
Palampur has its own railway station, Palampur Railway Station, connecting it to important cities of
Himachal Pradesh. This railway station lies on the major Palampur - Kangra Valley Narrow gauge railhead, connecting
Palampur to Pathankot and Kangra. This railway station 5.3 km away from the main area. Pathankot is the next nearest
railway station, located at a distance of 113 km. Regular trains from cities like Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bhatinda, Jammu,
Hatia, Udhampur, and so on, arrive at Pathankot. Taxis are available from outside the railway stations.
BY ROAD -
Palampur is well- connected by a network of roads to most neighboring areas and important
destinations in Himachal Pradesh state. State- run buses ply on a regular basis to Palampur from Pathankot, Mandi,
Dharamshala, Jogindernagar, Shimla, Chandigarh, Gurdaspur, Sandhole etc. Delhi is also connected to Palampur by HRTC
buses.
Hiring private taxis and cabs is another suitable option.
Tourism
Palampur is a rapidly developing city of Himachal Pradesh with plenty of accommodations. The upper areas of Palampur experience heavy snowfall and thereby
providing plenty of opportunity for tourists to get themselves indulged in winter sports activities or enjoy a stroll through the beautiful tea gardens. Palampur has
emereged as one of the favourite places for movie shooting lately. Famous directors like Imtiaz Ali and Lawrence D'Souza have shot movies here. A ropeway has been
proposed across the Neugal river which will further attract tourists.
Palampur is at the center of all major tourist attractions, with Dharamshala on one side and Baijnath and Manali on the other. One can easily find good and
affordable places to stay in the town. You can find hotels, home stays, villas and cottages at very competitive prices. There are also a good number of restaurants
in the main market serving a variety of cuisines.
Some famous places worth visiting around Palampur are :
The Solitude Camp
: Free from city noise, technology, and other modern interferences, The Solitude Camp is an undisturbed and peaceful place in the foothills
of the majestic Dhauladhar Mountains. The Solitude Camp is around 7kms from Palampur towards the old Vindhyavasini temple road. The place is situated near the Neugal
stream and has a nearby waterfall and amazing views of the Dhauladhar mountains. The place also offers tourism activities like trekking, River crossing and rock
climbing on request.
Chamunda Devi Temple
(20 km. from Palampur): This is a very important Hindu shrine with the temple of Goddess Chamunda. Thousands of devotees from all
over India visit the temple and offer prayers.
Bir and Billing
(35 km. from Palampur): This village is famous for its Buddhist monasteries. Hand gliding pilots use it as their landing site. Bir,
surrounded by tea gardens and an amphitheater of low hills, is an ideal landing around for paragliders. Bir has Buddhist monasteries that are worth visiting. Fine
Tibetan handicrafts are also produced here. Billing, up in the hills and 14 km. from Bir with an arena of 200 km for high altitude and cross country flying,
is one of the best aerosports sites in the country.
Baijnath
(16 km. from Palampur): The Shiva temple at Baijnath is one of the most remarkable monuments of the Kangra valley. Ancient name of this town
was 'Kirgrama'. Baijnath got its name from Shiva Vaidyanatha. The temple consists of an 'Adytum' surrounded by a spire of the usual conical shape with a 'Mandap'
covered with a low pyramid shaped roof. The 'Adytum' contains the Lingam. There is fine sculpture work associated with Ravana, who worshipped Shiva at this spot
and gained immortality. Shivratri of Baijnath is a well attended fair.
Neugal Khad
(2 km from Palampur): Neugal Khad provides a fine view of the Dhauladhar range. It is roaring in the rainy season and gurgling all the
year round. Himachal Tourism cafe provides food and a fine view from its restaurant. It is a famous picnic spot and ideal for a day escape from busy life.
Bundla Stream
(2 km from Palampur): Bundla stream with wide chasm of more than 100 metres, swells up and rises madly in monsoons taking stones
and boulders along with it making a loud noise like that of continuous thunder. The walk from Palampur to Bundla should not be missed as you can visit the tea
gardens too.
Bundla Tea Estate
(2 km from Palampur): This is one of the most beautiful tea estates of Palampur, which covers Bundla, Aima and Lohna panchayats.
The tea estate falls on the road between Neugal Cafe and main Palampur town. The lush green tea gardens are at its best in the monsoon. People can be seen plucking
tea from April till October. The old Bundla Tea Estate complex, which is over 200 years old can be seen from the road.
Andretta
(13 km from Palampur): It is the home of the famous artist,
late Sardar Sobha Singh and late playwright Norah Richards. Sobha Singh's Art Gallery is also situated in Andretta.
Saurabh Van Vihar
(4 km from Palampur): Named after the valiant Army officer, Captain Saurabh Kalia, Saurabh Van Vihar is on the banks of Neugal
stream. Managed by the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department, the Van Vihar was set up with the purpose of providing information to the tourists about the nature and
environment. The Vihar sprawls over an area of 35 acres and there is a green park located here. The area is surrounded by the Dhauladhar mountains and offers
a scenic view.
Mata Ashapuri(Maa Ashapuri) Temple
: Mata Asahpuri temple is very famous temple in Distt Kangra. It is located at the top of hill. My village Suan is
very small town surrounded by hills and located right down the Hill of Mata Ashapuri Temple. On-Foot it takes around 1 hour and by bus it takes around
3 hours to reach Mata Ashapuri Temple from my village. On-Foot there is shortcut way to reach the temple. Suan town comes under Tehsil Jaisinghpur. Its
populations is approximately 500 people. Bus service is available for Mata Ashapuri Temple from Palampur and Panchrukhi Bus stations. It is approximately
2–3 hours run by bus from Palampur to Mata Ashapuri temple. Bus service is available on specific times. You can consult at Palampur Bus Stand Counter regarding
bus service queries and timings. There is another village called Khera which has its own legacy. It is situated on the opposite hill. The residents of this village
worship Maata Saniyaari. According to legend Saniyaari wanted to commit Sati after her husband's death. She was tried to save by a Katoch couple who didn't have any
issue. Saniyaari Maata gave him a boon of 2 sons and one daughter and asked the couple to make a temple in her name and to organise Mela every year. The Katoch
family has now reached its 8 generation.
Gopalpur Zoo
(14 km from Palampur): This zoological park, officially known as Dhauladhar Nature Park, developed by H.P government, is a good place
for animal lovers and children. The park has a wide range of animals such as lion, leopard, bear, porcupine. It is a perfect place for picnics, weekend getaways
and for spending your time exploring the natural and scenic beauty of the Dhauladhar mountains.