Places to Visit in Kangra

Himachal Pradesh has such wonderful hill stations, and one of the most scenic ones in Kangra. While Kangra offers majestic views of the Dhauladhar mountain ranges, there are ancient temples in Kangra, which evoke a sense of divine energy. Kangra is famous for its tea gardens, which are very old and established by the British rulers. Kangra is also known for its Himachali culture and tribals who have been living here for centuries. But Kangra is also a place where you can see the oldest fort in India. There are many archaeological sites in Kangra which date back many centuries. To get to see all the tourist places in Kangra, you can book a Himachal tour package. We can make the best Kangra tour itinerary so that you can visit all the best places in Kangra.

1. Kangra Fort

Historians believe that Kangra Fort is one of the oldest forts in India. It is so old that you can find a mention of this fort during Mahabharata times. You can visit the fort and see some of its remaining sections which have survived all these years. A walk among the ruins of this magnificent fort will tell a lot about its royalty and grandeur.

Baijnath Temple is an age-old temple that you can visit on your tour of Kangra Valley. Lord Shiva is worshipped here as Lord Vaidyanath. Two merchants built this temple in 1204 AD in devotion to Lord Shiva. You can view the Dhauladhar mountain range from this temple. Baijnath Temple has beautiful architecture and locals have tremendous faith in this temple.

3. Brajeshwari Temple

Brajeshwari Temple is a Shakti temple in Kangra that you should visit on your Kangra trip. The temple was originally built by the Pandavas to worship Goddess Brajeshwari, who was a divine incarnation of Goddess Durga. The temple is very sacred and holy and is one of the 52 Shakti Peeth temples in India. Locals also call this temple by the name of Kangra Devi Mandir.

4. Indrahar Pass

Indrahar Pass is a mountain pass that is situated in Kangra. It is full of scenic beauty. You will find glaciers, rocky terrain, lakes, river streams, pine forests, and deep river gorges here. Indrahar Pass is one of the very famous treks in Himachal Pradesh. You can see the town of Dharamshala from many places on this Indrahar Pass trek.

5. Jwala Devi Temple

Jwala Devi Temple is one of the famous temples in Kangra that you can visit. The temple is dedicated to Jwala Devi. Jwala Devi temple is built at the place where the tongue of Goddess Sati fell. Thus, this temple is an important Shakti Peeth temple. There is no idol in this temple, but many believe that the goddess exists in the flames that keep burning in this temple without any fuel or wood.

6. Chamunda Devi Temple

Kangra is famous for its ancient temples, and one of the very famous temples in Kangra is the Chamunda Devi temple. Chamunda Devi is one of the most ferocious forms of Goddess Durga. The temple is a Shakti Peeth temple. The enormous mountain range of Dhauladhar looks very scenic from this temple.

7. Kareri Lake

Kareri Lake is a famous alpine lake that you can visit on your trip to Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh. It is in the Dhauladhar mountain range and the glaciers feed this lake with its cold waters. Kareri Lake trek is among the most famous trekking places in Himachal Pradesh. The lake waters are so clear and transparent that you can see the bottom of this lake in some places.

8. Masrur Temple

Masrur is a small village in Kangra Valley, which is famous for its rock-cut temples. Its Rock-cut temples are very old and date back to the 10th century. Masrur temples were cut out from rocks and are very similar to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Its architecture and carvings and sculptures on stone walls are very impressive.

9. Pragpur Village

Pragpur is a small village in Kangra with a rural setting. This is a heritage place with many buildings which were built centuries ago. You can visit Judge’s Court, Lala Rerumal Haveli, Chaujjar Mansion, Shri Kalinath Kaleshwar Shiva Temple, and many other places.

10. Kangra Art Museum

In Kangra, you can visit the Kangra Art Museum which is one of the best places to visit in Kangra. Here you can view the Tibetan and Buddhist art collections. There are various exhibits of old sculptures, coins, jewelry, pottery, paintings, and tribal art. Some of the art that you can see here dates back to the 5th century.

11. Palampur

Palampur is a must-visit place when you go on a tour of Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh. It has incredible scenic beauty. There are pine and deodar forests and gurgling river streams. The tea gardens in Palampur produce very fine quality tea. Palampur offers very panoramic views of the Dhauladhar range of mountains. You must visit Tashi Jong Monastery while on a trip to Palampur.

12. Kaleshwar Mahadev Temple

While planning your tour of Kangra, you must visit Kaleshwar Mahadev Temple. The Shiva linga here is below the ground, and during the monsoons, the waters of the Beas river rise to touch the shiv linga. The main deity of Kaleshwar Mahadev Temple is Lord Shiva. The Pandava brothers built this temple in the first place, and later the kings of the Katoch dynasty added to the original structure.

13. Haripur

Haripur is one of the must-visit places in Kangra. It is a small town that is famous as the birthplace of Kangra paintings. Haripur was once a royal place that was founded in 1464. Haripur has the natural beauty of green pastures, forests, caves, and Dhauladhar mountain views. There is an ancient fort in Haripur which was built by the former king Raja Hari Chand.

14. Tashi Jong Monastery

You can visit Tashi Jong Monastery in Kangra if you are interested to know more about Buddhist culture in Kangra. Tibetan refugees built this monastery. The gompa preserves the tradition of the Drukpa Kagyud tradition of Buddhist culture. The main temple has a stupa and the interiors are decorated with Buddhist paintings and murals. The wooden carvings on the doors and Thangka paintings are worth seeing. You can buy Tibetan items from a small souvenir shop here.

15. Mcleod Ganj

If you are making plans for a Kangra tour, then you should visit Mcleodganj in your Kangra trip itinerary. Mcleodganj is a very scenic and spiritual one-day trip from Kangra. The Tibetan monk, Dalai Lama, resides here in Mcleodganj. There are lofty hills and mountains draped with lush green forests and verdant greenery. The Tibetan refugees who settled here in Mcleodganj built impressive monasteries like Namgyal Monastery and Tsuglagkhang Complex. You can spend an entire day exploring Mcleodganj places like Dal Lake, Bhagsunath Temple, etc.

16. Taragarh Palace

Taragarh Palace is one of the most fascinating places that you can visit in Kangra. This palace was built in European-style architecture and is owned by the royal family of Jammu & Kashmir. Today, this is a heritage hotel that offers royal facilities and fine dining. The interiors have marble floorings, rich paintings, chandeliers, antique furniture, and tiger skins. Lush green gardens and forests surround this palace making it an even more scenic location.

17. Andretta

Andretta is a scenic village with stunning natural beauty. The mountains of the Dhauladhar range and forests make it a very scenic place in Kangra. You can learn pottery here. You can learn more about art and paintings when you visit places like Norah Richard’s Centre for the Arts, Sobha Singh Art Gallery, Andretta Pottery and Craft Society, and Norah Richard’s House.

18. Gyuto Monastery

Gyuto Monastery is among the many famous places that you can visit on your trip to Kangra. It is built on a hill and offers magnificent views of the Dhauladhar mountain peaks, green valleys of the Beas river, and dense forests. Gyuto Monastery was established to preserve the tantric traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.

19. Bhagsu Waterfall

One of the most scenic sights that you can see in Kangra is the sight of Bhagsu Waterfall. The scenic waterfall originates in the hills and mountains of the Dhauladhar range and cascades down rocks to form the beautiful Bhagsu Waterfall. You should visit this place during the monsoon season to watch the waterfall full of water. The temple of Bhagsunath located near the waterfall is also a good place to visit.

20. Triund

Triund Hill is one of the very beautiful places to visit in Kangra. It offers scenic views of Kangra Valley and Dhauladhar mountain ranges. This trek is one of the famous treks in Himachal Pradesh. Find many camping sites on this trek. You will have to pass through deodar forests, grasslands, pastures, and river streams on this trek. You can come across Himachali shepherds grazing their sheep and view the beauty of the Dhauladhar mountains on this trek.

21. Bir & Billing

Bir Billing is a very famous place in Kangra which you can include in the must-visit places. It is a small Buddhist village where villagers practice the Tibetan religion. Billing is the best place for paragliding and meditation. You can buy interesting Tibetan items from the market. Bir Billing is a thrilling place for going on hiking, exploring monasteries, and seeing the beauty of mountains.