Kangra Sightseeing
Kangra
18 km south of Dharamshala, located in the western part of Himachal, a small hamlet though covering the largest region of Himachal, named Kangra profoundly called ‘Devbhumi’ meaning Land of Gods, is located in the vicinity of panoramic delights of picturesque landscapes, and ancient fort and temples overlooking the enchanting snow-capped Dhauladhar Ranges.
A spiritual retreat to soul and body, it is home to the oldest surviving royal dynasy -the Katoch Dynasty.The history of Kangra dates back to more than 3500 years. Kangra was invaded many times, because of prosperity of Vajreshwari temple. The wealth accumulated there attracted Mahmud of Gazni,plunderer from Central Asia, thereafter by the Tughlaq rulers of Delhi Sultanate, and later by the British.
Best Time to visit Kangra
For the perfect weekend getaway, Kangra can be visited anytime of the year. For those who like chilling winters, December and January are the ideal months, for the avid adventure seekers, February to March are the apt months and for trek lovers, the best time to visit Kangra are from April to June.
Top attractions of Kangra
Kangra Fort
As you drive from Shimla – Mataur national highway,you cme accross a gradeur fort lurking atop the flat mountain range. This historically significant fort is situated around 3 km from Kangra town and is also known as Nagarkot.The history of the forthas its origins from the ancient Trigarta Kingdom, ehich was mentioned in the Mahabharata. It was sackeda number of times for the unimaginable riches offered to Vrijeshwari Temple inside the fort.In 1622, the fort was invaded and captured by Jahangir from whom Raja Sanskar Chand II recovered the fort of his ancestors and ultimately handed over to the British but was heavily damaged by the earthquake of April 4,1905. Now most of the fort is in ruins now but stands as a symbol of royalty and valor.
Masroor Rock cut temples
The Masroor Temple of Kangra is a rare monolithic rock cut temples in North India that is dated to circa 8th century AD. It is an ambitious feat comparable with the rock hewn shrines of Ajanta and Ellora in Western India. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Vishnu, Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and other Hindu deities, the complex in all has 15 Indo-Aryan style temples cut in the rock. They face the eastern Sun with a rectangular pool in the courtyard. Reflection of the temple shikhara’s in the pool waters casts a spell binding image of Masroor. In easy reach, this rare temple complex is only 40 km from Kangra.
Situated at an altitude of 800 meters above sea level, Masrur Temples is one of the most visited temples in Kangra and a home to fifteen sumptuously shaped massive rock temples which are synonymous to the Ajanta and Ellora.
Himachali Cuisines
The cuisine of a place describes it in ways that its landscapes can’t. There are travelers who judge a place by the food it offers. And if you fall into that category, get ready to be pampered by the wide array of pahari cuisine available here.
The ingredients that make Himachali cuisine different are yogurt and cardamom. From high-class restaurants and cafes to roadside vendors, everyone in Himachal spill their hearts out when it comes to food. Indulging in various gastronomical delights will certainly be one of the most fun things to do in Kangra.
