PALAMPUR (THE BEAUTIFUL CITY OF GOD AND NATURE)

PALAMPUR Palampur is a green hill station and a municipal council in the Kangra Valley in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, surrou...

PALAMPUR

Palampur is a green hill station and a municipal council in the Kangra Valley in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, surrounded by tea gardens and pine forests.Palampur is the tea capital of northwest India but tea is just one aspect that makes Palampur a special interest place. Abundance of water and proximity to the mountains has endowed it with mild climate.

                                 The town has derived its name from the local word palum, meaning lots of water.There are numerous streams flowing from the mountains to the plains from Palampur.The combination of greenery and water gives Palampur a distinctive look. Palampur is at the confluence of the plains and thehills and so the scenery shows the contrast: plains on one side and the majestic snow-covered hills on the other side.In the backdrop of this beautiful town stands the Dhauladhar mountain range, which remains snow-covered for most part of the year.

Connectivity

• By Plane:

   Spice Jet and Air India is running daily flights from New Delhi to Kangra Airport (Gaggal Airport) which is just 40 km from Palampur.

• By Rail:

          Palampur is connected by the narrow gauge Kangra Valley Railway from Pathankot.Palampur railway station is situated at Maranda, 4 km from bus stand.Approximate distance from Pathankot to Palampur is 112 km. The journey takes about 6–8 hours covering two tunnels,one of which is only 250 feet and the other 1,000 feet in length. 

• 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.

famous places

              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.Some famous places worth visiting around Palampur are :

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.

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.

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 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.