Kangra valley is one of the most beautiful places in India. Located at Himachal Pradesh, this valley is a treat to your eyes and perfect place to rejuvenate yourself from daily stress and chaos of city life. So, what can you do in Kangra? Let us checkout.
Sightseeing
Unleash your creative mind at the lush green Kangra Valley. Encircled by the snowcapped Dhauladhar Mountains, this place offers serenity. Besides natural beauty, Kangra is a spiritual abode. The cultural history of the place dates back 3500 years, during the Vedic times. It has several old temples like the Baijnath, Jawalamukhi, Bajreshwari Devi Temple, Chamunda Devi Temple, Masroor Rock Temple, ChinmayaTapovan, Kathgarh Temple and Trilokpur Temple. Besides historical significance, these shrines are also known for remarkable architecture. Most of these are rock cut temples and exhibit the intricate carvings like the Ajanta and Ellora caves. The Kangra Fort is a must visit if you want to relive sometime from the past; the fort is almost 3000 years old and comes with numerous gates. Get a panoramic view of the sprawling landscape of Himachal from the top of the fort.
Festivals
Witness the life of the mountains at the Kangra Valley. People celebrate every moment of life here with festivals. The Nawala festival is dedicated to Lord Shiva. During this festival devotees sing and dance praising the Lord. The Hariyali Festival takes place during the monsoons. Celebrated during the Hindu month of Shravan (mid- July), people welcome rain in the hope of good harvest at this event.
Shopping
Kangra is unique with its colorful handicrafts. You can fill your nags with warm and embroidered shawls, miniature Pahari paintings and home décor. Kotwali Bazaar and Macleodganj are famous for Tibetan goods. Here you can get hand woven carpets, wooden statues, silk scarfs, bamboo and cane items. The metal wares, silver and gold jewelry come in unique design at Kangra. The taste of the tangy pickles and fresh squash of the valley will linger in your mouth for a long time.
Water Sports
The Maharana Pratap Sagar Lake, also known as the Pong Dam attracts water sports lovers. You can enjoy pleasant boat rides over the waters or spend some solitary moments fishing and angling; there are almost 27 varieties of fish available in the lake. The dam also attracts various species of birds and hence an idle place for bird watching. Black headed gulls, plovers, ducks, terns, water fowls and egrets are some out of 220 avian species. The Sagar also has a wildlife sanctuary where you can check out the wildlife of the hills; nilgai, wild boars, leopards, otters, sambar and barking deer are few of these. If you want to boost your adrenaline, go for paragliding to soar high above the mountains.
Lat but not the least; satisfy your taste buds at the amiable weather of Kangra Valley. The place specializes in North Indian cuisines like rice, dal and vegetables.
A visit to Kangra Valley is hence a historic trip back in time when life used to be simply beautiful.
Author Bio
Ademar Arau, a Mexican guy staying in Gurgaon India from last 3 years, translator by profession. Love to do capture the moments, writing and blogging, currently associated with olaviajes.com as Spanish – English travel blogger.