Kangra

Headquarters: Dharamshala Best time: March to June, and September to November

Overview

Kangra is Himachal's most populous district and home to Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj, the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile and the residence of the Dalai Lama. The Dhauladhar range rises sharply above the valley, drawing trekkers to Triund and paragliders to Bir Billing. The district also holds the ancient Kangra Fort and the rock-cut Masroor temples.

Reviewed places in Kangra

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Triund Trek

McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala

A popular day or overnight trek to a grassy ridge at about 2,850 m, with the Dhauladhar wall on one side and the Kangra valley on the other.

Human-reviewed

Kangra Fort

Kangra

One of the oldest and largest forts in India, held for centuries by the Katoch dynasty, standing above the confluence of the Banganga and Manjhi rivers.

Human-reviewed

Jwalamukhi Temple

Jawalamukhi

A Shakti Peetha where natural gas flames burning from the rock are worshipped as the goddess, with no idol in the sanctum.

Human-reviewed

Bir Billing

Bir

A paragliding centre in the Kangra valley — take-off is at Billing (~2,400 m) and landing at Bir — that has hosted world-level competitions.

Human-reviewed

Bhagsu Waterfall

Bhagsu, McLeod Ganj

A roadside waterfall a short walk above Bhagsunag temple near McLeod Ganj, busiest just after the monsoon and often thin in the dry months.

Human-reviewed

Baijnath Temple

Baijnath

An early 13th-century stone temple to Shiva as Vaidyanath, the 'lord of physicians', in the Nagara style, on the Kangra–Mandi road.

Human-reviewed

Masroor Rock Cut Temples

Masroor

A group of temples carved out of a single sandstone ridge around the 8th century, sometimes called the 'Ellora of the Himalayas', with a pool and Dhauladhar views.

Human-reviewed

McLeod Ganj

Upper Dharamshala

The hillside suburb above Dharamshala that has been home to the 14th Dalai Lama and the Tibetan administration in exile since 1960, often called 'Little Lhasa'.

Human-reviewed

Palampur

A green town in the Dhauladhar foothills at about 1,250 m, known for its Kangra tea gardens, the Neugal Khad gorge and the Tibetan monastery at Tashi Jong.

Human-reviewed

Pong Dam Lake

Maharana Pratap Sagar

A large reservoir on the Beas in lower Kangra, also called Maharana Pratap Sagar — a Ramsar wetland and bird sanctuary that fills with migratory waterbirds in winter.

Human-reviewed

More places worth visiting

McLeod Ganj
Triund
Bir Billing
Kangra Fort
Masroor Rock Cut Temples
Palampur
Baijnath Temple
Dharamshala Cricket Stadium

Detailed pages for these are being written and reviewed before they go live.