Kangra Valley lies in a wide green valley at the foot of the Dhauladhar range, where terraced fields, rivers and dense forests meet snow-covered peaks. The town itself spreads around old bazaar lanes, the ruins of Kangra Fort and the famous Bajreshwari Mata temple. Pilgrims move between Shakti Peeths like Jwala Ji, Chamunda and Bajreshwari, while travellers use Kangra as a base to explore Dharamshala, McLeod Ganj, Palampur and Masroor temples. The valley is also known for Kangra tea estates, orchards and pleasant climate, which give it a softer, greener feel compared to the high Himalayas.
About this place
History & highlights
In ancient times this region was known as Trigarta, an Indo-Aryan kingdom mentioned in the Mahabharata; its kings, like Susharman Chandra, are said to have fought in the Kurukshetra war. The ruling clan later became known as the Katoch dynasty, considered one of the oldest royal lineages in the subcontinent, who made Kangra their capital for many centuries. The valley came under Ghaznavid, Delhi Sultanate and Mughal power, then Sikh rule and finally the British in the 19th century; each period left forts, temples, inscriptions and accounts. In 1905 a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake destroyed much of Kangra, Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj, including many historic buildings, after which the area was rebuilt. Today Kangra district carries this layered history: from Trigarta and Katoch rajas to Tibetan monasteries and modern tea tourism.
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