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Palampur,
Himachal Pradesh |
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Information about Palampur
Palampur is situated about 35 kms. from Dharamshala at
an altitude of 1220 meters above sea level. This
pleasant little town is surrounded on all sides by well
laid out tea gardens and pine trees. The place enjoys a
healthy climate and the pine scented air is said to have
curative properties. Palampur is situated in the Kangra
valley, close to the Dhauladhar range, in the
northwestern region of Himachal Pradesh. The British
introduced tea plantations in this area, which are now
known to produce very high quality tea and are even sold
in the foreign markets. Due to this Palampur is also
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known as the
'Tea Capital of North India'. Besides beautiful gardens and
lovely walks, the place also offers a beautiful view of snow
laden peaks. Palampur is known not only for its scenic beauty
but also for the beautiful temples and buildings built in the
Colonial period. Palampur is a popular camping region for
trekkers. Palampur is a famous tourist destination for every
type of travelers.
History of Palampur
Earlier Palampur was a part of the local Sikh Kingdom but
later it came under the British. The Kangra valley was the `Trigarta'
of old, where the Palampur town is situated. It was one of the
leading hill states and was once a part of the Jalandhar
kingdom. The Palampur gets its name from 'Pulum' which means
the abundant water. Countless streams and brooks criss-cross
the landscape and in their intricate mesh, hold tea gardens
and rice paddies. The town of Palampur came into being when
Dr. Jameson, Superintendent of Botanical Gardens, introduced
the tea bush from Almora in 1849. The bush thrived and so did
the town which became a focus of the European tea estate
owners. Since then the Kangra tea of Palampur has been known
internationally.
Tourist Attraction in Palampur
The major tourist attraction in Palampur is the Neughal Khad,
Andretta, Chamunda Devi, Baijnath, Bir and Billing.
Neughal Khad
Neughal Khad, a 305 meters wide chasm, which falls over a 100
meters to the Bundla stream. The stream is a thin streak
running over stony ground far below the cliff. During the
monsoon season, it swells and rages - madly over the entire
width of the chasm taking stones and boulders along with it
and makes loud roaring noise like thunder. Neugal Khad offers
a fine view of the Dhauladhar range. |
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Baijnath
At a distance of 16 kms. from Palampur, Baijnath is a
pilgrimage centres of the Hindus in Kangra Distt. Here one
finds the oldest existing Shiva temple in the country,
believed to have been originally built by the Pandavas close
to the Binwa Khad.
Andretta
Andreta is 12 kms from Palampur. Near Palampur, the charming
village of Andretta is located where Mrs. Norah Richards
lived. She was a pioneer of rural theatre in India and an
ardent disciple of Mahatma Gandhi. Sardar Sobha Singh, a
renowned artist, also stayed in Andretta in Palampur. He
gained prominence for his paintings of the immortal ill-fated
Punjabi lovers, Sohni and Mahiwal. Sobha Singh’s studio has
become famous all over the country and attracts many tourists.
There are beautiful paintings worth seeing in their private
houses. It affords an excellent view of Dhauladhar range.
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Chamunda Devi
The famous temple dedicated to the goddess Chamunda is 25 kms.
away.
Bir and Billing
Bir, surrounded by tea gardens and an amphitheater of low
hills, is an ideal landing around for para-gliders. Bir has
Buddhist Monasteries that are worth visiting. Fine Tibetan
handicrafts are also produced here. Billing, up in the hills
14 kms. from Bir with an area of 200 kms. for high altitude
and cross country flying, is one of the best aero-sports sites
in the country.
How to reach Palampur
By Air:
There is no airport in Palampur. But, the nearest airport is
located at Kangra, about 30 kms away.
By Rail:
There is no railway station in Palmpur. The closest railway
station is located at Maranda, about 2 kms. from Palampur.
Palampur is connected by narrow gauge railway from Pathankot,
located about 115 kms from Palampur.
By Road:
Palampur is well linked by road and located close to Kangra
and Dharamshala. |
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