Hill Stations In India

Palampur

PALAMPUR (Introduction)
Palampur(1249 m) is the tea capital of northwest India.Set on the rising slopes of Kangra Valley before they merge with the Dhauladhar ranges. Earlier it was one of the leading hill states and was once a part of the kingdom of Jalandhara. In local Parlance, the word for lots of water is 'pulum'. This is what has given Palampur its name and it is water that has given the valley so much of its character. Countless streams and brooks criss-crosses the landscape and in their intricate mesh, hold tea gardens and rice paddies. The town came into being when the tea bush was introduced in the 19th century and Palampur became a focus, for the planters. Kangra tea, with its center at Palampur, has been internationally acclaimed since then to further bless the area with remarkable natural beauty, the Dhauladhar ranges rise dramatically from the earth, just beyond Palampur. The town itself has some interesting colonial architecture and the area around is richly garnished with historical temples and forts and scores of picturesque hamlets

This hill station is not only known for its numerous tea gardens and paddy fields but it also known for its colonial architecture and temples. Palampur and places around it are popular for adventure sports like hang-gliding and trekking.

PALAMPUR (Location)
Palampur is located in the northwestern part of the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is situated in the Kangra valley, near the Dhauladhar ranges. It is located on an altitude of 1,249 m above sea level. Palampur is 30 km from Dharamshala.

PALAMPUR(History)
Palampur got its name from the word pulum that means abundant water. It was a part of the local Sikh kingdom and later came under the British rule.

PALAMPUR (PLACES TO SEE)
The Factory
At the very start of town the tea factory of the co-operative society, offers an insight to the processing of Kangra tea.

St. John Church (200 m) :
This attractive church is built on a low rise. It was reconstructed in 1929 and has several memorial tablets

Temple of Bundlamata (2 km) :
One can walk through tea gardens and open fields or drive to reach this historical temple which was originally built about five centuries ago.

Neugal Khad
Close to the temple of Bundlamata, is this 300 m wide chasm, through which the Bundla streem flows. Immediately ahead are the Dhuladhar mountains.

Narkauda
A good place for trekking i.e. to the nearby Hatu Peak and for skiing the season is Jan-Mid April.

Sarahan
In the Sutlej is an unpretentious village set against a spectacular background. Sarahan valley commands a wonderful view of the snow-capped mountains from east to west, rolling fields and deep valleys. This former summer capital of Rampur Bushahr, one of the biggest princely states in the Shimla Hills, is well known for its centuries old Bhimkali Temple.

Situated on a small table-land above the valley, well over 2000 metres, Sarahan presents striking spectacle of snow-covered Himalayan ranges and a picture of unspoilt pastoral loveliness. 800 year old construction technique can be seen here and visitors can also get a good opportunity to study the western Himalayan architecture.

PALAMPUR (Weather)
The weather in Palampur is moderate. Summers (April-June) are mild and winters (November-February) are cold but pleasant. It experiences southwestern monsoon rains in July-September.

PALAMPUR (Excursion)
There are a number of places of tourist importance near Palampur:

Andretta
The village of Andretta is 13 km from Palampur and is an important craft center, which is known for its pottery. A number of well-known artists had made their base in Andretta.

Sujanpur Tira
Sujanpur Tira, which is 42 km from Palampur, is famous for its fort and old temples.

Baijnath
The town of Baijnath is 16 km from Palampur and is famous for its Shiva temple. A mini zoo is also located at Gopalpur, which is at a distance of 13 km from Palampur.

Chamunda Devi Temple located on Baner River, 10 km from Palampur, is an important place to visit. There is a Tibetan monastery at Tashijong, which is 12 km away from Palampur. The monastery complex is famous for producing traditional Tibetan handicrafts.

PALAMPUR (Adventure)
There are several trek routes that lead out of Palampur, particularly over the Dhauladhar Mountains towards the town of Chamba. Some important treks are over the Sanghar pass to Bharmaur via Holi and from Baijnath over the Jalsu pass to Bharmaur.

From Twenty-eight kilometers Palampur there is an important center for the adventure sport of hang/paragliding. It also has numerous Buddhist monuments and is famous for its Tibetan handicrafts. The town of Billing, which is 42 km from Palampur and 14 km from Bir, is also an important center for hang-gliding.

PALAMPUR (Travel Information)
Train:The nearest railway station is at Maranda, which is 2 km from Palampur and on the narrow-gauge line between Pathankot and Jogindernagar.

Road: The main bus station is located 1 km south of the main Bazaar. The bus service from Palampur to Dharamshala (2 hours), Mandi (4 hours), and Pathankot (4 hours) is frequent. Travelers can also make use of taxis to travel to these towns from Palampur.

Languages : Hindi and Himachali
Best Time to Visit : Throughout Year
STD : 01894