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Kangra Travel Guide Beyond Dharamshala

Triund Trek (13)

The Kangra region in Himachal Pradesh has become synonymous with Dharamshala-McLeodganj of late. However, this region has much more to offer beyond that. Dharamshala surely is a delightful place but has become too popular, making the streets choke with people and prices soar. It is still possible to enjoy them if you know where to find good deals for your stay. It has great options for those who just want to eat, sleep, party, and relax. But for those who are looking to do more, I am putting together this guide to help you enjoyย Kangraย better.

As a budget traveller I still prefer to keep searching for means to save money, and get discounts. My usual penchant for extreme budget accommodations and public transport is known to the regular readers. Of late I have been using Cashkaro which gives me cahsbacks for almost all sorts of purchases under the sun. Unlike other sites, I actually get the cash in my account rather than as coupons and so I can spend them on local homestays that you will find in the places mentioned below.

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What exactly are the things to do in Kangra Region?

Kangra offers great views of the outer Himalayas, or to be precise the Dhauladhar Mountains. As expected, it is a great area for trekking. These areas are not very challenging in terms of altitude so these treks can be great for beginners. If you are looking for more adventure activities, you can consider paragliding in Bir-Billing. Kangra also has a special place for the lovers of art and culture. The potterโ€™s village in Andretta comes to mind when someone mentions this and also many inner villages are now exploring more modern art forms.ย  However, the Kangra has a long history with miniature paintings. The Kangra school of miniature paintings is one of the primary schools of Pahari Miniature Paintings.

Chamba

Also, as you might know already, Tibetan Buddhist exiles have a great presence in the region. Dalai Lama himself resides in McLeodganj and the Tibetan government in exile operates from there too. Apart from Dharamshala, Bir also has a significant Tibetan population.

Another attraction here is the Kangra Tea, which has its own unique flavour just like its counterparts in Assam, Darjeeling, and Nilgiri teas. If you enjoy walking around the lush green tea plantations, reach Palampur.

Bir-Billing (13)

Kangra train is the least known mountain railway line in India. They start from Pathankot and takes you to Palampur and Jogindernagar. Authorities are now pushing it to make it a UNESCO heritage property just like its other cousins in Shimla and Darjeeling. It moves slowly and you cannot book tickets online for these ones.ย  But the views you get are worth the trouble.

Top Attractions in Kangra District (Except Dharamshala/ McLeodganj)

Villages near Dharamshala

While McLeodganj is a bit too crowded a town, you can always venture out to the nearby villages such as Dharamkot, Bhagsu, Naddi etc are more delightful than the town itself. They are also popular among backpackers and people stay here for a long time too as they are more peaceful and affordable.

Here is a good post on living in Bhagsu for long term.

Sidhpur & Norbulingka

Sidhpur Zen Valley 18
Spring Delights at Sidhpur

Sidhpur is a beautiful locality on the other end of Dharamshala. You can see the hills of McLo from here but this area is a somewhat lower, plain valley. One spring I arrived here with no expectations and ever since I have been planning to live here permanently! It also has a major Buddhist institute called Norbulingka Institute which as workshops teaching Tibetan arts and a miniature Tibetan Doll Museum among other things. You can also go for some local hikes.

Here is my post on Sidhpur.

Palampur

Palampur is a nice little town with nice views, colonial bungalows, and lush green tea gardens. The next three destinations are not very far from here. So, you can use it as a base to explore them one by one. It is an old town, so you will mostly find traditional hotels here. For cooler homestays and hostels, move on to Bir.

Bir-Billing

As mentioned already, Bir has a Tibetan settlement and the usual monasteries, fancy restaurants and shops they are known for. Billing is the upper region 14 KM away fromย Bir. It is basically a high cliff from where paragliders can jump, fly around for a while, and then land on the fields of Bir. All the service providers, guides, and equipment for this purpose are available on the spot. Here is a good post on paragliding in Bir Billing (& much more)

Bir-Billing (17)

Bajinath Temple

Baijnath has an ancient Shiva temple dating back to 13th century. It is a beautiful structure that deserves a visit by all heritage lovers. Baijnath is located on the main road connecting Kangra to Mandi district and the temple is visible from the road itself and looks epic with the backdrop of snowcapped peaks.

Andretta Pottery Village

Andretta is a small village but it was developed in the 1920s as an artistโ€™s colony by Irish theatre artistย and environmentalist Norah Richards. Now you can consider learning some pottery or just explore the artistic heritage of the village.

Kangra Town

Kangra town lends the name to the entireย district. The town itself was never a huge tourist attraction. Most people just pass through it but a visit to the majestic Kangra Fort is worth the time.

Masroor

Masroor Rock Cut Temple Complex costs of a series of monolithic temples. One can call it the Ellora of the Himalayas in that sense but strangely not many people know of it. You will have to set aside a day for it as it needs a diversion from the main route leading towards Dharamsala.

Pong Dam

The Pong Dam has been built over Maharana Pratap Sagar, a large reservoir that has now become a destination for watersports. It is ideal for swimming, water-skiing, surfing, kayaking, canoeing, sailing etc. A lot of water birds also flock the reservoir, especially in the winter. It is around 78 Kms from Dharamshala.

Jogindernagar

Jogindernagar is another small town, which is the last station for the Kangra toy train. It is also the point from where you get buses to Barot valley. You can explore a few small trails here, the most famous being the Trek to the Winch Camp, the highest point in this area that takes you to the controlling station of the Haulage Trolley that connects the area to Barot.

Garli-Pragpur

Garli-Pragpur are a couple of heritage villages located near to each other and around 70 KMs from Palampur. They are primarily known for their heritage buildings from the 18th and 19th century. They may remind someone of Rajasthan rather than Himachal but that is what makes this place special. You can also pay a visit to the nearby Dadasiba temples, which is famous for murals. Return to your heritage homestay in the evening and relax.

Barot Valley

The delightful Barot Valley can be reached easily from Jogindernagar, which is the last station of the Kangra Railway. It is a high altitude valley located along the hilly river of the same name. It is divided equally between the Kangra and Kullu district. It has many delights to offer and for details, you can read my Complete Barot Travelogue and Travel Guide.

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Barot (1)

Rajgundha

It is a small village that can be reached after a 16 KMs hike from Billing top. It is located on the edge of Chota Bhanga area, which is connected to Barot Valley on the other side. It is one of the lesser-known trekking trails in the state that eventually takes you closer to Bara Bhangal, one of the remotest villages in the country.

Trekking in Kangra

Snowline

Triund-Indrahara Pass Trek

The Triund Trek is the best-known beginners trek in the region. You can do Triund in a day from McLeodganj or spend the night up there. Tents, food, blankets, and other amenities will be offered by shopkeepers at the top. Going upwards to Indrahara Pass takes more effort, and probably a guide and supplies as you will have to spend a night in the caves en route. You can either come back after topping the pass or cross over to the other side, i.e. the Chamba district. The complete thing will take around 4 days. I have done Triund twice but failed to reach Indrahara due to various issues. In the past, I have written both about the standalone Triund Trek and the unsuccessful Indrahara trek.

Snowline

Kareri Lake Trek

Another good trek that can be done in the region is the Kareri Lake trek that can be done n 2-3 days from Dharamsala. I personally have not done it so donโ€™t have any photographs as yet.

Barot Valley Treks

The Barot valley also has numerous small favourite around it. It is also possible to cross over to the Kullu side from here through dense mountainous forests. Watch out for Dan Sar (Dehnasar) Lake Trek & Sari Pass trek. However, these are not very well-marked routes and you will do well to get a local guide to do the same.

How does one reach and travel around Kangra?

The nearest major train station is Pathankot, which is well-connected to Delhi. From there you get buses to all major towns in Kangra. As mentioned already, you can surely enjoy the delights of the mountain railway in this region at very negligible costs. Otherwise, they are pretty well connected with the HRTC buses and roads are good enough if you have your own vehicle.ย For those who are in a hurry, the airport is atย Gaggalย nearย Kangraย town, which is also the airport for Dharamshala & Kangra. It is well connected with Delhi.

What is the best season to visit Kangra?

Kangra can be visited throughout the year. My personal favourite is the spring season but this only my preference. If you love snow, then January and February are the months. Summers are full of colours but be a bit careful in the monsoons as things might get slippery.

Jitaditya Narzary

18 thoughts on “Kangra Travel Guide Beyond Dharamshala”

  1. Such wonderful natural landscape! I have only heard about this place once from a friend of mine who went to Dharamshala to learn more about Buddhism. Never thought it would be this beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing and I definitely need to check out this region soon!

  2. I did the Triud trek long back in 2012 . It was one great experience till date. Its a detailed post and quite useful for people who are not familiar about the valley beyond Dharamshala .

  3. Fabulous pics. Been there as a kid and all we did was the touristy Dharamshala with all the temples. Mcleodganj and the lesser crowded Naddi. Bookmarking this post for my next visit:)

  4. I’ve never heard of Kangra but definitely I need to put this place on my list! Those photos are incredible!

  5. Nishant Srivastava

    This place is beautiful, I would love to go there on my motorcycle soon, I think after monsoon this year ๐Ÿ™‚
    Thanks for sharing the info..

  6. Riya Bhatnagar

    Lovely Post. I have been to Dharamshala- Mcleodgani but never explored the Kangra valley in depth. That was very useful

  7. This place is mesmerising. This reminds me of my Kareri Lake Trek. This is a around 26 km trek and the lake is a high altitude lake. I went there in winter and found the frozen lake. it was an amazing experience.
    Thanks for sharing such a lovely blog.

  8. Pingback: 13 Great Budget Workation Destinations from Delhi in the Himalayas | The Travelling Slacker

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