Travel Guide to Palampur

Travel Guide to Palampur,Himanchal

Palampur is the tea capital of North India. 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. One can enjoy the scenic beauty of the Dhauladhar range and the slopes of the Kangra valley from Palampur. Palampur and places around it are popular for adventure sports like hang-gliding and trekking.

Location

Palampur is located in the northwestern part of the state of Himachal Pradesh, in the northern region of India. It is situated in the Kangra valley, near the Dhauladhar ranges. It is located on an altitude of 1,220 m above sea level. Palampur is 30 km from Dharamshala. 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.

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.

Best Time to Visit

Palampur has a mild climate and can be visited throughout the year. However, the best time to visit Palampur is between March to June and mid-September to November.

How to Reach

BY AIR -

The nearest airport to Palampur is Gaggal airport in Dharamsala, which is located at a distance of around 40 km. This airport is well-connected through regular flights from important Indian cities like Chandigarh, Delhi and Kullu. The second nearest airport is Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar, around 231 km.

BY RAIL

Palampur has its own railway station, Palampur Railway Station, connecting it to important cities of Himachal Pradesh. This railway station lies on the major Palampur - Kangra Valley Narrow gauge railhead, connecting Palampur to Pathankot and Kangra. This railway station 5.3 km away from the main area. Pathankot is the next nearest railway station, located at a distance of 113 km. Regular trains from cities like Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bhatinda, Jammu, Hatia, Udhampur, and so on, arrive at Pathankot. Taxis are available from outside the railway stations.

BY ROAD -

Palampur is well- connected by a network of roads to most neighboring areas and important destinations in Himachal Pradesh state. State- run buses ply on a regular basis to Palampur from Pathankot, Mandi, Dharamshala, Jogindernagar, Shimla, Chandigarh, Gurdaspur, Sandhole etc. Delhi is also connected to Palampur by HRTC buses. Hiring private taxis and cabs is another suitable option.

Tourist Attractions

The tourist can take a walk in Palampur and enjoy its colonial architecture. The tea factory and St John's Church are important places to visit in Palampur. A walk beyond the town will take one to the Bundla Chasm, where a waterfall drops into the Bundla stream.One can see the captivating Dhauladhar range from Neogal Park, which is 1 km from Palampur. One can go on innumerable promenades along the tea gardens and the nearby forests or into the Dhauladhars.

Places Around Palampur

There are a number of places of tourist importance near Palampur: 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, which is 42 km from Palampur, is famous for its fort and old temples. 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. The 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.

Adventure

Several trek routes 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. A four-day trek will lead the traveler to Holi, via Waru La.

Twenty-eight kilometers from Palampur 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.