Palampur,Himachel Pradesh india

Palampur is a gorgeous hill station in India’s Kangra Valley-pristine beauty and enchanting surroundings-a town that entices you to a getaway at any time of the year. The plateau of Palampur (1219 metres) nestles amidst the snow-capped peaks of the Dhauladhar Range, flanked by tea gardens and

terraced paddy fields, forests of pine and deodar and lush tree plantations. Palampur which essentially comes from the word ‘pulum’ meaning abundant water is famed for its mild climate and salubrious environs. The pine scented air is invigorating and the scenery inspiring. So come to Palampur to unwind and get rejuvenated.

Historically Speaking

Palampur once formed a part of the local Sikh Kingdom but later it came under the British. The hillstation has some fine colonial architecture built during British times. Palampur came into being when an Englishman, Dr. Jameson who was the Superintendent of Botanical Gardens introduced the tea

bush from Almora in 1849. The bush thrived and so did the town which became a focal point of the European tea estate owners. Since then the Kangra tea of Palampur has been known internationally acclaimed.

Shopping

You can do quite a bit of it at Palampur! You simply must buy the delicate Kangra tea at Bharmour or the many factory outlets just outside Palampur. Other good buys are Tibetan handicrafts, carpets, woollens, thangka paintings and prints.

Events

Holi is celebrated with great gusto in Palampur. A festival of colour, Holi has special significance in this district. A day before Holi , the women make up baskets of small twig from the kamal tree, lined with thread, jaggery and pots of coloured water. at night little ''holikas'' (bonfire)

are lit all over the town. Next day before they commence playing Holi these baskets are offered to elderly men of the town.

Events Holi is celebrated with great gusto in Palampur. A festival of colour, Holi has special significance in this district. A day before Holi , the women make up baskets of small twig from the kamal tree, lined with thread, jaggery and pots of coloured water. at night little ''holikas'' (bonfire) are lit all over the town. Next day before they commence playing Holi these baskets are offered to elderly men of the town. more

Night Out There are a few cafes in this little hill station. Try the Pizzicato café - they make the most sumptuous dark chocolate pastry and with fat free yogurt to boot! How to get there by Air The nearest airport is Gaggal airport in Kangra 30kms away- take taxi or bus to Palampur from there. How to get there by Rail There is no station at Palampur with 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. How to get there by Bus Palampur is easily accessible by road. Well connected to Dharmshala 40kms away, 240 kms from Chandigarh and almost 600 kms from Delhi. Best time to Visit Hotels in Palampur has mild climate and can be visited almost any time of year. However, the best time to visit would be in the summer from March to June and then after the monsoons from September to November. Hotels in Himachal Pradesh Palampur has both budget and up market accommodations to chose from. One can check out Sai Garden Holiday Resorts and Country club and Taragarh Palace. Emergency Number Police Station Control room: 0177-2657430 Hospital: IGMC hospital 0177-2654092 Ambulance: 102, 0177- 2804648 Tourism Office: Shimla The Mall: 0177-2652561 Shimla Railway Reservation: 131, 0177-  2652915 HPTDC 36, Chandralok Building Janpath, New Delhi 011-23325320, 23325233 more Nearby Places Taragarh , an idyllic retreat 12 km from Palampur, is set amidst picturesque tea estates at the foot of the Dhauladhars. You can ride up on mountain bikes to the little Tibetan village of Tashijong Gompa known for its thangka paintings, carpet weaving and block printing.

Activities The tea gardens in and around town are great for taking those long walks you have been promising yourself.

Sights Palampur has old forts and temples such as the five century''s old Temple of Bundlamata and the Chamundadevi Temple . The Kangra valley’s distinctive art style survives in the lovely little village of Andretta, 14 km south of Palampur. The Baijnath Temple is about 16 km from Palampur. It is said that Ravana built this temple to worship Lord Shiva. It is beautiful and it''s amazing monuments are worth seeing. The Dhauladhar National Park at Gopalpur , 13 km from Palampur has a mini zoo with black bear, leopard, lion, red fox and several types of deer such as goral and sambar. Neughal Khad , a 305 meters wide abyss that drops 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. more hide