Monday, January 12, 2009

SPECILITY OF PALAMPUR

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, the forest trek from Mcleodganj to Treund 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.Palampur-Shopping At Palampur you can buy souvenirs and local handicrafts for your friends back home. You can buy fresh tealeaves, local handiwork, Tibetan carpets and winter clothing. Palampur-Adventure SportsPalampur is the ideal hill resort for you if you enjoy trekking and Paragliding. There are several trek routes that one can trek on, one important one being over Sanghar Pass to Bharmaur via Holi. If you really love adventure sports, then 28kms from Palampur is a center for the adventure sports of hand/paragliding. There you can have the adventurous time that you adrenaline junkies really wish for in a holiday. The town of billing which is 42km from Palampur is also famous for hand-gliding.Brief history: Earlier Palampur was a part of the local Sikh Kingdom but later it came under the British. The Hill station gets its name from 'Pulum' meaning abundant water.Palampur is a hilly town and a municipal council in Kangra district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is situated at about 1250m above sea level. Palampur is famous for its picturesque and snow clad mountains and tea gardens. Tea gardens are located between 800-1600 meters above mean sea level. Tea was first introduced way back when Dr. Jameson, the Superintendent of Botanical Garden Peshawar, North West province and Saharanpur visited Kangra district in 1849. This place is located in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. Most important characteristic of Palampur is the frequent rains. Known for its "London-like" climate. Paraglider pilots often land near Palampur after launching from Billing, about 20 kilometres away, on cross-country flights. This place is basically known for its beautiful tea gardens and locations. It was devastated by an earthquake in 1905. Prior to that, the tea of this town had a good market. But after the earthquake it could not find lost glory. In 1977 an agriculture university was setup here and it has led to improvement in the farming community of Himachal Pradesh. This place has virtually become the hub of research in agriculture with the setting up of Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology along with the agriculture university and the Regional Station of Indian Veterinary Research Institute (ICAR) Palampur is a fascinating spot in the Kangra Valley, surrounded on all sides by tea gardens and pine forests. The place enjoys a healthy climate and the pine scented air is said to have curative properties. The scenery presents a sublime and beautiful contrast- the plain presents a picture of rural loveliness and repose, while the hills are majestic. Behind this town stands high ranges of Dhauladhar mountains, whose tops remain covered for most part of the year. This place is being developed as large tourist centre. A ropeway and an amusement park is also on the to be established here. An Agricultural University is already functioning and some tea factories are also coming up. There are also some pleasant walks around the town. A short walk from here takes one to the awe inspiring Bundla chasm which falls over a 100mts. to the Bundla stream. The stream is a thin streak running over stony ground far below the cliff. During the monsoon seasons, 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. Palampur houses two very important institutions - Agriculture University and CSIR Complex. 1,219 meters. Dharamshala ( Headquarter of district Kangra.) In district Kangra, 40 km. from Kangra town on National Highway No. 20Fact Sheet:. Location-32.12° N 76.53° E Language- Hindi and Himachali Currency- Indian RupeesClimate- In winter, the temperature can drop below freezing point when heavy woollens are required. During summer the climate is mild and light woollens/cottons are recommended Best time to visit- The best time to visit the city is between March to June and mid-September to November. The city Palampur has good weather throughout the year .The monsoons are a spectacular time to be here, when the Bundla River crashes down the Neughal Khad in a mighty waterfall, when countless little brooks and streams burst forthSTD code- 01894EatThere is an ample number of restaurants, few best ones are Joy, Taj and Golden Dragon. You can also go to Neugal Cafe which is the best sightseeing in Palampur. It is a nice place and has a very beautiful view of Dhauladhar rangeOther Activities: 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 printsBuy Buy the local Kangra tea from tea shops which are present at various locations around the town. It smells very nice and has a very good flavourThe mountains offer some fabulous trekking trails - through the Sanghar Pass to Holi and Bharmour; Waru Pass onto Chamba; the Shinghar Pass to Holi; the Indrahar Pass to Dharamsala; and the Jalsu Pass from Bharmour to Baijnath. In the month of March, Holi's riot of colours and celebration of spring comes with laughter and vitality. There are exuberant celebrations at Palampur and Sujanpur.Nearby places: Dharamshala It is another beautiful town about 36 km from Palampur. It is also a home of Dalai-Lama and several Tibetian refugees since China's invasion of Tibet in the early 1960s. These people used to live in a small town called McLeodGanj. Andretta It is about 14 Kms from Palampur. It is a home of an exceptional artist Mr. Shobha Singh. His famous work is preserved in an equally beautiful art gallery in this town. It is a place worth visiting for any art-loving person. Billing It is about 25 Kms from Palampur and is famous for paragliding and hangliding activities. Paragliding lovers from across the world use to come here show their tactics

Where to stay in palampur

Resorts, hotels and tourist guesthouses abound. The town has both budget and up-market accommodation with good facilities,Mid-range,Hotel Yamini, Hotel Surbhi, Hotel Sawhney, Hotel T-Bud Sai Gardens, Hotel Pines

Palampur- A city neglected by himachal pardesh toursim

P A L A M P U R : Despite the fact there is vast tourism potentials in Himachal Pradesh, it is most unfortunate that little has been done in past to exploit the same . Tourism which plays an significant role in the economy of the state, is now facing rough whether, thanks to the apathy of the state government which had not bothered to develop the tourist attraction places of state in a planned manners. Haphazard construction of hotels at Manali, Dhalousie, Shimla and other places in the state has given rise to various problems, like disposal of garbage, contamination of drinking water, pollution and large scale soil-erosion.The frequent traffic jams has become a regular feature here. It is a sad state of affairs that the tourist traffic to these places has come down considerably in past two years. This year there was over fifty percent fall in the tourist traffic to Manali, Mandi, Dharmsala and Dhalousie. Although the state government has time and again announced to come out with a new “Master Plan” for the development of tourism in the state, but all remained confined to the official files and in past ten years most of the tourists place in the state have turned into slum.
Government has been making tall promises to provide better amenities to tourists visiting the state, but in reality nothing has been done. What welcome the tourists in Himachal Pradesh “corrupt traffic police officials”, costly hotels, poor parking facilities and heavy taxes. Besides, bumpy roads with narrow width, poor transport and air service, expensive food and fleecing of tourists by the taxi operators also hurt them. The hotel tariff in Himachal Pradesh is quite heavy as compared to other states.
Besides, the deteriorating law and order situation in religious centers of the state and sudden rise in the cases of rape, theft and murder has adversely affected the pilgrimage tourism particularly in northern parts of the state. In Chintpurni and Kangra alone one dozen cases of murder and rape were reported in past one year. The victims were the tourists from outside the state. In fact the state has no check on such activities causing great inconvience to the tourists here.
Himachal Pradesh has enormous tourism potential. It matches Switzerland in its scenic beauty and climate. The snowcapped peaks of majestic Himalayas ranges are visual treat. The lush green tea gardens, dense forests having pines and deodar trees, river and hills are things of beauty which give joy for ever. From Tabo to Chamba Himachal Pradesh was and is a wonder state rich in natural resources, natural beauty, variety of region weather climate, diversity of culture, people languages, food dress and customs. The state is also known for the historical architectural monuments. Not only this the ancient temples and forts are strewn all over the state. The temple situated in Mandi, Kulu, Manali,Kangra, Chamba and other parts of the state are just one aspects of the state to interest and attract he tourists.
It is most unfortunate that the state government has failed to understand that the significance of tourism in Himachal Pradesh. State has long way to go to catch up with the front ranking states in this field. It is an established fact that the promotion of the tourism in Himachal Pradesh is essential for its faster development, because of the fact that tourism industry can fill the coffers of the state since it is an important revenue earner and also a good source of foreign exchange.
In past ten years much stress was laid on the development of few places like Shimla, Manali, Dhalousie etc as major tourists centers. Today these places are over crowded and on way to becoming slums. Domestic as well as foreign tourists hesitate to visit these places. Many other places like Hat Koti, Bahrmor, Sngala,Massroor, Barot, Renuka, Parashar and Bir are yet to come up on tourist map of the state. State government has failed to involve private sector in this important field. HPTDC a state government undertaking has virtually has failed to deliver goods in the absence of proper planning policies. Increasing political interference in its affairs has made the matter worse.
Merely sprinkling of luxury hotels, that too in most unplanned manner, will not be enough in this endeavor. No doubt the hotels are also needed but there should also be a provision for the entertainment of tourists. The cultural programmes, dance, music and exhibitions of local art culture should also be part of our tourism policy prepared for the development of tourism in the state which can also expose our rich cultural heritage, its variety and grandeur.
The Himachal Pradesh Hotel Owners Association is also not happy with the state government. A local hotel owner and member of the association says that despite repeated requests of the association, no step were initiated to reduce the rates of luxury tax levied on the hotels in the state. Besides, electricity terrify is also being charged on the commercial rates. He says a full fledged Tourism Department has been created by the government, but it has failed to prove to the expectations of the hotel industry of the state. While taking major policy decisions State Hotel Owners Association is never taken into confidence. A policy of pick and choose has been adopted by the department in past five years which has caused huge loss to the tourism industry as well as to the state exchequer.

HRTC PALAMPUR

HRTC Overview
HRTC provides public transit facility to its passengers in the state of Himachal and to the adjoining states like Punjab, Haryana and Uttaranchal. HRTC runs approximately 1733 routes. HRTC operates four types of buses namely
Ordinary BusesHigh-Tech BusesDeluxe BusesLuxury Coach Air Conditioned Buses
For more information, please go to india transportation home page.
Concessions / Discount Information
A group of 10 or more passengers is allowed a discount in fare @ 10%.
Passengers purchasing return tickets are allowed a discount in fare @ 10%.
HRTC has come out with one more concessional facility called "SMART CARD". Under this scheme, a smart card holder is allowed 10% concession in fare for travelling in HRTC buses. The senior citizen is allowed 20% concession in fare. The general public can purchase the smart card against a payment of Rs. 60/- having its validity for one year from the date of purchase.
Free travel to Handicapped, Press Correspondents/ MLAs/ MPs/ EX-MLAs/ EX-MPs and Social Workers, War Widows & Gallantry Award Winners, Padam Shree Awardees, Freedom Fighters.

HRTC Contact information
Address
Tele/Fax/Email
Himachal Pradesh Road Transport CorporationAdministratorHimachal Pradesh Road Transport Corp.Main Bus Stand ComplexShimla
0177-26508310177-2802717hrtc85@sancharnet.in
Himachal Pradesh Road Transport CorporationHRTC ticket reservationAdvanced reservation counter # 40 & 81st Floor, ISBT Kashmiri GateNew Delhi
91-11-23868694-noemail@noemail.com
Himachal Pradesh Road Transport CorporationHRTC Head officeShimla-3-Shimla
0177-26580310177-2802717hrtc85@sancharnet.in
Himachal Pradesh Road Transport CorporationInquiry window, HRTC InquiryISBT Shimla-Shimla
0177-2658765-hrtc@hrtc.gov.in
Himachal Pradesh Road Transport CorporationHRTC Bus InquiryISBT, Chandigarh-Chandigarh
0172-704015-noemail@noemail.com
Himachal Pradesh Road Transport CorporationHRTC Bus InquirySanjauliShimlaShimla
0177-2843294-hrtc85@gmail.com
Himachal Pradesh Road Transport CorporationHRTC Bus InquiryNew ShimlaShimlaShimla
0177-2671120-hrtc85@gmail.com
Himachal Pradesh Road Transport CorporationHRTC Bus InquiryKalkaHaryanaKalka
0171-5220816-hrtc85@gmail.com
Himachal Pradesh Road Transport CorporationHRTC Bus InquiryParwanoo-Solan
01792-233862-hrtc85@gmail.com
Himachal Pradesh Road Transport CorporationHRTC Bus InquiryHaridwarU.P.Haridwar
0133-422781,425545-hrtc85@gmail.com
Himachal Pradesh Road Transport CorporationTraffic ManagerHimachal Pradesh Road Transport-Bajnath
01894-263053-hrtc85@sancharnet.in
Himachal Pradesh Road Transport CorporationHRTC Bus StandDharamsala-Dharmshala
01892-224903-hrtc85@sancharnet.in
Himachal Pradesh Road Transport CorporationHRTC Bus StandFor buses departing from Palampuror arriving at Palampur,Himachal PradeshPalampur
01894-230250-noemail@noemail.com
Himachal Pradesh Road Transport CorporationHRTC Advance Reservation CounterHimachal Bhawan Camps-New Delhi
--hrtc@hrtc.in

HRTC PALAMPUR

HRTC Overview
HRTC provides public transit facility to its passengers in the state of Himachal and to the adjoining states like Punjab, Haryana and Uttaranchal. HRTC runs approximately 1733 routes. HRTC operates four types of buses namely
Ordinary BusesHigh-Tech BusesDeluxe BusesLuxury Coach Air Conditioned Buses
For more information, please go to india transportation home page.
Concessions / Discount Information
A group of 10 or more passengers is allowed a discount in fare @ 10%.
Passengers purchasing return tickets are allowed a discount in fare @ 10%.
HRTC has come out with one more concessional facility called "SMART CARD". Under this scheme, a smart card holder is allowed 10% concession in fare for travelling in HRTC buses. The senior citizen is allowed 20% concession in fare. The general public can purchase the smart card against a payment of Rs. 60/- having its validity for one year from the date of purchase.
Free travel to Handicapped, Press Correspondents/ MLAs/ MPs/ EX-MLAs/ EX-MPs and Social Workers, War Widows & Gallantry Award Winners, Padam Shree Awardees, Freedom Fighters.

HRTC Contact information
Address
Tele/Fax/Email
Himachal Pradesh Road Transport CorporationAdministratorHimachal Pradesh Road Transport Corp.Main Bus Stand ComplexShimla
0177-26508310177-2802717hrtc85@sancharnet.in
Himachal Pradesh Road Transport CorporationHRTC ticket reservationAdvanced reservation counter # 40 & 81st Floor, ISBT Kashmiri GateNew Delhi
91-11-23868694-noemail@noemail.com
Himachal Pradesh Road Transport CorporationHRTC Head officeShimla-3-Shimla
0177-26580310177-2802717hrtc85@sancharnet.in
Himachal Pradesh Road Transport CorporationInquiry window, HRTC InquiryISBT Shimla-Shimla
0177-2658765-hrtc@hrtc.gov.in
Himachal Pradesh Road Transport CorporationHRTC Bus InquiryISBT, Chandigarh-Chandigarh
0172-704015-noemail@noemail.com
Himachal Pradesh Road Transport CorporationHRTC Bus InquirySanjauliShimlaShimla
0177-2843294-hrtc85@gmail.com
Himachal Pradesh Road Transport CorporationHRTC Bus InquiryNew ShimlaShimlaShimla
0177-2671120-hrtc85@gmail.com
Himachal Pradesh Road Transport CorporationHRTC Bus InquiryKalkaHaryanaKalka
0171-5220816-hrtc85@gmail.com
Himachal Pradesh Road Transport CorporationHRTC Bus InquiryParwanoo-Solan
01792-233862-hrtc85@gmail.com
Himachal Pradesh Road Transport CorporationHRTC Bus InquiryHaridwarU.P.Haridwar
0133-422781,425545-hrtc85@gmail.com
Himachal Pradesh Road Transport CorporationTraffic ManagerHimachal Pradesh Road Transport-Bajnath
01894-263053-hrtc85@sancharnet.in
Himachal Pradesh Road Transport CorporationHRTC Bus StandDharamsala-Dharmshala
01892-224903-hrtc85@sancharnet.in
Himachal Pradesh Road Transport CorporationHRTC Bus StandFor buses departing from Palampuror arriving at Palampur,Himachal PradeshPalampur
01894-230250-noemail@noemail.com
Himachal Pradesh Road Transport CorporationHRTC Advance Reservation CounterHimachal Bhawan Camps-New Delhi
--hrtc@hrtc.in

Palampur:General Information

Palampur is a fascinating spot in the Kangra Valley, surrounded on all sides by tea gardens and pine forests. The place enjoys a healthy climate and the pine scented air is said to have curative properties. The scenery presents a sublime and beautiful contrast- the plain presents a picture of rural loveliness and repose, while the hills are majestic. Behind this town stands high ranges of Dhauladhar mountains, whose tops remain covered for most part of the year. This place is being developed as large tourist centre. A ropeway and an amusement park is also on the to be established here. An Agricultural University is already functioning and some tea factories are also coming up. There are also some pleasant walks around the town. A short walk from here takes one to the awe inspiring Bundla chasm which falls over a 100mts. to the Bundla stream. The stream is a thin streak running over stony ground far below the cliff. During the monsoon seasons, 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. Palampur houses two very important institutions - Agriculture University and CSIR Complex.

Palampur : General Information

Altitude :
1,219 meters.
Headquarter :
Dharamshala ( Headquarter of district Kangra. )
Location :
In district Kangra, 40 km. from Kangra town on National Highway No. 20
Access by Air :
Nearest airport is Gaggal airport located 50 km. from Palampur.
Access by Rail :
Nearest broad gauge railhead is Pathankot 95 km from Kangra. A narrow gauge railway line between Pathankot and Jogindernagar passes through Kangra. Nearest railhead is at a distance of 5 km. from town.
Access by Road :
Almost each and every part of the state is linked by roads. The Himachal Road Transport Corporation is running its buses covering the whole state. There is huge network of HRTC to cater the needs of the people.
Distance :
Dharamshala 35 km., Kangra 40 km., Baijnath 16 km., Jogindernagar 40 km., Pathankot 124 km., Dalhousie 176 km., Shimla 235 km.
For Tourism in Palampur, Hotels in Palampur, Palampur Holiday Packages, Palampur Hotel Booking, Palampur Hoenymoon Packages, Palampur Summer Holiday Packages, Palampur Winter Holiday Packages, please log on to our special website dedicated only to tourism in Himachal www.himachalworld.com

Famous Places around Palampur :
Bir and Billing :- ( 35 km. from town.) This village is famous for its Buddhist monasteries. Hang gliding pilots use it as their landing site. 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 handi craft are also produced here. Billing, up in the hills 14 kms. from Bir with an arena of 200 kms. for high altitude and cross country flying, is one of the best aerosports sites in the country.
Baijnath :- ( 16 km. from town.) The Shiva temple at Baijnath is one of the most remarkable monuments of the Kangra valley. Ancient name of this town was 'Kirgrama'. Baijnath got its name from Shiva Vaidyanatha. The temple consists of an 'Adytum' surrounded by a spire of the usual conical shape with a 'Mandap' covered with a low pyramid shaped roof. The 'Adytum' contains the Lingam. There is fine sculpture work to be associated with Ravana, who worshipped Shiva at this spot and gained immortality. Baijnath is one of the 'Twelve Jyotirlingams'. Shivratri of Baijnath is a well attended fair.
Neugal Khad :- ( 2 km. from town.) Neugal Khad provides a fine view of the Dhauladhar range. It is roaring in the rainy season and gurgling all the year round. Himachal Tourism cafe provides food and a fine view from its restaurant. It is a famous picnic spot and ideal for a day escape from busy life.
Bundla Stream :- ( 2 km. from town) Bundla stream with wide chasm of more than 100 metres, swells up and rises madly in monsoons taking stones and boulders along with it making a loud noise like that of continuous thunder. This is a lovely walk from Palampur to Budla.
Andretta :- ( 13 km. from town ) It is the home of the famous artist, late Sardar Shobha Singh and late playwriter Norah Richards. This presents an excellent view of the Dhauladhar Range.
Shobha Singh's Art Gallery :- It is situated in Andhretta which is 13 km. from town.inna

Best of palampur

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 terraced paddy fields, forests of pine and deodar and lush tree plantations. The mountains offer some fabulous trekking trails - through the Sanghar Pass to Holi and Bharmour; Waru Pass onto Chamba; the Shinghar Pass to Holi; the Indrahar Pass to Dharamsala; and the Jalsu Pass from Bharmour to Baijnath.
Palampur has old forts and temples such as the five centuries 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 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.
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. Neughal Park, 1 km from Palampur, affords an awe-inspiring view of the mighty Dhauladhar mountains and the River Neughal.
The twin villages of Bir and Billing are excellent hang gliding and para-gliding grounds and are famous for their Buddhist Monasteries and Tibetan handicrafts. The Kangra Tea Factory is your best bet for picking up genuine tea and for seeing the entire procedure of plucking, picking and processing tealeaves
Getting there: Palampur is 37 km from Gaggal in Kangra, the nearest airport. You can catch a bus or taxi to get up to Palampur from there. The town is connected to Pathankot (115 km) on the broad gauge railway, while the narrow gauge line to Jogindernagar reaches 4 km away, at Moranda. The ten-hour drive from Delhi, the closest metro is 545 km, while Chandigarh is 265 km.
Best time: Palampur has good weather throughout the year.The monsoons are a spectacular time to be here, when the Bundla River crashes down the Neughal Khad in a mighty waterfall, when countless little brooks and streams burst forth.Accommodation: Resorts, hotels and tourist guesthouses abound. The town has both budget and up-market accommodation with good facilities.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.
For more country information, see India.For detailed state information, see Himachal Pradesh.