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.