Palampur

History

Palampur is an important city located in Kangra Valley. It was one of the leading hill stations and was once a part of the Jalandhar kingdom. Countless streams and brooks crisscross the landscape and in their intricate mesh, hold tea gardens and rice paddies. The town of Palampur came into being when Dr. Jameson, Superintendent of Botanical Gardens, introduced the tea bush from Almora in 1849. The bush thrived and so did the town which became a focus of the mostly European tea estate owners, with the exception of the famous (former) Wah Tea Estate which was owned by Nawab Muhammad Hayat Khan, CSI and his descendants, until 1947. Since then, the Kangra tea of Palampur has been known internationally.

The first prime minister of independent India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru visited Palampur in 1941 when it was still British India. There is a Nehru Chowk in Palampur to commemorate this event.

Palampur, also known as the 'Tea Capital of North India', is a popular hill station known for its scenery, temples and buildings built in the Colonial period.

Pre-Independence

During the second half of 18th Century, with success of tea estates in Palampur area, the original settlement started developing. In 1888, it was made tehsil headquarters, by shifting the same from Bhawarna. The tea estate owners impressed upon the administration to bring infrastructure like St. Paul's School, colleges and hospital. It also became a centre of labourers engaged in plucking of tea leaves and packing, transportation and marketing thereof. The earthquake of 1905 left a trail of destruction. Therefore, building style, projections and building material had to be modified. The tehsil complex, school and church towards T-Bud Hotel were built during British Period. Consequent upon laying of railway line for hydro-electric project at Joginder Nagar in 1927 and thereby installation of railway station and staff quarters, construction activity grew fast. Increase in the employment, led to investment in the area, whereby multifarious development including roads took place.

Post Independence

In 1947, Sobha Singh, a well known contemporary painter moved from Punjab to Andretta and developed his art gallery. He painted world-famous art pieces related to Punjabi culture and shot into prominence as an artist and as a director. After 1946, the regional linkages of town started improving. A military station was established at Holta, a strategic location of the town. CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University was established, besides the establishment of Indian Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) Complex (Institute of Himalyan Bioresource Technology). Many offices at the level of sub division pertaining to Electricity, Housing Board, Public health and PWD (B&R) were located. Tourist accommodation like T-Bud Hotel by Himachal Tourism Development Corporation and other leisure hotels were constructed.

Markets of Palampur

The Markets in Palampur are one of the most upscale markets in the Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh. Numerous shopping complexes have mushroomed during the last decade and showrooms of internationally renowned brands have come up. Besides this, old co-operatives like Bhuttico, which are hallmarked for their quality in woolens, have also set up shops.

The markets has numerous shops where you can buy grocery, fresh fruit and vegetables, stationery, electrical appliances and almost anything that you may require. There are numerous restaurants serving a myriad of fare including Chinese, Continental, Indian and so on. There are a few places where you can taste authentic local food too. Also some hotels and dhabas serve the traditional Kangri Dham which is confined to this particular part of the world.

In addition, 3M Plaza Shopping Mall at Maranda (Mall and Pearl Cinema Multiplex) & Grand Plaza at Scandal Point, Palampur are commercial complexes where almost all apparels branded showrooms/multi-branded showrooms are present. Also fast food chains like Dominos, Cafe Coffee Day, Republic of Chicken etc. also operate their outlets from different parts of the city.

Shopping & Entertainment

3M Plaza Shopping Mall at Maranda (Mall and Pearl Cinema Multiplex) & Grand Plaza at Scandal Point, Palampur are commercial complex where almost all apparels branded showrooms are present. When you feel for watching movies in Palampur, then there have lot of multiplexes

Demographics

Palampur has a population of approximately 70,000. According to the counting of votes, the Palampur consists of approximately 70,000 people. It is among the 10 big cities of Himachal Pradesh and biggest city of district Kangra ranges in himachal pradesh. Female Sex Ratio is of 953 against state average of 972. Child Sex Ratio in Palampur is around 854 compared to Himachal Pradesh state average of 909. Literacy rate of Palampur city is 91.33% higher than state average of 82.80%. In Palampur, Male literacy is around 92.96% while female literacy rate is 89.64%.

Geography

Palampur is at 32.12°N 76.53°E / 32.12; 76.53, at a height of 1,470 meters above sea level. The highest point, Birni Mata temple, is at a height of 2,170 meters. It is close to the Dhauladhar Range. It is in the northwestern region of Himachal Pradesh in north India and is only 30 km from the popular hill station of Dharamshala. Palampur, at a height of 1219 m, is a main spot in the beautiful valley surrounded by tea gardens and pine trees.

Behind the town stands high ranges of Dhauladhar mountains (white hill of snow), whose tops remain covered for most of the year. This place is being developed as large tourist centre. A ropeway and an amusement park are on the way to be established here. An agricultural university is functioning nearby. An Ayurvedic hospital and one Ayurvedic medical college is in Paprola is about 10 km away. Some tea factories are in operation. Kangra valley is known as a tea capital of India; this tea was quite famous among the British.

On the outskirts of Palampur, Neugal stream is a thin streak running over stony ground far below the cliff. It offers great scenic beauty with snow-covered peaks. There is a trek to Bundla Falls which cascade from a height of 100 meters. A recreational spot, called Saurabh Van Vihar, in Bundla, gets its name from Capt. Saurabh Kalia who hails from Palampur.

Several trek routes lead out of Palampur, particularly over the Dhauladhar Mountains towards the districts of Chamba and Kullu, Himachal Pradesh. Some important treks are over the Sanghar pass to Bharmaur via Holi, the Thamsar Pass (4,747 metres above MSL) from Billing to Manali via Bara Bhangal, over the Jalsu pass from Baijnath to Bharmaur, and the forest trek from Mcleodganj to Triund. A four-day trek will lead the traveler to Holi, via Waru La. Twenty-eight kilometers from Palampur is Billing, near Bir, Himachal Pradesh|Bir, an important centre for paragliding. Paraglider pilots often land near Palampur after cross-country flights starting from Billing.

Palampur has numerous Buddhist monasteries and is famous for its Tibetian people as they have helped in making things extra beautiful.

Climate

Palampur has a monsoonal-influenced humid subtropical climate (Cwa) with hot summers and cool winters. Late summer and early spring see massive amount of monsoonal rain.

Politics

Palampur is a state legislative constituency in Himachal Pradesh. Lala Kanhiya Lal Butail, was the first representative of Palampur. Palampur is the home city of senior BJP leader Shanta Kumar. The town politics is mostly dominated by the Congress and the Bhartiya Janta Party. BJP leaders from Palampur include Ch. Sarvan Kumar, Praveen Sharma and Shiv Kumar. For Congress, the politics has been dominated by the Butail family. Kunj Behari Lal Butail served as an MLA for over a decade and was also the first Pradesh Congress Committee President. The seat is now occupied by Brij Behari Lal Butail, who is also the Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly. He is also the richest legislator of Himachal Pradesh.

By Air

Spice Jet and Air India are operating daily flights from New Delhi to Kangra Airport (Gaggal Airport) which is just 40 km from Palampur.

By Rail

Palampur is connected by the narrow gauge Kangra Valley Railway from Pathankot. Palampur railway station is situated at Maranda, 4 km from bus stand. Approximate distance from Pathankot to Palampur is 112 km. The journey takes about 6–8 hours covering two tunnels, one of which is only 250 feet and the other 1,000 feet in length. There is no reservation system in the train but you can buy a current ticket from the ticketing counter and search for a seat. There are chances that the train may breakdown in the middle. Also the journey may take 8–12 hours.

By Road

Palampur is well connected by road to all major cities and towns in and around the state. Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) is the best way to travel plying Air conditioned, Deluxe and Semi Deluxe buses from major cities like Delhi and Chandigarh. Distances to the major cities are Delhi (530 km), Chandigarh (254 km), Shimla (259 km), Manali (205 km), Mandi (95 km), Kangra (38 km) etc. Tickets can be booked online from HRTC website.

HRTC volvo (AC) buses can be taken from ISBT Kashmere Gate, Delhi/ ISBT Sector-43, Chandigarh to reach Palampur.

Attractions

Visitor attractions in Palampur include:

Saurabh Van Vihar

During the second half of 18th Century, with success of tea estates in Palampur area, the original settlement started developing. In 1888, it was made tehsil headquarters, by shifting the same from Bhawarna. The tea estate owners impressed upon the administration to bring infrastructure like St. Paul's School, colleges and hospital. It also became a centre of labourers engaged in plucking of tea leaves and packing, transportation and marketing thereof. The earthquake of 1905 left a trail of destruction. Therefore, building style, projections and building material had to be modified. The tehsil complex, school and church towards T-Bud Hotel were built during British Period. Consequent upon laying of railway line for hydro-electric project at Joginder Nagar in 1927 and thereby installation of railway station and staff quarters, construction activity grew fast. Increase in the employment, led to investment in the area, whereby multifarious development including roads took place.

Shiva Temple

Built during the 12th century, Bajinath is known to be one of the oldest temples of Lord Shiva. The temple bespeaks ancient art and culture through its pristine and spellbinding craftsmanship. The temple premises are extremely spotless and the view from the rear end of the temple is magical. The temple lies between Kangra and Mandi districts of Himachal Pradesh. It is just 16 km from major city Palampur.

Tashi Jong Buddhist Monastery

Tashi Jong, a serene and divine place, can be reached from Palampur or Baijnath. A beautiful & vibrant colorfed monastery, with a meditation hall, one just wants to sit there and enjoy the peace. One can find some Chinese food stuff there.

Birni Devi Temple

The car journey ends at jakhani mata temple and trek to birni mata starts. This is one of the easiest treks which you can do with young children and "not so old" parents. The locals have homes on the way and they can guide your way across the forest to reach the birni top.

Festivals

Tourism

Palampur is a rapidly developing city of Himachal Pradesh with plenty of accommodations. The upper areas of Palampur experience heavy snowfall and thereby providing plenty of opportunity for tourists to get themselves indulged in winter sports activities or enjoy a stroll through the beautiful tea gardens. Palampur has emereged as one of the favourite places for movie shooting lately. Famous directors like Imtiaz Ali and Lawrence D'Souza have shot movies here. A ropeway has been proposed across the Neugal river which will further attract tourists.

Palampur is at the center of all major tourist attractions, with Dharamshala on one side and Baijnath and Manali on the other. One can easily find good and affordable places to stay in the town. You can find hotels, home stays, villas and cottages at very competitive prices. There are also a good number of restaurants in the main market serving a variety of cuisines.

Some famous places worth visiting around Palampur are :

Chamunda Devi Temple (20 km. from Palampur): This is a very important Hindu shrine with the temple of Goddess Chamunda. Thousands of devotees from all over India visit the temple and offer prayers.

Bir and Billing (35 km. from Palampur): This village is famous for its Buddhist monasteries. Hand 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 paragliders. Bir has Buddhist monasteries that are worth visiting. Fine Tibetan handicrafts are also produced here. Billing, up in the hills and 14 km. from Bir with an arena of 200 km for high altitude and cross country flying, is one of the best aerosports sites in the country.

Baijnath (16 km. from Palampur): 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 associated with Ravana, who worshipped Shiva at this spot and gained immortality. Shivratri of Baijnath is a well attended fair.

Neugal Khad (2 km from Palampur): 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 Palampur): 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. The walk from Palampur to Bundla should not be missed as you can visit the tea gardens too.

Bundla Tea Estate (2 km from Palampur): This is one of the most beautiful tea estates of Palampur, which covers Bundla, Aima and Lohna panchayats. The tea estate falls on the road between Neugal Cafe and main Palampur town. The lush green tea gardens are at its best in the monsoon. People can be seen plucking tea from April till October. The old Bundla Tea Estate complex, which is over 200 years old can be seen from the road.

Andretta (13 km from Palampur): It is the home of the famous artist, late Sardar Sobha Singh and late playwright Norah Richards. Sobha Singh's Art Gallery is also situated in Andretta.

Saurabh Van Vihar (4 km from Palampur): Named after the valiant Army officer, Captain Saurabh Kalia, Saurabh Van Vihar is on the banks of Neugal stream. Managed by the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department, the Van Vihar was set up with the purpose of providing information to the tourists about the nature and environment. The Vihar sprawls over an area of 35 acres and there is a green park located here. The area is surrounded by the Dhauladhar mountains and offers a scenic view.

Mata Ashapuri(Maa Ashapuri) Temple : Mata Asahpuri temple is very famous temple in Distt Kangra. It is located at the top of hill. My village Suan is very small town surrounded by hills and located right down the Hill of Mata Ashapuri Temple. On-Foot it takes around 1 hour and by bus it takes around 3 hours to reach Mata Ashapuri Temple from my village. On-Foot there is shortcut way to reach the temple. Suan town comes under Tehsil Jaisinghpur. Its populations is approximately 500 people. Bus service is available for Mata Ashapuri Temple from Palampur and Panchrukhi Bus stations. It is approximately 2–3 hours run by bus from Palampur to Mata Ashapuri temple. Bus service is available on specific times. You can consult at Palampur Bus Stand Counter regarding bus service queries and timings. There is another village called Khera which has its own legacy. It is situated on the opposite hill. The residents of this village worship Maata Saniyaari. According to legend Saniyaari wanted to commit Sati after her husband's death. She was tried to save by a Katoch couple who didn't have any issue. Saniyaari Maata gave him a boon of 2 sons and one daughter and asked the couple to make a temple in her name and to organise Mela every year. The Katoch family has now reached its 8 generation.

Gopalpur Zoo (14 km from Palampur): This zoological park, officially known as Dhauladhar Nature Park, developed by H.P government, is a good place for animal lovers and children. The park has a wide range of animals such as lion, leopard, bear, porcupine. It is a perfect place for picnics, weekend getaways and for spending your time exploring the natural and scenic beauty of the Dhauladhar mountains.

Chamunda Devi Temple (21.2 km from Palampur): Chamunda Devi, also known as Chamundi, Chamundeshwari and Charchika, is a fearsome aspect of Devi, the Hindu Divine Mother and one of the seven Matrikas (mother goddesses). She is also one of the primary Yoginis, a group of sixty-four or eighty-one Tantric goddesses, who are family and friends of the warrior goddess Durga.The name is a collaboration of Chanda and Munda, two monsters whom Chamunda killed. She is carefully related with Kali, another fierce aspect of Devi. She is sometimes recognized with goddesses Parvati, Chandi or Durga as properly. The goddess is often represented as haunting cremation reasons or fig trees. The goddess is worshipped by ritual animal sacrifices along with offerings of wine and in the ancient times, human forfeit were offered too. Initially a tribal goddess, Chamunda was assimilated in Hinduism and later entered the Jain pantheon too. Though in Jainism, the rites of her worship include all-vegetable offerings, and not the meat and liquor offerings.

Education and Research

Notable persons