August 2009

Travelogue - Delhi - Manali - Road trip & Road map.

A long weekend and it was time for a hillstation tour as the heat and humidity in Delhi was unbearable this August 2009. As to all hillstations nearby were ventured many a time we had to check out a new place, yes this time it was Manali. Club Mahindra gave us the facility for a 3 day halt at Club Mahindra Snow Peaks with the necessary guidance.

HimachalPradesh, the state with a lot to explore. Lakes, rivers, forests, valleys and towering mountains, all abound here. The state has thoroughly been blessed by nature. And it has all the means to satisfy a tourist's wandering soul. Be it adventure sports, bird watching or just admiring nature's bounty. You'll find it all here in Himachal Pradesh.

Palampur is the tea capital of northwest India. It is set on the rising slopes of the Kangra valley before they could merge with the Dauladhar ranges. But tea is just one aspect which makes Palampur a special resort. Abundance of water and proximity to the mountains have endowed it with a mild climate. This sets it apart from other tourist centres as one can enjoy its delights at any time of the year. Situated in and about the middle of the Kangra valley, it is a convenient base to explore the sorroundings.

How to Reach

Palampur is 38 kms from Dharamshala on NH 20 towords Mandi ans 35 kms from Kangra.

From Delhi one can take the route ie Ambala, Ludhiana and Phagwara (NH 1)Hoshiarpur, Mubarakpur Kangra and Palampur. It is 535 kms.

Places to See

Andretta

14 kms away it is the home to artists Norah Richards, Sobha Singh and B. C Sanyal. There is also a pottery and arts centre here.

Kangra Fort

27 kms away is the most important fort which is over 1,000 years old and is built at the confluence of the rivers Manjhi and Banganga.

Sujanpur Tira

42 kms away the Tira fortress has the remains of the palaces and the temples. The town has many temples of which Barbadeswar and Murli Manohar are unique.

Tashijong and Bir

It is 12 kms and 24 kms away respectively from Palampur. They are Tibetan monasteries.

Baijnath

It is 15 kms away. At this holy shrine Lord Shiva is revered as Vaidyanath who is known to be the Lord of Physicians.

Jwalamukhi

It is an important pilgrimage centre in the Kngra Valley and there is a temple here built over a rock through the cracks os which a sacred flames emanates. The temple is popular by the name of Jwalaji and it is a prominenet Shakti peeth of the country.

Sports and Other Activities

Fishing can be done at the Mahaseer at Neugal, Binwa and Baner Khads, Beas rivers etc and for the trout fish ar Barot.

Palampur provides excellent track for trekking as it forms the base for trans Dhauladhar routes exiting into Chamba Manali or Lahul valley.The Kangra valley south of Palampur is suitable for winter exploration with routes leading through forests and gorges or prety vales and river valleys.