10 Fun things to do in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh
Palampur is gaining fame due to its geographical location where one enjoys the panoramic view of snow-clad mountains of the Dhauladhar range and lush green valleys.
The town is located at the foothills of the Himalayas and is an ideal tourist spot where winters are not very extreme; though expect a significant temperature drop and summers are pleasant. It’s a small town that offers vivid experiences to its visitors. Here is a list of 10 things to do while you are in Palampur.
Table of Contents
1. Trekking in Palampur
Being a mountain town, Palampur offers a lot of trekking gateways. Ranging from one-day treks like Birni Mata to multiple-day treks like Bara Bangal, you can choose whichever suits you. And if there is a more adventurous soul inside you, just hop on any mountain and find your own trek. Who knows you might discover a hidden waterfall or the enchanted valley?
2. Buy Kangra tea as a souvenir:
Looking to buy some souvenirs from this town? What could be better than packets of healthy Kangra Green Tea? Palampur is famously known as the tea capital of North-West India. Kangra tea has brought much-justified fame to this town. The tea here is known for its big leaves and for the quality. The tea leaves are processed and packed in the town itself which is then supplied for sale. These tea packets are supplied on demand for world conferences as well!
3. Pay respects at Baijnath Temple:
Baijnath is located at a distance of 16 kms from Palampur and is famous for its Shiva temple which was constructed in the 13th century. According to Indian mythology, when Ravana was carrying the Shivling to Lanka after attaining supreme powers, he felt really thirsty and was cheated by Ganesh, resulting in the placement of the Shivling at Baijnath. Since then it became the abode of Shiva. An interesting fact is that Baijnath is the only place in India where an effigy of Ravana is not burnt during Dusherra. There are also no goldsmith shops in this town.
4. Traditional food:
Palampur is famous for its traditional food known as ‘Dham’, which is a serving of multiple curries cooked over a slow flame and served with white rice. Dham is served on a plate made up of dried leaves. Previously, the only way to taste this authentic food was to get invited to some local gathering. Recently, a few dhabas at Maranda have started serving this cuisine to visitors.
5. Try malai barfi ice-cream:
This one is hard to get as you won’t find it in any shops. You have to look out for the wayfarer who walks door to door to sell this piece of authentic ice-cream. What’s so special about it? Malai barfi ice-cream is prepared under high pressure with water from the water mill and usually takes six to seven hours to be prepared.
6. Visit monasteries:
Palampur is predominantly inhabited by people who follow the Hindu religion but there is quite a big chunk of Christians, Buddhists and Muslims who live in harmony. The small town have beautifully carved temples, churches, mosques and a lot of monasteries in the vicinity. A visit to Bhattu monastery is a must where lamas dwell and receive their education. Other prominent monasteries are Norbolinga, Tashijong to name a few.
7. Paragliding:
The world’s second most popular place for paragliding is located just 44 kms from the town at Billing. While at Palampur, you can take a day out and visit the paragliding site by sparing just a few hours. Billing also hosted the 2015 World Paragliding Championships.
8. View Shobha Singh Art Gallery:
Sobha Singh is a veteran painter from the Sikh community whose artwork of Guru Nanak provided him much fame. He shifted from Punjab to Andretta village in Himachal Pradesh and opened his art gallery in which he has displayed his masterpieces. Andretta is situated at a distance of 14 kms from Palampur and is the main centre of attraction for all tourists.
9. Chilling by the Neugal Khad:
If you want to explore Palampur the local way, then you must visit Neugal Khad around sunset time. Neugal Khad is a water stream that carries freshly melted glacier water and runs through the town. The panoramic view of this water stream and the green valley from Bundla, is simply breathtaking.
10. Roam in Saurabh Kalia Van Vihar:
Saurabh Kalia Van Vihar is situated along the Neugal stream. Spread across an area of 13 kms, it is a nature park that is dedicated to Indian Army martyr Capt. Saurabh Kalia, who lost his life in the Kargil War in 1999. He had been held captive by the Pakistan Army and was tortured for 20 days. This park tells the tale of his bravery and is a proud monument for the people of Palampur. Besides this, the park also has a huge aquarium that has a large variety of fishes.
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