Located in the Kangra Valley in the picturesque state of Himachal Pradesh, Palampur is a green hill station surrounded by tea gardens and pine forests. Set against the beautiful backdrop of majestic Dhauladhar Range, Palampur is one of the major tourist attractions in Himachal tour packages. One of the major adventurous activities here is paragliding in the hills of Bir and Billing. The hill station derives its name from the word ‘Pulum’, which means ‘lots of water’ in the local language. Here are some of the major attractions in Palampur—
Tashi Jong Buddhist Monastery
Located at a distance of about 15 km. from Palampur, Tashi Jong Buddhist Monastery is in Tashi Jong Village, a small area between Paprola and Taragarh. The monastery is home to the Drugpa Kagyu tradition of Buddhism. Adorned with intricate woodcarving, gliding, and paintings, the monastery has several manifestations of Buddha including the Buddha Shakyamuni. Apart from this, you can also shop some excellent Tibetan artefacts from the craft emporium.
Birni Devi Temple
Resting on the Triund Hill, Birni Devi Temple is one of the most popular shrines in Palampur. You can reach the temple via Lohna, Upper Bundla, and Gallu Langha. 3-5 hours of a trek from Gallu Langha will take you to the temple. Overlooking the majestic valley of Kangra, the temple offers a panoramic view of the entire Dhauladhar Range.
Saurabh Van Vihar
Spread across an area of around 13 km., Saurabh Van Vihar is a nature park dedicated to one of the brave soldiers in the Kargil War, Saurabh Kalia. Located at a distance of 4 km. from Palampur, the park rests on the bank of snow-fed Neugel Khad in Kwat Village. The park boasts different varieties of flora and is also home to various species of birds. You can also enjoy boating and stroll on the bank of pebbly khad.
Shiva Temple
Bajinath Temple or Shiva Temple is a famous temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in the form of Vaidyanath. Built in the North Indian style of architecture called Nagara, you can also spot an influence of Orissa style architecture, which gives the temple a unique look. The lush gardens in the temple complex add an excellent charm to the place.
Palampur Tea Gardens
Covering a large area on the hillsides, you can spot the vast tea plantations on the road to Dharamshala that belongs to Palampur Co-operative Tea factory. Established by Dr. Jameson, who introduced tea plantation on this picturesque hill station, the lush green slopes make Palampur the Tea Capital of North India.
Apart from being famous for tea plantations, Palampur provides its tourists with a plenty of ancient shrines, art galleries, and adventure options.