Tourist places in and around Kangra

The Kangra Fort

The Kangra Fort was the seat of power of the Katoch Rajas from the time of its 234th Raja, Raja Susharma Chand Katoch, if not from the time of its first legendary Raja, Raja Bhoomi Chand Katoch onwards. It is said to have been founded by Susharma Chand Katoch, an ally of Kauravas in the Mahabarata war. It was the ancient capital of the Katoch kingdom and symbol of power in Punjab Hill States.The Fort is situated on a precipitous cliff overhanging the Ban Ganaga and Manjhi rivers. The ruins still dominate the Kangra valley. One can enter the fort by a narrow path. It was protected by a number of gates named after its winners like Jahangir, Ranjit Singh and the British. At the top of the fort, there was the palace of the Katoch kings.

When Mahmud Ghazni conquered it in 1009, the place was known as Bhima Nagar probably after Bhima, the second of the Pandavas. Muhammed Tughlaq also plundered the fort in 1337 but could not hold it for long. Feroz Tughlaq also invaded Kangra and laid siege of the fort in 1365 A.D. For six months the siege went on. Raja Rup Chand Katoch exhibited great courage and endurance, but ultimately submitted and offered apologies to the Sultan who with much dignity placed his hand on the back of the Raja.

Jahangir himself states that Akbar could not succeed in capturing the Kangra fort, it was he who did so in 1619-20. Akbar made many attempts to capture the fort but failed. However, his frequent visits to Kangra can also be inferred from the popular song sung in the hill states and elsewhere in the country in praise of Durga Jawalji.

Encouraged by the anarchy which prevailed in the plains, during the reign of Akbar all the chiefs of Hill States, resumed their independence and recovered the tracts of which they had been deprived of by the Mughals. It is found that the states of Kangra, Chamba, Jammu etc. were clashing with one another frequently. Raja Bidhi Chand of Kangra and a number of Rajas of the Hill States were involved in the revolt which took place in 1889-90 AD. The 35th year of Akbar reign.

The Rajas of Jasrota, Lakhanpur, Nurpur etc united with the Raja of Kangra and the united forces of these Rajas with horses numbering about 10,000 and one lakh foot, revolted. However, the Mughal forces defeated them. They were all subdued and carried to the court of Akbar who pardoned them and allowed them to their respective states as his vassals.

However, the two Dogra chiefs, Lal Dev and Manga Mana of Jammu, on behalf of the Raja of Jammu, Samhal Dev fought bravely and the Mughalk forces did not succeed in overpowering them. They flouted the Mughal authority and therefore the Mughal invasions frequently caused a flare up in the hills of Kangra and Jammu.

The Mughals later made friendship with Raja Sangram Dev of Jammu and with his help invaded in 1621. The Mughal forces led by Jahagir's officers, Qasim Khan and The Raja of Jammu succeed in reducing Kangra. The Mighals entrusted the task to Sundar Das. He along with the forces of Raja Sangram Dev and also of Raja Jagat Singh of Nurpur, took over the Kangra Fort the same year.The occupation of the Fort continued with the Mughals from 1621 to 1782. From 1782 to 1785 it remained under the sikhs. Later the Mughals during the time of Shahjahan captured the Nurpur fort also in 1641.

Murtaza Khan on this day( 2nd April, 1615) obtained leave to go for the capture of the fort of kangra, the equal of which for strength they cannot point to in the hill country of the Punjab or even all the habitable world. From the time when the sound of Islam reached the country of Hindustan up to this auspicious time, when throne of rule has been adorned by this suppliant at the throne of Allah, none of the rulers or kings has obtained possession of it.

The Mughals forces inrested the fort, the trenches were portioned out and the ingress of provisions was completely stopped. Not corn or food was allowed to be supplied. For four months the forces of Katoch Raja lived upon dry fodder and similar things which they boiled and ate; but when death stared them in the face and no hope of deliverance remained, the forces surrendered the fort to the Mughals.Top (Click here to go)

The fall of the invincible fort of Katoch to the Mughals was possible only with the help of the Hill Rajas adjoining the state of Kangra. The Rajas of Guler and Nurpur and in particular, the Raja of Jammu, played a very important role in helping the Mughals. They were all aware about the secret hideouts of the fort, the style of defence of Kangra Rajas and their internal weakness.

Once all such secret information was available to the Mughal forces, the possibility of capture of the fort became easy. These Rajas helped the Mughals in order to see that the Katoch Rajas are defeated and weakened as the Katoch Rajas had become powerful neighbour of these Hill states. Mughals needed local Rajas to help them and were looking for an opportunity to win tem over who in turn were looking for such a golden opportunity in order to defeat Katoch of Kangra.

Raja Ghammand Chand Katoch ascended the throne in 1751. he made all the states as his tributaries but could not capture the fort from Mughal Kalidar Saif Ali Khan whose control was limited to the walls of the fort. After the death of Raja Ghammand Chand, his son Teg Chand ascended the throne of Kangra. He did not survive and his son Sansar Chand ascended the throne in 1775. It was his greatest ambition to take over the fort from Mughals. Raja Sansar Chand, therefore sought the help of Jai Singh Kanhai a Sikh commander, who agreed. They laid siege of the fort in 1781-82. The Kalidar Saif Khan deid defending the fort and after his death, the fort fell in the hands of Jai Singh, who did not give it to Sansar Chand as promised but kept inder his control till 1785.

In 1785, Jai Singh Kanhai was defeated by a combined force of his rival Sikh General assisted by Raja Sansar Chand. Jai Singh has surrender the fort to Raja Sansar Chand in exchange for some territories in the plains of Pathankot. With the occupation of the fort, Raja Sansar Chand became the supreme ruler of the Kangra Valley. The fort fell in the hands of legitimate chief in 1785 itself. >From 1785 to 1809 the fort remained with Maharaja Sansar Chand Katoch.

In 1805, General Amar Singh Thapa invaded Kangra and laid siege of the fort for four years. Maharaja Sansar Chand had to take assistance of Ranjit Singh of Lahore who in turn wanted to take over the fort before expelling the Gorkha invaders from the Kangra valley. Maharaja Sansar Chand had to agree to the demand of Ranjit Singh and in 1809 itself the fort was taken over by the Sikhs from Maharaja Sansar Chand. The Sikhs expelled the Gorkhas from the hills forever.

After the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the British violated the Treaty of Amritsar and defeated the sikh forces. It took them only 10 years to capture Punjab and along with Punjab, Kangra fell into their hands also. During the British rule, the fort remained in their control.

The palace and the fort were destroyed by the earthquake in 1905 in Kangra. It is now in ruins. In the courtyard there are two temples. One is that of Lakshmi Narayan and the other of Ambika Devi, a family goddess of Katoch. Jain temple with Adinath in stone image also exists.

Jains found this place as a tirtha and settled in Kangra. The fort remained neglected during the British period but now the Archaeological Department of the Government maintains it. The fort is still an attraction to the tourists and the pilgrims visiting Kangra.

Brijeshwari Devi Temple

The Brajeshwari Devi Temple is the prime attraction of the Kangra town or perhaps even the entire Kangra district. It was the wealth of this temple that caught the attention of the invaders again and again. The temple, it is believed was established by the divinity of the same name during Ashwamedh or horse sacrifice. Mahmud of Gazni destroyed the temple and built a mosque over the ruins, however, the temple was rebuilt and was later visited by the likes of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Mughal Emperor Akbar along with his trusted diwan, Todar Mal.

Masrur

Masrur is around 15 km away from Kangra town and is quiet well known for its Shikhara style rock cut temples. There are a total of 15 temples that trace their construction date to the 10th century. The carvings of these temples are hugely similar to that of the Ellora caves in Maharashtra, India, though they are in a need of bit of maintenance work. Moreover, as you make your way towards Masrur from Kangra, the views that will meet your eyes are simply magnificent.

Pong Lake Sanctuary

This Lake Sanctuary is around 65-km from Panthankot and 115-km from Dharamsala. The wildlife sanctuary is home to animals like Nilgai, Sambar, Barking Deer, Wild Buar, Clawless Otter, and Leopard. Water sports is also quiet a good option here.

Getting There