Historical Tour including Unesco Kangra fort & Rock cut temple from Dharamshala
Description
Kangra is a popular destination located at the meeting point of the Majhi and Bener rivers in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Nestled in Kangra Valley between the Dhauladhar Range and Shivalik Range, this city is also commonly known as Dev Bhumi, meaning the abode of the gods. On this 5 to 7-hour tour, you'll visit Masroor Rock Cut Temple, Kangra Fort, Mata Brajeshwari Temple, and the local market near by temple.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your guide meets you at your hotel in Mcleodgang/Dharamshala to begin your tour to Kangra, heading first to Masroor Rock Cut Temple
On the way, you'll pass the Kangra Valley and a local village, where you can get a glimpse of the natural beauty of the area and daily activities of the local people.
The Masroor Rock Cut Temple complex is dedicated to Rama, Laxmana, and Sita, gods from the time of Mahabharata whose stone images are worshiped by Hindu devotees who come from around the world. The temple complex is built on a water pond and situated on a hill with panoramic views of the terrain beyond, including the snowy peaks of the Dhauladhar Range.
The Kangra Fort was built by the royal Rajput family of Kangra State (the Katoch dynasty), which traces its origins to the ancient Trigarta Kingdom, mentioned in the Mahabharata epic. It is the largest fort in the Himalayas and probably the oldest dated fort in India. The fort of Kangra resisted Akbar’s siege in 1615. However, Akbar’s son Jehangir successfully subdued the fort in 1620, forcing the submission of the Raja of Chamba, “the greatest of all the rajas in the region.
A legend says that after Goddess Sati sacrificed herself in the honor of Lord Shiva in her Fathers Yagya. Shiva took her body on his shoulder and started Tandav. In order to stop him from destroying the world Lord Vishnu divided the body of Sati into 51 parts with his Chakra. The left breast of Sati fell at this spot, thus making it a Shakti Peeth.The original temple was built by the Pandavas at the time of Mahabharatha. Legend says that one day Pandavas saw Goddess Durga in their dream in which she told them that she is situated in the Nagarkot village and if they want them self to be secure they should make a temple for her in that area otherwise they will be destroyed. That same night they made a magnificent temple for her in the Nagarkot village. This temple was looted a number of time by the Muslim invaders. Md Gaznavi looted this temple at least 5 times, in the past it used to contain tonnes of gold and many ghantas made of pure silver. In 1905 the temple was destroyed by a powerful earthquake and was subsequently rebuilt by the government. Explore the local market in Kangra for some time to browse local goods that make great gifts and souvenirs. When your tour ends, you will be taken back to your hotel.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A maximum of 8 people per booking
Reviews(33)
It was an amazing experience. As soon as we reached there it started raining. It's a monolithic structure made out of sandstone.lts a 1000year old temple. There are carvings on walls and doors depicting hindu gods and goddesses. There is a large pond right in front of the temple. Most of the structure has been damaged due to earth quakes in ancient times. It's a must visit temple
This tour was so interesting, I was shown places that I would not have been able to get to see other than taking this tour. My guide Ashok was full of information and stories. I feel that in a day I can understand the area and the people.
This was a fascinating tour with so much history and information. My guide was Ashock and he entertained with so many stories of the Hindu religion. It was a great day.
Had the best day today. Raj is fantastic at organizing trips. We have had a few issues with other agencies, but Raj has planned everything meticulously. We have ended up doing all our tours in Mcleodganj with Raj and his team. Today we had Mr. Onkar as our guide and Mr. Abishek as our driver. Can not fault this agency or their team. They have made our trip to India memorable. We will definitely be back and recommending Raj to all our friends. He arranges tours all over India, so if you have an idea, let Raj know and he will make it happen. Truly blessed to have met you and your team Raj. Thank You for everything.
Excellent experience throughout. Mr Abhishek was a very professional and safe driver. My Guide Mr Onkar was another gent, very welcoming and generous with his knowledge. Both really made the trip. Thanks to Raj at Himachal by locals for organizing also!
Although it's a full-day tour, it didn't feel sitting too long in the car. The rock temple was truly amazing, though less impressed by the fort despite its long history. I miss the temple as well, not that I remembered it's in the itinerary anyway, or necessarily thrilled by yet another temple. What made up for it is having the guide, Vikram, taking me to a local eatery (a dabah). Both the guide and the driver Gourav, did a decent job.
I did not know anything about this period and my guide was most knowledgeable. The temple itself was a fascinating structure and well worth the visit.
Fabulous tour that really allowed me to see the countryside in this area. The guide was from Kangra, so he could offer an interesting perspective on playing around the fort etc as a child, and how the area has changed over the years. The rock-cut temple was in a beautifully peaceful place - the story of its creation is fascinating. The fort is very impressive with its hilltop location and views over the rivers, villages and meadows. The temple was a good insight into the religious life of locals - colourful and vibrant.
Interesting visit to Kangra and its fort with the explanations of Mr Vipin that we highly recommend for the quality of his explanations and his command of English making it easy to understand (by Francophones speaking only very rarely). Not to forget the driving qualities of the driver especially with the winding roads of the region.
Had a great day visiting Kangra fort and Rock cut Temple, really interesting sites to visit. Our guide was very knowledgeable. I highly recommend doing this tour for anyone visiting Dharamsala.
