Kangra Valley

Kangra Valley is situated in the Western Himalayas.[1] Administratively, it predominantly lies in the state of Himachal Pradesh in India. It is a popular tourist destination, with the peak season around March and April. The Kangri dialect is spoken there. Dharamshala, the headquarters of Kangra district, lies on the southern spur of Dhauladhar in the valley.[2] It is home of Masroor Rock Cut Temple, also known as "Himalayan Pyramids", a possible contender for nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Kangra Valley
An aerial view of Bir in Kangra valley
Floor elevation2,000 ft (610 m)
Geology
TypeRiver Valley
Geography
LocationHimachal Pradesh in India
Population centersBaijnath, Dharamshala, Kangra, McLeodGanj, Palampur, Bhawarna, Sidhbari
Coordinates32°10′N 76°30′E 
RiversBeas River
Dhauladhar range of the Himalayas from Kangra Valley

Geography

The valley is filled with numerous perennial streams, which irrigate the valley. The valley has an average elevation of 2000 ft. Kangra Valley is a strike valley and extends from the foot of the Dhauladhar range to the south of river Beas. The highest peak on the Dhauladhar, White Mountain, marks the boundary between the valley and Chamba, and reaches 15,956 feet (4,863 m). The peaks of the range are approximately 13,000 feet (4,000 m) above the valley floor, rising sharply from its base with no low hills in between.[2]

Language

A distinct regional dialect, Kangri, is spoken in Kangra valley.[3]

Important towns


The cantonment town of Yol is located at 32.17°N 76.2°E in Kangra district. It has an average elevation of 1,221 m (4,006 ft).

Transport

Road

The valley is reached by roads from other parts of Himachal Pradesh.

Railway
Main article: Kangra Valley Railway

Kangra Valley Railway is a 164 km long narrow gauge railway line that connects the valley with Pathankot, the nearest railhead on broad gauge railway network.

Airport

Gaggal Airport, alternatively known as Kangra Airport or Dharamsala-Kangra Airport, is an airport located in Gaggal near Kangra in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, 14 Kilometres South-West of Dharamshala.

Nearby tourist attractions
  1. McLeod Ganj is a settlement located at around 27 km from Kangra and the official residence of the Dalai Lama.
  2. Triund trek is one of the famous trekking route in India
  3. Balh ValleyBalh valley trek - this one is hidden place which is hardly visited by tourist.
  4. The Nawala festival & Harayali festival in Kangra

1905 earthquake

The valley witnessed a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake at 6:19 am on 4 April 1905, as a result of which about 19,800 people were killed and thousands were injured in the Kangra area. Most buildings in towns of Kangra, Mcleodganj and Dharamshala were destroyed.[1][4][5]

References
  1. Earthquakes The Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 1, p. 98.
  2. Dhaula Dhar The Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 11, p. 287.
  3. "Himachal Pradesh Kangri Language", India Mapped - Languages in India, accessed 18 April 2015
  4. Dharamshala Earthquake 1905 - Images
  5. History Archived 21 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine Kangra district Official website.

Further reading
  • Hutchinson, J. & J. PH Vogel (1933). History of the Panjab Hill States, Vol. I. 1st edition: Govt. Printing, Punjab, Lahore, 1933. Reprint 2000. Department of Language and Culture, Himachal Pradesh. Chapter IV Kangra State, pp. 98–198.
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