Places to visit in Kangra
16 places, grouped by kind. Each one shows how well it is verified: an official source, two independent sources, or not yet verified.
Dharamshala and McLeodganj 6
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McLeodganj and the Tsuglagkhang Official source
Hill town at about 1,770 m with the Tsuglagkhang complex, residence of the Dalai Lama; Bhagsu, Triund and St John in the Wilderness nearby (Incredible India).
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Bhagsunag Temple and waterfall Official source
Shiva shrine and waterfall (Incredible India; district portal).
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Norbulingka Institute Official source
Tibetan arts centre opened 1995; open 9 AM-5:30 PM, Monday to Saturday (Incredible India).
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Triund Official source
Ridge trek with views of the snow peaks (Incredible India).
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HP State War Memorial Official source
Listed by the district portal.
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HPCA Stadium Official source
International cricket venue (district portal).
Temples 5
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Baijnath Temple Official source
Built 1204 CE by the brothers Manyuka and Ahuka; open 6 AM-9 PM. Its listing as a jyotirlinga is a page claim (Incredible India).
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Bajreshwari Devi Temple Official source
Said to be built by the Pandavas; plundered in 1009 and rebuilt after the 1905 earthquake (Himachal Tourism).
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Chamunda Devi Temple Official source
Shrine over 400 years old; Aadi Himani Chamunda is a 16 km trek above (Himachal Tourism).
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Jwalamukhi Temple Official source
Temple of a natural flame (Himachal Tourism).
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Baglamukhi Temple, Bankhandi Official source
Yellow-themed temple (Himachal Tourism).
Palampur and Bir 3
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Bir Billing Official source
Paragliding from Billing to Bir; best March-June and September-November (Incredible India).
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Kangra Valley Railway Official source
Historic 164 km narrow-gauge line (district portal; Himachal Tourism gives 163 km).
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Pong Dam and Ransar island Official source
Rancer island in the Maharana Pratap Sagar (district portal); HPTDC camping site (HPTDC).
Heritage 2
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Masroor rock-cut temples Official source
8th-century monolithic group of 15 temples; open 7 AM-7 PM (Himachal Tourism; Incredible India, which files it under Chamba).
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Nurpur Fort Official source
Ruined fort, formerly Dhameri (district portal).
In depth: McLeodganj and the Tsuglagkhang
McLeodganj, above Dharamshala, is the home in exile of the Dalai Lama. The Tsuglagkhang complex holds his residence and a gold Buddha; the town is the starting point for Bhagsu falls and the Triund ridge trek, and the 19th-century St John in the Wilderness church lies in the deodars below.
At a glance
- Type
- Hill town Official source
- Altitude
- About 1,770 m (Incredible India) Official source
- Main sight
- Tsuglagkhang complex, residence of the Dalai Lama Official source
- Best time
- March-June and October-February (Incredible India) Official source
- Time needed
- Two days
History and significance
- Exile
- Official residence of the Dalai Lama in the Tsuglagkhang complex (Incredible India). Official source
- Church
- St John in the Wilderness, described as the oldest British church in Himachal (Incredible India; page claim). Official source
What to see
- Tsuglagkhang
- Monks' daily rituals.
- Bhagsunag
- Temple and waterfall.
- Triund
- Day trek.
- St John in the Wilderness
- Stained glass.
Visiting
- Hours
- Listed as any time, any day (Incredible India). Official source
Festivals
- Teachings and Losar
- Dates to confirm. Not yet verified
Visitor guidelines
- Ask before photographing monks.
- Monsoon (July-August) makes trekking hard (Incredible India).
How to reach McLeodganj and the Tsuglagkhang
- By air
- Kangra (DHM), Gaggal (Incredible India). Official source
- By train
- Pathankot (PTK) (Incredible India). Official source
- By road
- Via Dharamshala. Two sources
Month by month
| Month | Temp °C | Sunrise | Sunset | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2-22.8 | 07:26 | 17:41 | Cold; snow possible |
| Feb | 3.3-26.8 | 07:08 | 18:09 | Cold |
| Mar | 5.5-31.7 | 06:37 | 18:32 | Cool; spring |
| Apr | 10.5-35.9 | 05:57 | 18:53 | Good: mild |
| May | 13.5-39.1 | 05:27 | 19:14 | Best: mild |
| Jun | 17.7-40 | 05:17 | 19:32 | Good; busy |
| Jul | 18.7-34.9 | 05:28 | 19:33 | Monsoon; landslide risk |
| Aug | 19.5-33.6 | 05:48 | 19:11 | Monsoon; landslide risk |
| Sep | 15.9-33.3 | 06:08 | 18:33 | Rain easing |
| Oct | 10.4-31.9 | 06:27 | 17:54 | Best: clear |
| Nov | 6.4-27.9 | 06:53 | 17:26 | Clear, cold nights |
| Dec | 1.9-25 | 07:18 | 17:21 | Cold; snow possible |
Suggested plans
- One day
- Tsuglagkhang, Bhagsu and the market.
- Two days
- Add Triund or Norbulingka.
- Three days
- Add Palampur and Bir Billing.
How to reach Kangra
- By train
- Pathankot (PTK); Kangra valley narrow-gauge line.
- By air
- Kangra (DHM), Gaggal.
- By road
- Via Pathankot or Mandi.
- Headquarters
- Dharamshala
- Coast
- Landlocked
Best time to visit Kangra
- Best time
- March to June and October to February (Incredible India).
- Climate
- Mild winters in the valley, cold above; heavy monsoon.
Dates to plan around in Himachal Pradesh
- Kullu Dussehra — Kullu: 21-27 October 2026 (News on AIR); passed
- Renuka fair — Renuka, Sirmaur: About a week in November (Himachal Tourism); 2026 dates to confirm
- Mandi Shivratri — Mandi: Week-long, February-March (Himachal Tourism); 2027 dates to confirm
- Shoolini fair — Solan: Three days from the third Sunday of June (Himachal Tourism)
- Manimahesh Yatra — Bharmour, Chamba: 25 Aug-19 Sep 2026 (News Arena); passed
- Pauri fair — Trilokinath, Lahaul: Three days each August (Himachal Tourism)
Where to stay in Kangra
Quick answers about Kangra
What is Kangra known for?
McLeodganj and the Dalai Lama's temple, the Kangra temples, Masroor's rock-cut shrines, Bir Billing and the Kangra valley railway.
What is the one place not to miss in Kangra?
McLeodganj and the Tsuglagkhang. Hill town at about 1,770 m with the Tsuglagkhang complex, residence of the Dalai Lama; Bhagsu, Triund and St John in the Wilderness nearby (Incredible India).
Which is the nearest railway station to Kangra?
Pathankot (PTK); Kangra valley narrow-gauge line.
Which is the nearest airport to Kangra?
Kangra (DHM), Gaggal.
When is the best time to visit Kangra?
March to June and October to February (Incredible India).
How many places are there to visit in Kangra?
Our guide lists 16 places in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, across dharamshala and mcleodganj, temples, palampur and bir, heritage.
Nearby, in neighbouring districts
- Khajjiar, Chamba — Meadow and lake nicknamed "Mini Switzerland of India" (Incredible India).
- Mandi temples and Shivratri, Mandi — Town of over 80 stone temples; Bhootnath (founded with the town) leads the week-long Shivratri fair (Himachal Tourism).
Official links and sources
- Incredible India: Kangra ↗
- Kangra district portal: tourist places ↗
- Incredible India: Mcleodganj ↗
- Incredible India: Norbulingka Institute ↗
- Incredible India: Baijnath Temple ↗
- Incredible India: Masroor Temple ↗
- Incredible India: Bir Billing ↗
- Himachal Tourism: Temples ↗
- HPTDC: all hotels ↗
- Outlook India: new districts commission (23 Oct 2026) ↗