Beauty of HP: The Kangra Fort

Himachal Pradesh is the historical place. Every District in Himachal has a historical presence in the India. The Kangra Fort is the one in a list of historical places in Himachal. It is located 20 kilometers from the town of Dharamsala. It is on the outskirts of the town of Kangra. The fort was first mentioned in Alexander the Great's war records, referring to the 4th century BC.

There was a Royal family of Kangra “The Katoch Dynasty”. The Fort was built by this Royal family of Kangra, which traces its origins to the ancient Trigarta Kingdom, mentioned in the Mahabharata epic. It is one of the oldest and largest forts in the Himalayas. Probably, it is the oldest dated fort in India.

This fort was taken by the Mahmud of Ghazni in AD 1009. In 1337, it was captured by Muhammad bin Tughluq and again in 1351 by his successor, Firuz Shah Tughluq. It was conquered by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir who garrisoned it with his troops and appointed a Governor to keep the turbulent hill chiefs in check.

In the second half of 18th Century, following the decline of Mughal power, Raja Sansar Chand-II succeeded in recovering the ancient fort of his ancestors, in 1789. But by carrying his ambitions too far he came in conflict with the neighboring hill chiefs, the Gurkhas and finally with Maharaja of Punjab, “The Maharaja Ranjit Singh” to whom he was compelled to surrender Kangra Fort in 1809. It remained in the hands of the Sikhs till 1846 when it was made over to the British Government, along with the surrounding hills. 

A statue claimed to be the earliest of Mahavira in Ambika Mata Temple at top of Kangra Fort.

A British garrison occupied the fort until it was heavily damaged in an earthquake in the year 1905. The entrance to the fort is through a small courtyard enclosed between two gates which were built during the Sikh period, as appears from an inscription over the entrance. From here a long and narrow passage leads up to the top of the fort, through the Ahani and Amiri Darwaza (gate), both attributed to Nawab Saif Ali Khan, the first Mughal Governor of Kangra.  About 500 feet from the outer gate the passage turns round at a very sharp angle and passes through the Jehangiri Darwaza.

The Darsani Darwaza, which is now flanked by defaced statues of River Goddesses Ganga and Yamuna, gave access to a courtyard, along the south side of which stood the shrines Lakshmi-Narayana Sitala and Ambika Devi. In between these shrines is a passage that leads up to the palace. It is one of the most beautiful forts in India.

Beautiful Himachal Pradesh is Eco-friendly State

Plastic Products are not biodegradable

The major problem with plastic products is that they are not biodegradable. Because of this plastic rubbish could remain intact even after hundreds of years. In the Beautiful Himachal we can see that plastic bags are banned there approximately 5-6 years ago.  Government had taken steps to ban these plastic bags in various cities or states but strictly action is taken by the Himachal Government and they are also succeeded. At the time if you are visiting to Beautiful Himachal Pradesh you can see that nobody is using plastic carry bags, they are only using paper bags. A big percentage of plastic trash ends up in landfills. Plastic trash such as containers occupies a whole lot of space and can require 1000 years to break down. We can see that now Governments of many other states are also taking strict action to avoid plastic made things. They are also penalized the person who is using plastic bags and charge a certain amount of fine (Rs.500/1000) or there is police punishment. The major problem with plastic products is that they are not biodegradable. Because of this plastic rubbish could remain intact even after hundreds of years. In the Beautiful Himachal we can see that plastic bags are banned there approximately 5-6 years ago.  Government had taken steps to ban these plastic bags in various cities or states but strictly action is taken by the Himachal Government and they are also succeeded. At the time if you are visiting to Beautiful Himachal Pradesh you can see that nobody is using plastic carry bags, they are only using paper bags.

Even after they break down, small plastic particles can continue polluting soil and water. In order to handle this concern effectively, we have to swap plastic products like bags with those made from eco friendly products like [seed paper]. However plastic is now such an important part of today’s world that it might be extremely hard to avoid it entirely. So it is essential that we uncover means of effectively recycling and reusing such plastic waste. 

Recycling plastic products is critical, however so is exchanging them with environmental friendly manner. There are many alternatives to avoid plastic bags like use paper bags, cloth made carry bags, so they can easily be reused and at the time they can decompose or destroyed. Recycling is similar to treating the disease, while using different products is like preventing it completely. You can also minimize your contribution to plastic litter, if you make goals to exchange as many plastic products as is possible with biodegradable or reusable options. It’s not necessary to create some new revolutionary technology to assist with the green movement and you don’t need to make a big change to your lifestyle or even compromise o any comforts. A lot of companies offer some good alternatives for everyday plastic products. Even the smallest changes like using stainless steel [reusable bottles] instead of plastic ones and exchanging single use plastic bags with eco friendly ones can make a big difference. So please try to avoid plastic bags and make eco-friendly India.  

Summer Months Are Ending - Don't Pass Up the Last Days for a Romantic Holiday in a Himachal Pradesh.

Although the weather conditions are still pleasant in most states of the India and the rest of the world, the summertime has ended and the days we are able to see and relish the sunlight are very limited. In the event you haven't yet taken a getaway, these may be the last days that you can make a trip to someplace close to the nature, waterfalls and relish the quiet and entertaining atmosphere of Himachal Pradesh. We live in a fast paced world of constant chaos and pressure; most of our days are full of important events, tasks to complete and errands to perform. We've a lot of responsibilities including taking care of our kids, pleasing our bosses, paying our debts, etc. 

All this mess can easily turn into a burden on most people, and summer holidays might be the only way we could reduce a part of this pressure and enjoy a couple of days or weeks of tranquility. So if you haven't yet gone on a vacation and have missed the summer months, or if you have taken a brief holiday and still are seeking a final vacation right before the autumn and winter season totally start, these first days of autumn may be a great chance to rent an apartment/hotel in the Himachal Pradesh and visit the various romantic places like Kullu-Manali, Mcleod Ganj, Naddi, Solan and spend a couple of calm and affectionate days together with your partner and family. 

Although taking a holiday at a hotel or a holiday resort can be an alternative, renting an apartment in the Himachal possesses its' distinctive benefits. First of all, a vacation at a reasonable hotel could cost a lot of money, especially if you have kids who require separate bedrooms or if you purchase some of the extras provided. The rooms, daily meals and extra services can add up very quickly. 

 

Furthermore you will need to share the holiday with many different individuals staying at your lodge, meaning you may not be able to get away from the chaos of your everyday life. And that is probably not what you are looking for since the main objective of going into holiday is to step out of the daily life. If you desire to take that last family vacation, you can consider different options for the perfect vacation. With your summer holidays you can visit many hill areas in himachal pradesh as well as visit various religious places. Because Himachal Pradesh is also known as Dev Bhoomi (abode of God). So in summer vacation if you are thinking of a holiday in calm and peace area than Himachal Pradesh is the best place.

Temples in Himachal

Jwalamukhi Temple

The Temple located on small spur on a Dharamshala- Shimla road at a distance of about 20 km from the Jwalamukhi Road Railway Station attracts lakhs of pilgrims every year.
Jwalamukhi is a famous temple to the goddess Jwalamukhi the deity of flaming mouth, built over some natural jets of combustible gas, believed to be the manifestation of the Goddess.The site was traced and the Raja built a temple at that location. Raja Bhumi Chand Katoch of Kangra, a great devotee of goddess Durga, dreamt of the sacred place. No idol is located in the temple and the deity is worshipped in the form of flames which come out from the crevices of the rock. Usually milk and water are offered and the ahutis or oblations are offered to the sacred flames in the pit, situated in the centre of the temple in between the floor pillars supporting the roof. Maharaja Ranjit Singh paid a visit to the temple in 1815 and the dome of the temple was
gold-plated by him. Just a few feet above the Jwalamukhi temple there is a six-feet deep pit with a circumference of about three-feet. At the bottom of this pit there is another small pit about one and a half feet deep with hot water bubbling all the time.The Mughal Emporer Akbar learning about the legends of Jwalamukhi tried to douse the flames with a stream of water. However , the great power of the Goddess, still kept the flames burning. Realizing the power of Jwala Devi, Akbar came with his army to this temple. He brought a Gold umbrella (Chatra) for the Goddess, but on offering, the umbrella turned into an unknown metal suggesting that the Goddess didn't accept his offering.

Kangra Temple

 Popularly known as Nagarkot Dham or Kot Kangra, the temple dedicated to goddess Vajreshwari Devi was once the most renowned shrines of Northern India. It is a famous Shaktipeeth where the left breast of Pauranik Sati Parvati is stated to have fallen. The Devi is worshipped in the form of Pindi. A legend avers that the body of demon king Jalandhara is buried at this place. According to another legend, the Goddess Vajreshwari received injuries while killing the demon Mahishasur which were cured by applying butter. The tradition is still celebrated on Makar Sakranti every year. Though the main temple was ravaged by foreign invaders and completely destroyed by the 1905 earthquake, it has been restored to its pristine glory. It was rebuilt by the Temple Restoration

Committee in the existing form in 1930. The three domes of this temple depict the architecture of religions places of Hindu, Muslims and Sikhs which is quite rare. Kangra is a historical town of Himachal Pradesh. The old town was destroyed by earthquake of 1905 and the present one is the new Kangra town. The wealthy and famous Brajeswari temple is located here and is one of the fifty-one sacred Hindu shaktipeeths. This temple was target of many invasions including one by Mahmud of Ghazni.This area is well connected by rail ( from Kangra station of Pathankot - Joginder Nagar meter gauge Train) by road from nearby Kangra, Dharamsala and Palampur.

Dharamshala - famous tourist place

Dharamshala is a city in northern India. It was formerly known as Bhagsul; it is the winter seat of government of the state of Himachal Pradesh and the district headquarters of the Kangra district.
Mcleod Ganj, a village within the Dharamshala municipality, is the home of the current Dalai Lama and the exiled Tibetan government..               
Dharamshala is a city in the upper reaches of the Kangra Valley and is surrounded by dense coniferous forest consisting mainly of stately Deodars. The suburbs of the town includes -- Mcleod Ganj, Bhagsu Nath, Forsyth Ganj, Naddi, Kotwali Bazaar (the main market of the town), Kaccheri Adda (government offices such as the court, police, post etc.), Dari, Ramnagar, Sidhpur and Sidhbari (where the Karmapa lama is based) The village of McLeod Ganj lying in the upper reaches is known worldwide for the presence of the Tenzin Gyatso. On 29 April 1959, the 14th Dalai Lama established the Tibetan exile administration in the north Indian hill station of Mussoorie. In May 1960, the Central Tobetan administration (CTA) was moved to Dharamshala. Dharamshala is the centre of the Tibetan exile world in India. Following the 1959 tibetan surprising there was an influx of Tibetan refugees who followed the 14th Dalai Lama. His presence and the Tibetan population has made Dharamshala a popular destination for Indian and foreign tourists, including students studying Tibet.

McLeod Ganj, McLeodGanj, or Mcleodganj, is a suburb of Dharamshala in Kangra Distrcit of Himachal Pradesh, India. It has an average elevation of 2,082 meters (6,831 feet). Situated on the Dhauladhar range, whose highest peak, "Hanuman Ka Tibba", at about 5,639 metres (18,500 feet), lies just behind it, it is known as "Little Lhasa" or "Dhasa" (short form of Dharamshala, used mainly by Tibetans) due to its large population of Tibetan refugee The Tibetan government in-exile is headquartered in McLeod Ganj.