PALAMPUR: A HIDDEN GEM

PALAMPUR:

 In the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh sits the hill station of Palampur. It is well-known for its tea gardens, which include the leaf-processing Palampur Cooperative Tea Factory. Within Bundla Chasm, a waterfall empties into a creek. The Saurabh Van Vihar natural park offers vistas of the snow-capped Dhauladhar range, picnic areas, and a variety of birds. A path through trees goes northeast to the mountaintop Birni Devi Temple.Palampur is located in the Kangra Valley. 

Demographics

The Palampur municipality had 3,543 people living there as per the 2011 Indian Census, with 1,814 men and 1,729 women. The gender distribution is 953 females to 1000 males. There were 254 people in the 0 to 6 age group. 3,004 people in Palampur were literate overall, making up 84.8% of the population. Of these, 85.9% of men and 83.6% of women were literate. The population aged 7 and above in Palampur had an effective literacy rate of 91.3%, with a male literacy rate of 93.0% and a female literacy rate of 89.6%. There were 785 members of the Scheduled Castes and 17 members of the Scheduled Tribes. In 2011, Palampur had 842 homes.
In 2020, with the foundation of Palampur municipal corporation, it gained the neighbouring panchayats and satellite regions, and the population was tallied to 40,385 after merging with the census results recorded in 2011

Tourism

The high ranges of the Dhauladhar mountains, often known as the "white hill of snow," are situated behind the town and are mostly covered in snow during the year. This location is being transformed into a sizable tourism hub. There are plans to build an amusement park and a ropeway. Not far away is an agricultural university in operation. About 10 kilometres distant in Paprola are an Ayurvedic hospital and an Ayurvedic medical college. There are active tea factories. The tea estates in Kangra Valley are well-known. The Neugal stream is a narrow brook that flows across stony land deep below the cliff on the outskirts of Palampur. To get to Bundla Falls, which has a 100-meter drop, one must travel.
The name Saurabh Van Vihar, a recreational area in Bundla, comes from Capt. Saurabh Kalia, a Palampur native. There are several trekking routes that leave Palampur, especially those that cross the Dhauladhar Mountains and go into the Himachal Pradesh districts of Chamba and Kullu. The Thamsar Pass (4,747 metres above MSL) from Billing to Manali via Bara Bhangal, the Jalsu Pass from Baijnath to Bharmaur, the woodland trek from Mcleodganj to Triund, and the Sanghar Pass to Bharmaur via Holi are other significant treks.
Among the tourism destinations near Palampur are:
1-Saurabh Van Vihar :-
                              4 km from Palampur: In the Neugal Khad neighbourhood of Bandla village, a park was created in honour of Late Capt. Saurabh Kalia, who was killed in the Kargil War. The Van Vihar, which is overseen by the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department, was established to educate visitors about the natural world and its surroundings. There is a green park situated on the 35 acres that make up the Vihar. The Dhauladhar mountains encircle the region, which provides a picturesque vista. Away from the bustle of the city, the park is a nice place to have a picnic. The park has a water pond with a variety of fish in it. Additionally, a boating facility and separate children's park is also there.
2-Baijnath Shiva Temple
                                 Known as one of the oldest Shiva temples, Bajinath was constructed in the twelfth century. The temple's immaculate and captivating craftsmanship is a testament to ancient art and culture. The grounds of the temple are immaculate, and the view from the back of the temple is breathtaking. The Himachal Pradesh districts of Mandi and Kangra are separated by the temple. Palampur is just 16 miles away.
3-Tashi Jong Buddhist Monastery:
                                  You may go to Tashi Jong from Baijnath or Palampur. There is a meditation hall at this vibrant monastery. There are certain Tibetan cuisine available.
4-Birni Devi Temple:
                     Situated at an elevation of 2240 metres, this is a moderate walk that can be finished in a single day. The people who live there can help you find your way through the forest to the peak of Birni. Their houses are along the route. The climb to Birni Mata begins at the Jakhani Mata temple, where the automobile journey terminates.
5-Bir and Billing-
                  Palampur is 35 miles away. This village's Buddhist monasteries are well-known. It serves as the landing pad for hang gliding pilots. Bir is a great place for paragliders to land because of its amphitheater-like structure of low hills and tea gardens. Buddhist monasteries in Bir are well worth a visit. Here, exquisite Tibetan handicrafts are also made. One of the greatest locations for aero sports in the nation is Billing, which is located in the hills and is 14 kilometres from Bir. It has a 200-kilometer arena for high-altitude and cross-country flight.
6-Palampur Tea Gardens:
                      The primary reason for this area's visitor influx is the Palampur Tea Gardens. The large tea gardens here lend a unique element to the area's natural attractiveness. In addition, Palampur is known for producing the renowned "Kangra Tea" and is recognised as the Tea Capital of Northwestern India[10]. Jameson established these tea estates in 1849 with the help of a few British officers. In the past, tea produced here was sent to markets in America, Europe, and Australia. However, the Kangra earthquake of 1905 had a significant impact on the tea plantations in this area, which helped Assam Tea gain a higher position in the global market. To process the tea leaves, a factory dedicated to tea processing has been created here.

Festivals

The residents of Palampur celebrate the Kangra district's Sair local festival with tremendous enthusiasm. Every year, on the first 'tithi' of 'chaitra mass', 'चैत्र मास,' is when this celebration is held. Rivers and rain are common in Palampur. In the past, when there were few bridges and few roadways, people would perish in river floods. Thus, this celebration marks the end of the rainy season and the month of darkness. People honour the goddess Shair on this day. They invite their friends and family, cook a variety of regional specialties, and serve their god fresh produce, fruits, and vegetables.After spending a whole month at their parents' place, newlywed brides return to their in-laws. Children play a game with walnuts to commemorate this event in their own unique way.
        Mid-January is the time for Lohri or Maghi, which is marked by increased sobriety but not diminished delight. In addition to marking the traditional middle of winter, this day also marks the final sowing of the Rabi crops. The celebration is marked with dancing, folk music, and bonfires in the community. Children perform "lukdiyan," or traditional music from the area, door to door. A unique kind of sacrament known as "tilcholi" is prepared using roasted rice, sugar, and peanuts.
       Capt. Vikram Batra Stadium is the venue for the Palampur Holi Fair. There are lots of cultural events happening on these days. During these days, a lot of singers attend the Palampur fair, where figurines of various gods are created.
      

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

HANDICRAFTS AND HANDLOOM

DEV BHOOMI

Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education – The Foundation of a Better Future