Chandratal Lake: Guide to the magnificient lake of Spiti Valley
Chandratal Lake – the most awaited part
Palampur, located in the beautiful state of Himachal Pradesh, is one of the oldest yet unexplored hill stations in Kangra Valley which is now famous for tea estates. Just a few miles from here, lies the town of Bir where we have Asia’s highest paragliding.
Starts: from Delhi
Ends: at Delhi
Group: Mixed Gender
Start: 8 PM, April 14
End: 5 AM, April 18
This trip is a power-packed itinerary for the Bir & Palampur in Kangra district. You get to experience the beautiful tea gardens of Palampur, the adrenaline rush of doing Paragliding in Bir, explore the cafes of Bir, and the other gems of Kangra such as Masrur Rock Cut temple and Kangra Fort.
Palampur, located in the beautiful state of Himachal Pradesh, is one of the oldest yet unexplored hill stations in Kangra Valley which is now famous for tea estates. The tea bushes were introduced to Palampur in 1849, from Almora, by Dr. Jameson. Eventually, tea gardens began to thrive in Palampur and Kangra tea of Palampur gained a name in the international market.
Just a few kilometers from Palampur lie the towns of Bir & Billing which, being home to Asia’s highest paragliding point, sits on the bucket list of all adventure seekers across the world. Bir also has the presence of Tibetan refugee settlement which enables visitors to experience Tibetan culture in the town, and also pay a visit to the beautiful monasteries. For those who are religious, Kangra has the Baijnath temple which holds extreme importance in Hindu mythology and sits at a beautiful location amidst mountains.
A little far from Baijnath temple, we have Masroor Rock Cut Temple which is made from cutting huge pieces of rocks, and hence, one of its own kinds in North India. Both of the above-mentioned temples are centuries old, and hold extreme importance in Hindu mythology.
Palampur and Bir, both are located in district Kangra which is affectionately called Kangra Valley. The average elevation of the valley is 2000 feet, and it romances with the stunning snow-clad Dhauladhar mountain range. Nature has indeed been very kind to Kangra Valley by blessing it with beautiful Deodar forests, lakes, high mountains, picturesque views, and perennial water streams. The valley is very proudly graced with the presence of India’s oldest and the richest fort named Kangra Fort, and also a very unique rock-cut temple named Masrur. Did you know that so much treasure was contained in the fort that almost every ruler who ever walked on the lands of India, tried conquering Kangra Fort?
Palampur is home to the internationally renowned Kangra tea, and beautiful tea estates. A guided tea tour is definitely the best way to learn how tea reaches from tea gardens to our cup. During the tour, we learn about how tea is grown, manufactured, sorted, and tasted. The tour is concluded with a tea tasting session where one can discover the different flavors, appearance, and aroma of various grades of tea manufactured at the tea estate. The exact structure of the tour varies with the season, but we are definitely going to feel like a tea sommelier after the tea tour.
The paragliding site of Bir-Billing is Asia’s highest, and the world’s second-highest, giving the real taste of adventure. The flight offers a mesmerizing view of the Dhauladhar mountain range and the stunning Kangra Valley while giving a much-needed adrenaline rush.
It’s a 13th-century temple where Lord Shiva is worshipped in his avatar form of Baijnath or Vaidyanath which also means the ‘God of Healing’. The temple has been beautifully built with a rustic touch in the early medieval north Indian Temple architecture known as Nagara style of temples. It is one of the very few temples in India where both Lord Shiva and Demon King Ravan are worshipped.
Belonging to the black hat lamas of Tibetan Buddhism, Sherabling Monastery is the largest and the most significant monasteries around Bir. The monastery is beautifully nestled inside a pine forest making it a peaceful place. There are shrine halls, learning centers, a library, a museum, an exhibition hall, and a dispensary inside the monastery. The view of sunset from Sherabling Monastery is truly mesmerizing.
Shaktipeeth Shri Bajreshwari Devi Temple is one of the fifty-one Shakti Pithas in India, situated in the Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh. The beautiful white temple is devoted to the goddess Vajreshwari (a form of Goddess Durga). It is popular among tourists and so can be crowded at times. However, the breathtaking view of the western Himalayas accompanied by the serene atmosphere of the holy place make everything worthwhile. Legend has it that the original temple was built by the Pandavas during Mahabharata and had a very interesting mythical tale behind it.
Kangra Fort is said to be built almost 3500 years ago by the Katoch family, which also makes it India’s oldest fort. Even after being attacked by various rulers for 52 times, the fort survived but only surrendered to the wrath of nature in a massive earthquake in 1905. Many kings and rich devotees used to offer their treasures and precious jewels to the temple built within the fort. The collection of these treasures were so huge that it was next to impossible for any vessel to contain them, for camel caravans to carry it. Hence, this was the reason behind numerous attacks on this fort. It was said that, “He who holds the Kangra Fort, holds the hills.”
Masrur Rock Cut Temple is a unique monolithic, which means carved from a single standing stone, temple complex in the Himalayas, and the only rock-cut temple in northern India. The complex has a group of 15 monolithic temples along with a rectangular pond which reflects a magnificent image of temples. One of the most interesting facts about Masrur Rock Cut Temple is that its exact period of construction or patronage hasn’t come to picture from any credible source by historians, but still believed to be constructed between the 6-8th century. Even after being so architecturally beautiful and historical, Masrur Rock Cut Temple is still one of the most unexplored temples in India.
We have arranged for the stay in a very scenic hotel in the middle of tea gardens and offering breathtaking views of snow-clad mountains.
We believe any trip is incomplete without bonding with fellow group mates during relaxed evenings, having some fun, and miss each other after the trip. Stay excited for bonfire and group games.
Our small group size ensures a personal touch and our group leaders make sure to bond the entire group like long-lost friends. Hence, along with an amazing travel experience, you are in for great social bonding.
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Chandratal Lake – the most awaited part
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