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Places
of Interest in Himachal
Manali
. Shimla
. Chail
. Dharamshala
. Kasauli
.
Chamba
. Kangra
Kangra Travel Guide
Kangra Valley 
is
one of the most picturesque valley of lower Himalyas. The valley, sheltered
by the sublime Dhauladhar range, is green and luxuriant. It provides a tremendous
contrast in nature of places to be visited. Dharamshala is full of Buddhist
air whereas ancient Hindu Temples like Brajeshwari, Baijnath, Jawalamukhi and
Chamunda Devi dot the country side.
The history of Kangra valley dates back to the Vedic times more than 3500 yrs.
ago. The area was exposed to successive invasions, the last being the British
domination over the princes of the hill states. Despite the onslaughts and political
upheavels, the arts and crafts of the region continued to develop and found
lyrical expressions. Crafts like the exquisitely designed shawls and miniature
paintings of this region are internationally appreciated.
Kangra became a Mughal province, Shah Jahan captured it for his father,Emperor
Jehangir. In the 18th century Raja Sansar Chand Katoch II recaptured the fort
from the Mughals and extended the boundaries of Kangra into the Chamba and Kullu
valleys. The flory of the valley is brought out in the invaluable and delicate
Kangra painting that the Raja commissioned to express his love for a comely
Gaddi maiden and the beautiful land she dwelled in. Under Raja Sansar Chand
II the region prospered
.
During the mid 18th century, a new style of painting developed, based on Mughal
miniature painting, but with a different subject matter. The theme was derived
from Radha Krishna legends and depicted the rulers and the gods in a local setting.
In 1744 - 1773 Raja Govardhan Singh of Guler gave shelter to many artists who
had fled from the Mughals and thus gave birth to the famed Kangra School of
Painting.
Another attraction in town is the Kangra fort which was the seat of power of
the Katoch Rajas. It is said to have been founded by
Susharma Chand Katoch, an ally of the Kauravas during the Mahabharata war. It
was the ancient capital of the Katoch kingdom and a symbol of power in the Punjab
Hill States. The fort stands on a steep rock dominating the valley and a narrow
path leads up to the fort which was once protected by several gates and had
the palace of the Katoch kings safely perched at the top. The Kangra fort, where
the Raja held court for nearly 25 years, was adorned with paintings and attracted
art lovers from great distances. About forty thousand of these paintings are
preserved in temples, palaces and museums at Chamba, Chandigarh and Delhi.
The Brajeshwari Devi Temple in Kangra town, achieved a reputation for wealth
in gold, pearls and diamonds and tempted many invaders over centuries. Mahmud
Ghazni sacked it in 1009, Muhammed -bin-Tughlaq plundered it in 1337, Sikander
Lodi destroyed the idols in the early 15th century and yet the temple was sacked
again by Khawas Khan in 1540.
In the intervening years the temple was rebuilt and refurbished several times
but in the great earthquake of 1905 both the temple and the fort were badly
damaged. The present temple was built in 1920 and stands behind the crowded,
colourful bazar. The State Govt. maintains the temple and the deity sits under
a silver dome with silver umbrellas
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