Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh Places

Kangra Valley

References to the Kangra Valley date back 3,500 years to the age of the Hindu Vedas. Now densely populated, the valley climbs gently into Himachal Pradesh from the plains of Punjab, with the pine-covered Dhauladhar Range jutting out to the west like a Himalayan spur on the northern horizon. The upper part of the valley gave birth to the famous Kangra style of painting, featuring scenes from the life of Lord Krishna, often highly romantic, in a style heavily influenced by Moghul miniatures.

Aside from the Vaidyanath Temple in Baijnath, the Kangra Valley has no sights per se; it's just a pleasant place to wander around, and it has two lovely Heritage Hotels

. With a heady mixture of tropical and alpine terrain backed by snow-topped mountains and intersected by rivers, the valley is a popular destination for trekking, fishing, and horseback riding. Experienced riders can take in impressive Himalayan views from spirited polo ponies. Wandering through meadows and forests, you can visit Kangra villages and a Tibetan monastery, spending each night in a tent at a different idyllic campsite. Given the relatively low elevation and lack of air-conditioning, try to come to Kangra before mid-April or after mid-September.

Much of the land here is cultivated.