Kangra Valley

2021-07-01T21:01:03Z

106.206.242.136:

{{Short description|River valley in Himachal Pradesh, northern India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox valley
| name = Kangra Valley
| other_name =
| photo =File:An aerial view of Bir, Kangra valley sights nature culture Himachal Pradesh India 2015.jpg
| photo_size =350
| photo_alt =
| photo_caption =An aerial view of [[Bir, Himachal Pradesh|Bir]] in Kangra valley
| map =
| map_size = 300
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| location = [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[India]]
| relief =
| label =
| label_position =
| coordinates = {{coord|32|10|N|76|30|E|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref =
| elevation = | elevation_m = | elevation_ft = 2000
| elevation_ref =
| direction =
| length =
| width =
| area =
| depth =
| type =[[River valley|River Valley]]
| age =
| boundaries =
| region =
| source =
| topo =
| towns =[[Baijnath, Himachal Pradesh|Baijnath]], [[Dharamshala]], [[Kangra, Himachal Pradesh|Kangra]], [[McLeodGanj]], [[Palampur]], [[Bhawarna]], [[Sidhbari]]
| traversed =
| watercourses = [[Beas River]]
| footnotes =
| embed =
}}
[[File:Kangra.jpg|right|250px|thumb|[[Dhauladhar]] range of the [[Himalayas]] from Kangra Valley]]
'''Kangra Valley''' is situated in the [[Western Himalayas]].<ref name="Earthquakes">[https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V01_128.gif Earthquakes] ''[[The Imperial Gazetteer of India]]'', v. 1, ''p. 98.''</ref> Administratively, it predominantly lies in the state of [[Himachal Pradesh]] in [[India]]. It is a popular tourist destination, with the peak season around March and April. The [[Kangri dialect]] is spoken there.
[[Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh|Dharamshala]], the headquarters of [[Kangra district]], lies on the southern [[Spur (mountain)|spur]] of [[Dhauladhar]] in the valley.<ref name=imp/> It is home of [[Masroor Rock Cut Temple]], also known as "Himalayan Pyramids", a possible contender for nomination as a UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]].

==Geography==
The valley is filled with numerous [[perennial stream]]s, which irrigate the valley, and the river Beas flows through this valley. The valley has an average elevation of 2000 ft. Kangra Valley is a strike valley and extends from the foot of the [[Dhauladhar|Dhauladhar range]] to the south of river Beas. The highest peak on the Dhauladhar, White Mountain, marks the boundary between the valley and [[Chamba, Himachal Pradesh|Chamba]], and reaches {{convert|15956|ft|m}}. The peaks of the range are approximately {{convert|13000|ft|m}} above the valley floor, rising sharply from its base with no low hills in between.<ref name=imp>[https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V11_293.gif Dhaula Dhar] ''[[The Imperial Gazetteer of India]]'', v. 11, ''p. 287.''</ref>

==Language==
A distinct regional dialect, [[Kangri dialect|Kangri]], is spoken in Kangra valley.<ref>[http://www.indiamapped.com/languages-in-india/himachal-pradesh-kangri-language/ "Himachal Pradesh Kangri Language"], India Mapped - Languages in India, accessed 18 April 2015</ref>

==Important towns==
* [[Baijnath, Himachal Pradesh|Baijnath]]
* [[Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh|Dharamshala]]
* [[Kangra, Himachal Pradesh|Kangra]]
* [[Palampur]]
* [[Nagrota Bagwan]]

The [[cantonment]] town of [[Yol, India|Yol]] is located at 32.17°N 76.2°E in Kangra district. It has an average elevation of 1,221 m (4,006 ft).

==Transport==

===Road===
The valley is reached by roads from other parts of Himachal Pradesh.

===Railway===
{{Main|Kangra Valley Railway}}

[[Kangra Valley Railway]] is a 164 km long narrow gauge railway line that connects the valley with [[Pathankot]], the nearest railhead on {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]] railway network.

===Airport===
[[Gaggal Airport]], alternatively known as Kangra Airport or Dharamsala-Kangra Airport, is an airport located in Gaggal near Kangra in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, 14 Kilometres South-West of Dharamshala.

==Nearby tourist attractions==
# [[McLeod Ganj]] is a settlement located at around 27 km from Kangra and the official residence of the Dalai Lama.
# [[Triund]] trek is one of the famous trekking route in India
#[[Balh Valley]][http://www.theindia.co.in/travelogues/balh-valley-a-rare-gem-hidden-in-the-himalayas Balh valley] trek - this one is hidden place which is hardly visited by tourist.
# The Nawala festival & Harayali [http://www.india.com/travel/kangra/festival/ festival] in Kangra

==1905 earthquake==
The valley [[1905 Kangra earthquake|witnessed a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake]] at 6:19 am on 4 April 1905, as a result of which about 19,800 people were killed and thousands were injured in the Kangra area. Most buildings in towns of [[Kangra, Himachal Pradesh|Kangra]], [[Mcleodganj]] and [[Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh|Dharamshala]] were destroyed.<ref name="Earthquakes"/><ref>[http://123himachal.com/dharamsala/links/1905.htm Dharamshala Earthquake 1905 - Images]</ref><ref>[http://www.hpkangra.nic.in/history.htm History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221063405/https://www.hpkangra.nic.in/history.htm |date=21 December 2007 }} ''[[Kangra district]]'' Official website.</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Hutchinson, J. & J. PH Vogel (1933). ''History of the Panjab Hill States'', Vol. I. 1st edition: Govt. Printing, Punjab, Lahore, 1933. Reprint 2000. Department of Language and Culture, Himachal Pradesh. Chapter IV Kangra State, pp. 98–198.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Kangra Valley}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071221063405/https://www.hpkangra.nic.in/history.htm "Kangra Valley"], [[Kangra District]] official website.

{{Geo HP}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Geography of Kangra district]]
[[Category:Valleys of Himachal Pradesh]]

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Kangra Valley