Kangra’sgreat tourist attraction, Kangra Fort is all about the grandeur, riches, wars, and invasions. Located on the outskirts of Kangra, this mighty fort is a testimony of the great history of the region. From the Katoch dynasty to the Sikhs, the fort is a witness to many wars and loots for its unimaginable wealth. Today, it is a ruined massive fort standing as an epitome of centuries back history. In Kangra, this fort is a great attraction to visit and explore the ruins of the fort and surrounding natural attractions. Let’s have a look at what to know before we visit the fort.
History of the KangraFort:
As per the historians, this fort was constructed in the 4th century by Maharaja Susharma Chandra from the Katoch dynasty. It is believed that he belongs to the times of Mahabharata and he participated on the Kauravas side. After the defeat of Kauravas, he undertook Trigartaand built the Kangra Fort. At his time, the Brijeshwari temple was constructed in this fort. Because of the temple, many precious gifts were received. This made the fort a great home to many valuable assets and this led to invasions on this fort. At first, Raja of Kashmir Sreshthha attacked the fort, then Mahmud of Ghazni, Muhammad Bin Tughluq, and Firoz Shah Tughluq attacked the fort.
In 1620, it was captured by Akbar’s son Jahangir, and in 1758, the fort was governed by Ghamand Chand, who was the successor of the Katchosunder the rule of Ahmed Shah Abdali. Later, his grandson Sansar Chand defeated Saif Ali Khan and captured the fort in 1789. Then, he was attacked by Amar Singh Thapa and captured the fort. Then, Sansar Chand went into alliance with Maharaja Ranjit Singh but in favour of the alliance he lost the Kangra Fort. At last, the British took over the control of the Fort.
Today, this massive and ancient fort is just the ruins. Because of an earthquake in 1905, the fort was tumbled and remained as ruins. It is the history of centuries of Kangra Fort. In a few words, it is one of the most ancient forts ever India has ever had.
All about the Architectural Beauty of Kangra:
Even though it is on a ruined stage, the architecture and the special attractions of KangraFortdraw many tourists. The major attraction of this fort is its massive gates with full security. As it was believed a powerhouse of wealth, many rulers installed massive highly secured gateways to the fort. Some of the best-known gates are Ahani and Amiri Darwaza, Jahangir Darwaza, and Ranjit Singh Gate. Apart from its gates, the next big thing is its temples. Here you can see the temples of Shitlamata Temple, Ambika Devi Temple, Lakshmi Narayan Temple, a mosque, and Lord Adinath Temple.
Apart from these, Sheesh Mahal andKapoorsagar stepwell are the other special attractions of the Fort. A very interesting thing about the fort is it was constructed at the median point of the Banganga and Patal Ganga Rivers, this makes the Fort drags nature enthusiasts. Especially, the sunset looks extraordinary from this Fort. For photography, this place is an iconic one to visit.
Audio Guide: An audio guide is available at this Fort. With this guide, we can walk through the Fort and learn the importance of all significant attractions of the Fort.
Timings and Entry Ticket Fares:
Timings: 9 AM to 6 PM (Monday to Sunday).
Entry Tickets: Indians – 20 INR, Foreigner – 250 INR.
Best Time to Visit Kangrta Fort:
The best time to visit this fort is the summer season from March to August. Being located near the Himalayas, during winter, the cold temperature and snowfall may not make the trip comfortable. So, summer is the best choice to explore the place.
How to Reach Kangra Fort:
GaggalAirport is the nearest airport to Kangra, it is just 14 km away. Then, the roadway is a good choice. Dharamshala is just 22 km away from Kangra. So you can easily connect a bus or cab from Dharamshala to Kangra.
The glory of the fort standing in ruins from centuries back is an example of great architecture and commitment. Maybe it is mostly a ruined fort but once it is home to many architectural wonders and massive wealth. It is a great chance to explore Kangra-like forts to witness the centuries-back fort construction.
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