KANGRA FORT

Kangra

Fort also called Nagarkot or Kot It’s an hour and a half from Garli.

The fort stands majestically on the top of a hill from where you can view the entire valley. Built by a Katoch king around 1500 BC, it is the largest and one of the oldest forts in the country, and stands at the confluence of two rivers Banganga and Manjhi. It was destroyed in 1905 quake that hit Kangra valley; only one intricately carved wall of the Laxmi Narayan temple within the complex escaped destruction.

The fort is spread over an area of around four km and is guarded by high walls and ramparts. It has seven doors, and many stone- carved temples in the large courtyard. These include Ambika Devi temple, Shitlamata temple, Lakshmi Narayan temple and a Jain temple.

Also a must visit is the Maharaja Sansar Chand Katoch Museum that tells the history of Kangra Fort. It is run by the royal family of Kangra and has scores of photos, artifacts and sculptures that tell the story of the times gone by.

One main attraction of the fort are its 21 treasure wells, each 4m deep and 2.5m in circumference. History says Sultan of Ghazni looted eight wells. Locals say the rest of the treasure wells are full of r i c h e s , t h o u g h there is no proof of that. The entry fee is Rs 150 for Indians and Rs 300 for foreigners.