Palampur is a beautiful hilly town and also a municipal council in the district of Kangra in Himachal Pradesh. The place is well-known for its scenic beauty and tea gardens and snow clad mountains. Tea gardens in Palampur are situated between 800 to 1600 meters above sea level. The hill station was introduced to Tea when the Superintendent of Botanical Garden Peshawar, North West province and Saharanpur, Dr. Jameson, paid a visit to the district of Kangra in the year 1849. The bewitching beauty of the Palampur town is serene and untouched. It is situated to the south-east of Dharamsala, and placed at a plateau at the bottom of the gallant Dhauladhars.
Palampur in Himachal Pradesh is situated at a height of 1219 meters and forms one of the prominent spots in the beautiful valley encircled by pine trees and tea gardens. It enjoys a very favorable climate. The best time to visit Palampur is anytime except the extreme winter months of December and January. Summer season from the month of April to June provides a pleasant and warm climate having temperature ranging from 15°C to 29°C. The winter season in the valley starts from the month of November till February which is very cold, having a minimum temperature of -4°C. During this period snowfalls are very common whereas the monsoons bring in very little rainfall.
Palampur is sprinkled with a myriad of colours during the festival of Holi which occurs on a full moon day in the month of Falgun, one of the months of Hindu calendar. The village women offer special puja at the time of Holi. Little twigs of the `Kamal` tree are decorated in red and yellow colour and then set out in little bamboo baskets or khartoo with thread, jaggery, kumkum and roasted grams. This basket and small pots of coloured water are carried by the women in their hands for the Puja and they offer it first to the elderly man or Dandochh and then the festival of Holi is observed. The entire village plays Holi the next day. The Holi bonfire is lit once the moon comes out in the night before Holi. Young men compete among themselves to first touch the Holi flag because; there is a belief that whoever touches it first becomes lucky. Special Kadah Prasad or sweet gruel is prepared and distributed among all. The major attraction of the festival of Holi in the town of Palampur is the cultural nights. The cultural nights are arranged by the Holi Kala Manch with contribution from the municipal committee and the local MLA.
Some of the major educational institutions in Palampur include the Saheed Captain Vikram Batra Degree College Palampur. It is located in close proximity to the main city of Palampur and the same is named after Param Veer Chakra Vijeta, Saheed Captain Vikram Batra, who sacrificed his life in Kargil War in the year 1999 for India. St. Pauls` School is among the oldest schools in Palampur, constructed at the time of British rule in the year 1923. This school provides Himachal Pradesh board education as well as ICSE board. Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya or CSK HPKV or Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University is among the four universities in the state of Himachal Pradesh located in Palampur. The University was founded in the year 1978. The popular name of this institution among the people of Palampur is Agriculture University Palampur. Another notable institution is the COVAS or College Of Veterinary and Animal Sciences. Founded in the year 1986, COVAS is located at Holta, a small place in the valley of Palampur. The Kendriya Vidyalaya in Palampur is located in Holta Camp. It is affiliated to the central board of secondary education, New Delhi.
Palampur in Himachal Pradesh is suitably connected by roads from Delhi, Shimla, Chandigarh, Dharamsala and Pathankot. The close located railway station is at Maranda. It is at a distance of four kilometres from Palampur. The closest major rail junction is at Pathankot, which is situated at a distance of 112 kilometres from Palampur. Giggal airport situated in Kangra valley is at a distance of twelve kilometres from Dharamsala and Dharamsala is forty kilometres away from Palampur.The mind-blowing beauty of Palampur presents a beautiful contrast. The plain exhibits a picture of rural fairness and tranquility, while the hills display a majestic stature. The tall ranges of Dhauladhar Mountains are there behind this town. Located in and about the central part of the Kangra Valley, this place is a favourable base to explore. Palampur is not merely famous for its numerous paddy fields and tea gardens but also for its temples and colonial architecture. This place and its surrounding are renowned places for adventure sports like trekking and hang-gliding.
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