Visit Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh: A Historical and Spiritual Getaway (2024)
Hamirpur is a town and also the headquarter of the district Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh. Hamirpur is a small hill town which is famous for its picturesque beauty, especially in the rainy season. Rainy season acts as a jewel that adds more color and greenery to the beauty of Hamirpur town. Hamirpur is situated at an altitude of about 786 meters above sea level on Dharmshala – Shimla road and is accessible easily from all major cities in India.
Hamirpur is located near the hilly and mesmerizing town of Kangra which is famous for the view of majestic mountains and beautiful valleys. Hamirpur amazes visitors with its beauty all-round the year and during all seasons. The view is spectacular at every time of the year. The main highlight of this place is the calmness and the natural and tranquilizing beauty that will make you want to stay here. Additionally, if you lucky enough to get acquainted with locals you will get to enjoy the heartwarming hospitality offered by the people of this town and the amazing Himachal food you can enjoy here.
Hamirpur district is also famous for the heritage temples in the area that attracts thousands of tourists from all over the country. You would also see foreigners, adventure seekers, and travel enthusiasts from all over the world coming here to enjoy the majestic Himalayas and all that the place has to offer.
As per the history of the place, Hamirpur was a part of the Katoch dynasty which ruled the region between Ravi and Satluj known as ‘Trigerta’. The name of the town comes from Raja Hamir Chand who ruled this place from 1700 AD to 1740 AD. Another interesting fact about Hamirpur is that it is the most literate district of the state of Himachal Pradesh and is well connected by roads from all sides. A step-by-step guide to planning your travel to Hamirpur is described below.
Places To See And Things To Do In Hamirpur
- Awa Devi Temple: Awa Devi Temple in Hamirpur is also known as Jalpa Devi temple. You will find a lot of temples here in Hamirpur as the place is quite famous for the temples that are located here. A special thing about this temple is that it is situated on the top of a hill. This fact makes it more interesting as you can climb up the hill and enjoy a beautiful view of the surrounding area and the valley as well while accomplishing a spiritual trip. This place is considered very special by the locals. If the weather gods are in your favor, you will be able to see the famous Peer Paranjal range from the top of this hill where the temple is located. If you are driving to the top of the hill, make sure you have an expert driver with you as the road is narrow and it is a steep climb. Make sure you do not miss visiting Awa Devi temple during your visit to Hamirpur.
Image Source - Sujanpur Fort: It is a famous tourist destination in Hamirpur and is visited by thousands of visitors around the year. The palace fort is located 22 km from Hamirpur town and is a nice place to spend your day when you are visiting Hamirpur. The fort was built by Raja Abhay Chand of the Katoch dynasty of Kangra in 1758. This fort connects Kangra with Hamirpur also since it is located at the border. Sujanpur Fort was the royal residence of the Katoch dynasty in the bygone era for more than a century. The fort in the early 19th century and was considered a marvel with a beautiful façade. In addition to the outside structure of the palace, the internal architecture is very beautiful and attractive. The palace is adorned with beautiful pictures and paintings from the time of the rule. This palace was also the residence of Raja Sansar Chand, who is considered the patron of the Kangra School of miniature paintings. Sujanpura Fort has five temples and a hall named Baradari, where the court was held back in the days of Raja Sansar Chand. The entrance of the fort is very unique and has beautiful signs of some wall paintings over it. The view of the palace will transport you to medieval times. The main attraction of the fort is the Gauri Shankar Temple that is within the premises of the palace. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Another special thing about this fort is that it is located at a height like most other forts. This fact makes it very picturesque. People go there and spend time with their friends and family while enjoying the view of the mountains and the lush greenery while looking at a marvel from the bygone era. Make sure you visit Sujanpur Fort while you are in Hamirpur or Kangra.
Image Source - Tauni Devi Temple: Another interesting place to see in the Hamirpur area is the Tauni Devi temple. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Tauni who is considered to be the sibling of Goddess Durga. This temple attracts a lot of devotees from the surrounding area. This temple is situated on the way to Awa Devi Temple from Hamirpur. So, you do not have to take a separate new route to visit this temple. It is located at a distance of 12 km from Hamirpur and is respected by the local people in the area. It is considered to be 200 years old which makes it even more attractive. You will find people sitting in peace and some meditating in the serene environment. People generally go to this temple for relaxation and peace of mind as well. An annual festival is organized at the temple during the months of July and July which is visited by many people including locals and tourists. Make sure you visit this temple while traveling to Hamirpur.
Image Source - Nadaun Fort: Another famous and beautiful attraction for the tourists in the Hamirpur area is Nadaun Fort which is visited by many travelers. This fort is also known as Amter Nadaun Fort and was the royal residence of Raja Sansar Chand of the Katoch Dynasty of Kangra like the Sujangarh Fort. This fort is also located on a hilltop which makes it more attractive and is visited by tourists round the year. The difference between Sujangarh fort and Nadaun Fort is that it is not maintained and is in a poor condition. But this does not make it less popular. People still come here to see the ruins of medieval times and ponder on the hard work done in the earlier times to build such marvels.
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- Narbadeshwar Temple: Like the Tauni Devi temple, this temple is also estimated to be 200 years old and has a special place among the locals. Another important fact about the temple is that it was built by Maharani Prasanni Devi, the wife of Raja Sansar Chand. Narbadeshwar Temple is situated in Sujanpur town and is famous among tourists for its rich wall paintings that add to the beauty of its walls. It is also an architectural marvel as it is built in the traditional Bhitti style of architecture. The arches and niches are very attractive and catch the eyes of many visitors to the temple. There are other temples built around the Narbadeshwar, which are dedicated to Durga, Ganesh, Laxmi Naryana, and Mahisasur Mardini.
Image Source - Deotsidh Temple: This temple is located on the border of Bilaspur and Hamirpur. You can also plan to visit this temple while traveling to Hamirpur if you are going by road from Delhi NCR or Uttar Pradesh. The thing that makes this temple interesting and not worth missing is that it is a cave temple. This temple is dedicated to Baba Balak Nath. The legend says that the sage meditated here. Baba Balak Nath is known for his acts of philanthropy during the Shakti movement in this area. The Deotsidh temple is inaccessible now but tourists cansee the deity from a raised platform located in front of the cave temple. This temple is one of the major sources of revenue in the state of Himachal Pradesh, asit is visited by lakhs of visitors, especially during Holi and Navaratri. A feast is organized every Sunday at the temple. A large number of Hindu devotees visit the temple on Sunday and are offered sweetened Indian flour bread known as Rota. Make sure you visit this temple during your visit to Hamirpur.
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How to Reach Hamirpur?
Hamirpur is a well-connected hill station and is well connected via train, flight, and by road. Although since it is a hill station, it becomes mandatory to travel by road. You can choose from air travel, trains, buses, or taxis based on your budget and convenience to reach Hamirpur to calm your senses and heal your mind, body, and soul. Different modes to reach Hamirpur are mentioned below:
Reaching Hamirpur by Flight: The nearest airport to reach Hamirpur is Gaggal Airport in Kangra which is 83 km from Hamirpur. There are direct flights from major cities to Chandigarh. You can also take a flight from Chandigarh and reach Hamirpur by bus or private Taxi. The bus service from Chandigarh to Hamirpur is very good and will take around 3-4 hours to reach Hamirpur. If you are coming from Delhi and do not have a lot of time to spare traveling via bus or train, you can take a direct flight from Delhi to Gaggal Airport.
Reaching Hamirpur by Train: The nearest railway stations to Hamirpur are Una, Amb, and Jawalimukhi Road. These stations are approximately 70 – 80 km from Hamirpur. Reaching Hamirpur by train is a little tricky but is a scenic ride. You can take a train tothese stations and from your respective stations and take a bus or taxi to reach Hamirpur.
Reaching Hamirpur by Road: This is the best and convenient way to reach Hamirpur if you are traveling from North India. You can either take Delhi to reach Hamirpur directly. There are frequent buses run by Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) that can be booked well in advance from online portals as well to travel to a bus or taxi to reach Hamirpur directly. Or the best and a little expensive option to hire a taxi to reach Hamirpur directly. You can choose your mode of conveyance based on our ease and your budget.
Best Time To Visit Hamirpur
Hamirpur is visited by tourists all-round the year as it is well connected to the plains. However, summer is the best time to visit Hamirpur. The place has a cool and pleasant climate all-round the year, you would find tourists visiting Hamirpur at all times of the year. Navaratri is a weeklong festival that is most famous and celebrated with grandiosity in the town. It is visited and enjoyed by both locals and tourists equally. Many tourists come to these festivals during the season. Winters are very chilly in Hamirpur, especially during December and January. As the summer starts, you will start seeing the lush greenery and flowers all around which makes the place look like heaven. The weather is pleasant in summers and is considered the ideal time to spend in the lap of the Himalayas.
There is a huge rush of tourists in Hamirpur from March to May and the temperature is pleasant compared to other parts of the country where it is brazenly hot during this time. Every weather has its charm and some new thing and scenery in the hills in Hamirpur. You can decide when you want to get away from the hustle-bustle of the city and want to stay and rejuvenate your cluttered mind in the lap of the Himalayas.
Places to Stay in Hamirpur
There are many comfortable and luxurious resorts in Hamirpur for you to enjoy the beauty of the hills in the area. These luxurious resorts offer a panoramic view of the valley and have all the necessary services available for you to treat your senses. You can also find many homestays which are quite famous among families as well as young people and adventure seekers as you can have the entire area to yourself and enjoy there as per your comfort. And if you are staying with a landlord at your homestay, you get to enjoy the local and homecooked food in addition to getting to know the local folk stories and hidden spots for you to see. Some of the famous resorts around the area are Hotel Lalit Palace, Hotel Hamir, Bassi Hotel. You can also find many holiday rentals at the cottages built by Ex-army veterans. There are many army officials settled in this area and would host you with delight.
Things to Eat in Hamirpur
Many famous restaurants are offering lip-smacking food in the area. You will find restaurants serving multi-cuisine food you can enjoy. Additionally, the resorts mentioned above have amazing in-house restaurants where you can enjoy scrumptious meals with a view of the valley which makes the food taste even better. There are also many street vendors offering some of the best Tibetan dishes for you to enjoy. If you do not worry about eating outside local food, the street food in Hamirpur is a must-try. This place will not disappoint you. Visit Hamirpur to treat all your sense and get bewitched by the beauty of this place.
