Introduction

Haripur is 55 km from Dharamsala via Ranital. This was the capital of the princely state of Haripur Guler - an offshoot of Kangra. Legend has it that Raja Hari Chand of Kangra became disengaged from his companions on a hunting expedition and fell into a well. After a long search, the hunting party gave him up for dead and returned to Kangra where his wives became satis, burning themselves on the funeral pyre, and his younger brother, Karan Chand was placed on the throne. After twenty-two days of being trapped in the well, Hari Chand was rescued by a passing merchant. Rather than struggle to regain his kingdom, Hari Chand set up his own kingdom based at what he named ‘Haripur’ after himself.

Haripur fort has been ravaged by time and is not as well known or as large as the Kangra fort but it is strategically built. The location is picturesque and the Banganga rivulet gives it natural protection. Inside, there are a few carvings but they are blurred and difficult to reach – though eighteenth century travellers who visited the fort recorded that the Guler palace of Haripur fort had exquisite paintings and carvings.

A major school of miniature paintings was also based here. After the construction of the Pong Dam and the flooding of the area by the waters of the Maharana Pratap Sagar, many people in Haripur had their lands submerged. Haripur yet holds several old temples and remarkable city gates with large stone carvings of deities from the Hindu pantheon that testify to a long gone creative impulse.

This is still an important station on the narrow-gauge Kangra Valley Railway which connects the broad-gauge station of Pathankot with the town of Jogindernagar – and is one of the most interesting ways of travelling though the countryside as the line is believed to have been built in a manner that did not spoil the area and could maximise the views of the valleys and hills for travellers!

Special Attributes

An old small town; its fort and temples testify to a once-powerful creative impulse.

Nuisance

None

Dressing restrictions

Conservative

Connectivity

Taxis, buses and train from Pathankot

Enjoyed by

Architecture and history buffs

Exposure

Some exposure during the summer months

Avoidable Season

Open through the year

Facilities

Parking

Things Not Allowed

No shoes in the temples.

Tip

For all its desolation, it still makes an interesting excursion

Type of site

Small town