Introduction

Kangra Fort or Kot Kangra as it is locally called was the largest fort in India north of Delhi. This was the arbiter of much of Kangra's history for a millennium. The earliest definitive reference of the fort is in 1009 AD in the chroniclers of the invader, Mahmud of Ghazni.

Built on a rocky hill over the confluence of the Banganga and Manjhi rivulets, its high ramparts and walls have a circumference of approximately four kilometres. It was heavily damaged in the earthquake of 4 April 1905, but several gates, the shrines of Ambika Devi, Adinath and Lakshminarayan, and the remains of its palaces are still there. Opposite the fort is a Jain temple. High on a cliff above the Manjhi rivulet, on the spot from where they laid siege to the fort, is the shrine of Jayanti Devi said to have been built by an invading force of Gurkhas under Amar Singh Thapa in the nineteenth century. The control of the fort then came into Gurkha hands; these hardy invaders were expelled when the armies of Punjab under Maharaja Ranjit Singh came to the aid of the ruler of Kangra, Raja Sansar Chand. After the Anglo-Sikh Wars of the 1840s when the Punjab came under British rule, the fort was garrisoned by troops under British command; the fort was practically abandoned by them after it was heavily damaged in the earthquake on 1905. A small cemetery outside the fort has some seventeen graves that date to the time when it was under British control.

There is a small museum near the entrance gate that has been established by the Archaeological Survey of India. This has a collection of pre-historic stone tools, sculptures, architectural pieces, coins and paintings of different historical periods. All artefacts are classified and arranged in four main sections in different galleries.

Special Attributes

Fort

Nuisance

None

Dressing restrictions

Comfortable

Connectivity

Taxis and buses

Enjoyed by

History, archaeology and general interest.

Exposure

Some exposure during the summer months

Avoidable Season

Open through the year

Facilities

Basic, plan accordingly

Things Not Allowed

None as such, except while entering the temples.

Tip

Keep at least a couple of hours with you if you want to cover the entire fort and the museum.

Type of site

Fort