Sightseeing and excursions

If you want to simply stay at Taragarh Palace and relax, you can spend the day at the swimming pool, playing tennis or badminton in floodlit courts. Short walks and day treks with a packed lunch around Taragarh Palace are very popular with our guests.

For those wanting to explore the place, there is plenty in the vicinity.

Dharamsala: This hill resort, once very popular with the British, is today the residence and headquarters of His Holiness the Dalai Lama who set up his government in exile at Mcleodgunj. The town rises in levels up the hill from 1250 m to 2000 m with the dramatic peaks of the Dhauladhar rising above. In the colourful Tibetan township are the newly-built Gelugpa monastery and a school for Tibetan culture with an excellent library. The little shops sell Tibetan crafts and there are several restaurants that serve Tibetan food. A little higher up the ridge is the pretty church of St. John with beautiful stained glass windows and the grave of a former Viceroy Lord Elgin in its churchyard.

Around Dharamsala, there are a number of lovely walks with a marvellous view of the mountains – some of these lead to picturesque picnic spots.

Tashijong monastery: With a commanding view of the Kangra valley, this monastery is one of the several built after the Dalai Lama settled here. Tashijong also promotes arts like carpet weaving, tankha painting and block printing and runs a school for young Tibetan children. The young guru of the monastery is recognised as the reincarnation of his predecessor and is very popular with visitors.

Tea gardens: For the nature lovers there are interesting walks through the tea gardens on the slopes of the surrounding hills where one can see the cheerful hill people at work.

Sobha Singh Art Gallery: Sobha Singh, a Sikh artist lived here in the 1950s and 60s and later became known for his paintings of the romantic legends of Sohni Mahiwal and Hir Ranja and other religious paintings. Most of his original work is still displayed here.

The Andretta Pottery Society nearby specialises in ethnic clay pottery and holds classes for students.

Baijnath temple: This ancient Shiva temple is one of the oldest in the country and is believed to date back to the epic Mahabharata. It has a tall shikhara, fine sculpture and carved pillars.

Jwalamukhi temple: A popular centre of pilgrimage for several centuries, this picturesquely located temple is considered among the most sacred in northern India. There is no idol in this temple, and the constantly burning flame is considered a manifestation of the goddess.

Chamunda Devi temple: Located on the banks of the Baner river, with the backdrop of the Dhauladhar mountains, is the temple dedicated to Goddess Chamunda who, it is believed, has the power to grant the wishes of those who worship here. Behind the temple is a cave where a natural stone 'lingam' is worshipped as a manifestation of Shiva.

Adventure activities:

For the more energetic and adventurous visitors various interesting activities can be arranged on request in the surrounding mountains, streams and valleys.

Trekking: Treks of varying intensities ranging from 6 to 17 days can be organised on the following known routes:

• Taragarh-Bir-Jatingri-Taragarh (6 days)

• Bir-Billing-Plachak-Thamsar Jot-Base-RajGundha-Billing-Bir (9 days)

• Kangra-Kulu (12 days)

• Kangra-Manali via Barabanghal (17 days)

Hang gliding: Billing is said to be one of the finest sites for hang gliding in the world. It is the site for the international hang gliding and para gliding competitions held every year organised by Himachal Tourism.