Kangra Fort: A Timeless Sentinel of the Dhauladhars
When we were planning our trip to Dharamshala in May 2025, we wanted to look beyond the cafés, monasteries, and crowded viewpoints. We were searching for places that carried whispers of the past — the kind of sites that make you pause and imagine the centuries gone by. That’s when two names stood out: the Masroor Rock Cut Temple and the Kangra Fort. About 20 kilometres from Dharamshala, Kangra Fort rises proudly from the confluence of the Manjhi and Banganga rivers. Said to be one of the oldest and largest forts in the Himalayas, it stands like a timeless sentinel at the base of the Dhauladhar range. Its rugged stone walls and winding passageways carry stories that stretch from myth to history. According to legend, the name Kangra evolved from Karna Garh . It is said that the demon Jalandhar, who once ruled this land, was slain by Lord Shiva and buried beneath the earth. King Susharma Chand of the Katoch dynasty later built his fort over the area believed to cover Jalandhar’s ear...