Kangra district is an administrative district in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. It lies in the western part of the state, in the foothills and lower ranges of the Dhauladhar in the western Himalayas. Dharamshala serves as the administrative headquarters of the district. Kangra is the most populous district of Himachal Pradesh and is known for its temples, tea gardens, the Kangra Valley, and its strong cultural and historical heritage.
| State | Himachal Pradesh |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Dharamshala |
| Region | Kangra Valley, western Himalayas |
| Mountain range | Dhauladhar |
| Major rivers | Beas and its tributaries |
| Major language | Kangri, Hindi |
| Country | India |
Kangra district is bounded by the Dhauladhar range to the north and east, with valleys and lower hills opening out towards the south and west. The district includes the Kangra Valley, a fertile tract drained largely by the Beas river and its tributaries. Elevations vary widely, from low foothill plains to high alpine ridges along the Dhauladhar. The hill town of Dharamshala, along with the upper settlement of McLeod Ganj, lies on the southern face of the Dhauladhar at the northern edge of the valley.
The Kangra region has a long recorded history associated with the ancient kingdom of Trigarta and the Katoch dynasty, one of the oldest ruling lines mentioned in Indian tradition. The Kangra Fort, located near the confluence of the Banganga and Patal Ganga rivers, was historically the seat of the Katoch rulers and was repeatedly contested by external powers, including invasions by Mahmud of Ghazni and later campaigns under the Mughal emperors.
During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, parts of Kangra were dominated by Sikh power under Maharaja Ranjit Singh. After the First Anglo-Sikh War, Kangra came under British control in 1846 and was administered as a district of Punjab Province. A devastating earthquake on 4 April 1905 caused widespread destruction in the district, particularly in and around Kangra town and Dharamshala, with very heavy loss of life.
After Indian independence in 1947, Kangra continued as a district of Punjab. With the reorganisation of Himachal Pradesh in 1966, Kangra was transferred from Punjab to Himachal Pradesh. The district was later subdivided, with portions becoming the separate districts of Una and Hamirpur.
Kangra district is divided into several sub-divisions, tehsils, and development blocks for revenue and administrative purposes. The district headquarters is at Dharamshala, which has also served as a secondary capital and winter session venue of the Himachal Pradesh state government. Major towns in the district include Dharamshala, Kangra, Palampur, Nurpur, Dehra, Jawalamukhi, and Baijnath.
The economy of the district is based on agriculture, horticulture, tea cultivation, tourism, and remittances from defence services. The Kangra Valley is well known for Kangra tea, grown chiefly around Palampur and Baijnath, which has received Geographical Indication recognition. Maize, wheat, paddy, and pulses are common field crops, while orchards produce apples, pears, plums, and citrus fruits in different elevation zones. Tourism centred on Dharamshala, McLeod Ganj, and the temple towns is an important source of employment and revenue.
Kangra is celebrated for the Kangra school of painting, a style of Pahari miniature painting that flourished in the 18th and early 19th centuries under the patronage of local rulers, especially Raja Sansar Chand. The district is also a centre of Shakta worship, with several Shakti Peethas and prominent temples such as Jwalamukhi, Brajeshwari Devi at Kangra, Chamunda Devi, and Baijnath Shiva temple. The presence of the 14th Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration at McLeod Ganj since 1960 has made the district a major centre of Tibetan Buddhist culture and exile community life.
The district is served by the narrow-gauge Kangra Valley Railway, which runs from Pathankot to Joginder Nagar, passing through scenic stretches of the valley. Gaggal Airport (Kangra Airport),