A small village in Himachal Pradesh is home to lovely tea gardens and is also known as the tea capital of North-west India. As we enter the town, the tea plantation grounds are visible everywhere. Be it a small area on the hill outside a hotel or spread across a massive piece of land, the tea leaves are all over in Palampur. Yet, there are numerous places to visit in Palampur despite the highlight of the Palampur tea gardens.
The tea gardens are the headline, but they’re only the start. Within an hour’s drive you can visit a Tibetan monastery, a 13th-century Shiva temple, an artists’ village and one of the world’s best paragliding sites. This guide covers the best places to visit in Palampur, how to reach it, when to go, a 2-day itinerary, and where to stay.
Planning a trip to nearby Dharamshala so don’t miss my Mcleodganj itinerary
Palampur at a glance
- Best for: slow travel, tea walks, mountain views, short getaways
- Ideal stay: 2 days (3-4 if you add Bir Billing and Dharamshala/Mcleodganj)
- Best time: March to June and September to November
- Nearest airport: Kangra (Gaggal), about [40] km away
- Nearest broad-gauge railhead: Pathankot, about [115] km away
How to reach Palampur
- By air: Fly into Kangra Airport (Gaggal), then take a taxi, about [1.5 hours].
- By train: Take a train to Pathankot, then a taxi or bus. The scenic Kangra Valley narrow-gauge line also stops near Palampur.
- By road: It’s about 480 km from Delhi (an overnight Volvo bus is the budget option), about 250 km from Chandigarh and about 35 km from Dharamshala.
- Getting around: Hire a taxi or auto for the day. Local sights are spread out, and a driver saves you a lot of waiting.
Best time to visit Palampur
- March to June: Pleasant weather, clear mountain views and the best paragliding conditions.
- July to August: Monsoon. Lush and green, but heavy rain brings landslide risk and cancelled flights. I found out the hard way that rain also makes the non-AC rooms smell (see where to stay).
- September to November: Clear skies and snow on the Dhauladhar peaks. This is my pick.
- December to February: Cold, with occasional snow on the peaks and quiet streets.
Palampur Tea Gardens
The tea gardens of Palampur are the major attraction of the town with the crown of tea capital of North India. Where ever you walk or drive by, you will encounter Palampur tea gardens. Some of the gardens are owned by locals and some by government organizations. The mild weather conditions of the town help in the tea plantations at least 3-4 times per year. The numerous water streams in and around Palampur also help the plantations.
Take a walk in the tea gardens, and capture the greenery with a backdrop of Dhauladhar in a perfect postcard. Don’t forget to bring back home some of the many varieties of tea leaves available for purchase in the town.
How to enjoy Palampur Tea Gardens:
- Walk through the gardens in the early morning or late afternoon for the best light, with the Dhauladhar range as the backdrop.
- Visit a tea factory or estate if one is open. Ask in town/hotel reception before you go, because opening times and access change. When I visited it was mostly just walking around
- Buy tea locally. Look for green and black Kangra varieties at shops in town. The local shops sell tea at decent rates and you might not find them easily near your home.
Places to visit in Palampur
1. Saurabh Van Vihar
Saurabh Van Vihar is one of the iconic places to visit in Palampur. The nature park got its name for dedicating the honour to the martyr Saurabh Kalia who lost his life in the Kargil war. Overlooking the dhauladhar mountain range, the park is located slightly out of the town. Apart from the Palampur tea gardens, the Saurabh Van Vihar is an absolute must-do.
There are numerous things to do in the park, from heart-pumping adventure activities to enjoying the calm river stream. The river stream is a hit with families where the kids can savour the cool water of the stream or zip-lining. Ziplining is also available for adults.
The majority of the park was destroyed in the floods in the rains of 2018, but now it has been fully resotred.
2. Tashi Jong Monastery
Located 15 kilometres east of Palampur, the Tashi Jong Monastery was established around the 1960s. The monastery was set up in the Tashi Jong by the 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche for the preservation of the Tibetian community in exile. Tashi Jong is literally translated as ‘auspicious valley’.
The monastery is a fine blend of woodwork, colourful paintings, and gilding. Located on a hilltop, the monastery offers astonishing views of the valley and the Tibetan village. Cars can go up to the monastery but the drive is delicate with steep roads. The monastery is never too crowded so you can offer your prayers in silence here.
What I loved most about the village is that it is smoke-free, when literally very few villages in Himachal Pradesh are smoke-free.
3. Baijnath Temple
One of the most prominent places to visit in Palampur is the momentous Baijnath Temple. Located in the Baijnath district of Kangra, the temple is devoted to Lord Shiva. Built during the early 13th century, Baijnath Temple has Nagara architecture constructed with light brown stone.
4. Paragliding in Bir Billing
Thinking of paragliding for your next vacation? You can combine adventure sports on your trip to Palampur. The team here organizes paragliding of the utmost standards & even held the world cup of Paragliding in 2015.
- Book ahead: I’d recommend booking your session in advance as they are usually completely booked in the peak seasons. I tried to book when I reached there, but there were no spots available.
- Check the weather: Keep in mind the weather, in the rains and extreme cloud cover, the session will be cancelled.
- Best months: roughly March to June and October to November.
5. Andretta Pottery Village
Palampur seems to have something for everyone, even art lovers are intrigued by this town. Andretta is home to the oldest pottery studio in India. Despite pottery, the village attracts theatre artists and painters as well. You may even buy paintings from the village.
6. Other stops worth adding
- Chamunda Devi Temple: a popular hilltop temple near Palampur.
- Neugal Khad: a scenic stream and picnic spot close to town.
- Norbulingka Institute, Sidhpur: a Tibetan arts centre, easy to pair with a Dharamshala trip.
A 2-day Palampur itinerary
Day 1: tea and nature
- Morning: walk the tea gardens, then visit a tea estate or shop.
- Afternoon: Saurabh Van Vihar.
- Evening: sunset views from your hotel terrace.
Day 2: temples, art and adventure
- Morning: Baijnath Temple.
- Afternoon: Tashi Jong Monastery.
- Optional: swap Day 2 afternoon for a paragliding session at Bir Billing, but book in advance.
Where to stay in Palampur
Palampur is a small town and yet there are various options to stay here. The tea gardens entice various travellers and so you may find some amazing places to stay in Palampur. We chose Oyo Hotels, slightly outside on the east side of the town. Considering our budget trip, we chose Hotel Ambika from booking.com. The room size was a decent, nice location with a CCD next door and delicious food. The only downside was the non-AC rooms, they didn’t have a view and caused awful smell during rainfall. If you’re on a super tight budget and would like to pick Hotel Ambika, I highly recommend booking an AC room. Click here if you’d like to book the hotel.
My recommendations on where to stay in Palampur –
Sarover Portico – Located right in the heart of Palampur, the 4-star Sarover Portico will pamper you with its services, amazing staff, and a 360° bar and restaurant. Rated 8.4 on Booking.com, Sarover Portico won’t disappoint you if you want a serene & luxury vacation. Click here to book the hotel.
The Bliss Palampur – Situated slightly away from the centre of the town, the 3-star hotel offers a terrace restaurant with sumptuous views of the Dhauladhar range. The hotel has a buffet breakfast, karaoke, and lounge facilities. They have various room types and also have a family room if you’re travelling with your close-knit family. For those visiting for business, The Bliss also has a business centre and a seamless WiFi connection. The plus point is if you choose a room with a balcony you will have a memorable stay at The Bliss Palampur. Click here if you would like to book the hotel.
Seclude Palampur – If your idea of a vacation is to stay in a place with a lush and open valley, then I’d recommend Seclude Palampur. It is located with surrounding wheat fields and offers a private terrace for lofty views of the mountain range. Book nerds will love the hotel as they have an in-house mini library. If you’re a responsible tourist, you should choose the hotel, as they’ve constructed it using local materials. Click here to book the hotel.
Frequently asked questions
How many days are enough for Palampur?
Two days covers the main sights. Add 2 more if you want to include Bir Billing or Mcleodganj.
What is Palampur famous for?
Tea gardens, views of the Dhauladhar range, and its closeness to Bir Billing’s paragliding.
What is the best time to visit Palampur?
March to June and September to November.
Is Palampur worth visiting?
Yes, if you want a quiet, scenic stop rather than a busy hill station. It works well on its own or as part of a Himachal trip with Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj.
Can I visit tea gardens in Palampur?
Yes, you can walk through many of them. Access to factories and private estates varies, so check locally.
So, this is my Palampur Travel Guide with all the must-see places to visit in Palampur. Tell me what all the things you’d like to do on your Palampur trip.
Plan the rest of your Himachal trip
- McLeodganj itinerary: a first-timer’s guide
- Responsible tourism: how to be a responsible tourist
- Visit gorgeous Sangla Valley
- Places to visit in Kasauli
- Manali trip guide
- Offbeat Narkanda
HAVE YOU TRAVELED TO PALAMPUR? HOW MANY DAYS DID YOU SPEND AND WHAT PLACES YOU VISITED? IF YOU PLAN TO TAKE A PALAMPUR TRIP, WHAT ARE THE PLACES YOU’D LIKE TO SEE? TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!
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I am planning a post-monsoon Himachal trip. Saved your blog for future reference. Thanks for sharing
Glad you’ve liked it. Thanks for stopping by.