Kangra:
- This town is at a distance of about 18 kms. from Dharmsala and serves as the headquarters of the sub-division, sub-district and panchayat samiti.
- It is an ancient town and was once the capital of an ancient Trigartha Kingdom.
- The place is famous for its fort, which was ruined in the earthquake of 1905.
- There is also a temple of Brejeshwari Devi.
- The vast wealth of the temple and the one time impregnable Kangra fort witnessed invasions of Mahmud Ghazni, Feroz ShahTughlak, Jahangir and Gurkhas.
- Navratra fairs during March-April and September-October attract a large number of visitors.
Baijnath:
- It is situated at a distance of about 18 kms. from Palampur on Dharmsala – Mandi road.
- This place is quite an old one and is regarded the ancient Keer Gram.
- The place is famous for its two Hindu temples bearing inscriptions of the 8th century A.D.
- The temple is said to be associated with Ravana the demon chief of Ramayana era who is said to have worshiped Lord Shiva at the place.
- It is said that after a long penance lord Shiva did not give him ‘darshna’ whereupon Ravana started giving a sacrifice of his own heads.
- Thus pleased lord Shiva gave him ‘darshna’ and blessed him with the boon of immortality.
- According to another legend, the temple is said to have been built by the Pandavas which was later on renovated and built into the present monument by Abhikh and Manu, the Banias of Kangra.
- During the Shivratri fair people from far and wide throng to this place to pay homage to Lord Shiva.
Jawalamukhi:
- This place is at a distance of about 54 kms. from Dharmsala and is famous for the temple dedicated to goddess Durga who manifests in the form of eternal flame from the rocks.
- The temple is built over natural jets of combustible gas.
- It is a renowned place of pilgrimage for the Hindus.
- There is no idol in the temple and the flaming fissures are the objects of worship.
- Fairs are held here during the Navratra days which attract a big crowd from all over the country.
Dadh:
- This place is at a distance of 15 kms. from Dharmsala and 5 kms. from Malan on the Pathankot – Baijnath road.
- The place is famous for the temple of Chamunda Devi, which is situated on the bank of Baner stream.
- As per legend Chamunda Devi is said to have killed two demons Chand and Mund.
- The place draws big crowds during the Navratra days in March – April and September – October.
Palampur:
- Beautiful town of Palampur is at a distance of 50 kms. from Dharmsala.
- The town derives its name from local word pulum means ‘lots of water’.
- Countless streams and brooks criss-cross the landscape and in their intricate mesh hold tea gardens and paddy fields.
- The town came into being when the tea bush was introduced in the 19th century and Palampur became a focus for the planters.
- Kangra tea, with its center at Palampur, has been internationally acclaimed since then.
- The Dhauladhar ranges rise dramatically from the earth, just beyond Palampur.
- The town itself has some interesting colonial architecture and the area around is richly garnished with historical temples, forts, and scores of picturesque hamlets.
- Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University has also its headquarters at this place.
Masrur:
- This place is at a distance of 35 kms. from Dharmsala.
- The place is famous for a group of well-known Shikara type monolithic rock-cut temples of Indo-Aryan architecture and are quite ancient.
- The place offers potentialities for the lovers of an ancient architect.
- Whoever visits Dharmsala invariably goes to see these rock-cut temples.
Nurpur:
- It is situated on the Kangra valley road and is about 66 kms. from Dharmsala. Its ancient name was Dhameri.
- Nurjahan, the famous queen of the Mughal emperor Jahangir liked the place very much and renamed it as Nurpur.
- The remains of old fort built by Raja Basu about 1,000 years ago can be seen from the road.
- The town is famous for its wool spinning industry and the shawls made here are highly prized.
Besides the places of religious importance and tourist interest, Kangra district is rich in antiquarian remains belonging to different religions. Most of the ancient temples in the hinterland escaped destruction at the hands of the foreign invaders because of the inaccessibility of the area from the plains.
Although the original temple of Brejeshwari Devi in Kangra town, then known as Nagarkot, was looted and razed to the ground by the invading forces of Mahmud Ghaznvi and the later new construction fell prey to the disastrous earthquake of the 4th April,1905, yet the other ancient temples are still better preserved.
These are the rock-cut temples of Masrur, Shiva temple of Baijnath. Indreshvara temple of Kangra. Brejeshwari temple of Bhawarna, a suburb of Kangra town, Bhimtila near Chetru, a temple of Basheshar Mahadev in Upper Dharmsala, Thakurdwara at Fatehpur and the tomb of Lord Elgin in Upper Dharmsala.
Apart from these antiquarian remains, earliest rock inscriptions of Pathiar and Kaniara in Brahmi script and belonging to the third/second century B.C and A.D. respectively, Buddhist remains at Chari and Chetru consisting of the ruins of a ‘Stupa” about 270 metres in circumference.
Kangra fort which was once considered impregnable and which was later damaged and ruined by the earthquake of 1905, ruined forts of Nurpur, and Kotla remained the glory of the past. Most of these antiquarian remains are now protected monuments.