Overview
The Kangra valley lies at the foot of the Dhauladhar range, and in six days you can see its best: rock-cut temples carved in the eighth century at Masroor, one of India's oldest forts at Kangra, the tea gardens of Palampur, the potters and painters of Andretta, the stone Shiva temple at Baijnath and the Tibetan monasteries of Bir. You stay two nights in McLeod Ganj, two in Palampur and one in Bir, and fly in and out of Kangra airport at Gaggal. It's the valley that gave its name to Kangra miniature painting, and it rewards slow travel.
Best for: Culture-minded travellers and repeat visitors who want history, crafts and tea rather than snow points
- Masroor's monolithic rock-cut temples
- Kangra fort and its museum
- Palampur's tea estates and factory
- Andretta artists' village and pottery
- Baijnath's thirteenth-century Shiva temple
- Bir's monasteries and paragliders
Day by day
- Day1
Kangra airport to McLeod Ganj
Local sightseeing, short drivesOvernight: McLeod Ganj
Pickup from Gaggal airport, a short drive up to McLeod Ganj and an afternoon around the Tsuglagkhang and the Tibet Museum. Dinner at a Tibetan restaurant near the square.
Road guide: Kangra Airport to McLeod Ganj → - Day2
Masroor temples and Kangra fort
About 110 kmOvernight: McLeod Ganj
A day for history. Masroor's temples were carved out of a single sandstone ridge, probably in the eighth century, and face a small pool that reflects them. Then Kangra fort, besieged by many armies over the centuries, with the Maharaja Sansar Chand museum at its gate.
- Day3
McLeod Ganj to Palampur via Norbulingka
About 45 kmOvernight: Palampur
Stop at the Norbulingka Institute and the Chamunda Devi temple on the way east to Palampur, a small town surrounded by tea gardens. Walk through the estates in the late afternoon light.
Road guide: Dharamshala to Palampur → - Day4
Palampur tea and Andretta
About 40 kmOvernight: Palampur
Visit a tea estate and factory to see how Kangra tea is plucked, rolled and dried, then go to Andretta, the artists' village founded by Norah Richards in the 1920s, for its pottery studio and gallery. Evening walk to the Neugal khad viewpoint.
- Day5
Baijnath and Bir
About 40 kmOvernight: Bir
Baijnath's Shiva temple, built in 1204 in the stone Nagara style, then on to Bir. Afternoon at the Chokling and Sherab Ling monasteries and the Tibetan colony, and watch the paragliders land in the fields.
- Day6
Bir to Kangra airport
About 65 km
A last morning for a paragliding flight from Billing, if the weather is good and you've booked with a licensed operator, then the drive back to Gaggal airport for your flight.
Road guide: Kangra Airport to Bir →
The valley of miniature painting
In the eighteenth century, under Raja Sansar Chand, the Kangra court became the centre of one of India's finest schools of miniature painting, known for its delicate lines and scenes of Krishna and Radha in the hills. Original works are in museums in Dharamshala, Chandigarh and Delhi; Andretta and Norbulingka keep traditional crafts alive today.
Why fly into Kangra
Kangra airport at Gaggal is about 15 km from Dharamshala and has flights from Delhi. Flying in saves two long days on the road from Delhi and leaves more time for the valley. If flights are full, Pathankot and Chandigarh are the alternatives.
Bir and Billing
Bir is a small Tibetan settlement at the western end of the Kangra valley, known worldwide for paragliding. Pilots launch from Billing, about 14 km up the hill, and land in the fields near Bir. Even if you don't fly, the monasteries, cafés and the view of gliders filling the sky make it worth a night.
Who this suits
This trip suits travellers who prefer history, art and quiet towns to snow points and crowds, and visitors who want to understand Himachal beyond its hill stations. It also works well in winter, when the valley is clear and mild and the Dhauladhar peaks are white.
Route and price at a glance
The Kangra Valley trip covers about 320 km by road over 6 days, with overnight stops in McLeod Ganj, Palampur and Bir. The car is priced on the same basis as our private car tours: 1,500 billable km (the larger of the real distance and 250 km a day) at the vehicle's per-km rate, plus 5 nights of driver allowance, with fuel, tolls and parking included.
For two travellers on standard hotels, that comes to ₹15,500 for 5 hotel nights with breakfast and dinner, ₹36,500 for the car and driver and a ₹7,800 service fee: ₹59,800 in all, or ₹30,000 each. Larger groups share the car and pay less per person.
- Day 1: Kangra airport to McLeod Ganj (short local drives, overnight McLeod Ganj)
- Day 2: Masroor temples and Kangra fort (about 110 km, overnight McLeod Ganj)
- Day 3: McLeod Ganj to Palampur via Norbulingka (about 45 km, overnight Palampur)
- Day 4: Palampur tea and Andretta (about 40 km, overnight Palampur)
- Day 5: Baijnath and Bir (about 40 km, overnight Bir)
- Day 6: Bir to Kangra airport (about 65 km)
Kangra Valley price
Per person, by hotel tier and group size. Prices last calculated 21 October 2026 from current rate cards and hotel listings.
3-star hotels, standard camps and homestays
| Travellers | Per person | Group total | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | ₹30,000 ≈ US$355 | ₹60,000 | Sedan |
| 4 | ₹23,500 ≈ US$275 | ₹94,000 | Innova |
| 6 | ₹24,000 ≈ US$280 | ₹1,44,000 | Tempo Traveller |
Per person, twin sharing, all-inclusive of the items listed below. Dollar prices are approximate (₹85 = US$1). Your exact price is confirmed in writing before you book; it depends on dates, hotel availability and group size.
Where the money goes: 2 travellers, standard hotels
- Hotels and camps (breakfast and dinner)₹15,500
- Private car and driver for the whole trip₹36,500
- Our service fee (15% on hotels and transport)₹7,800
- Total for both₹59,800
Included
- 5 nights in McLeod Ganj, Palampur and Bir, twin sharing, with breakfast and dinner
- Private car with driver for all 6 days (sedan or Innova for two, Innova for four, Tempo Traveller for six), including fuel, tolls, parking, state taxes and the driver's allowances
- Pickup from Kangra airport (Gaggal) and drop at Kangra airport (Gaggal)
Not included
- ×Train, bus or flights to Kangra airport (Gaggal)
- ×Lunches, drinks and snacks
- ×Entry fees, ropeways, activities and snow gear hire
- ×GST on the package, travel insurance and tips
Good to know: roads, permits and safety
- No permits are needed. Masroor and Kangra fort are protected monuments with small entry fees, not included.
- Paragliding at Bir is weather-dependent and seasonal; book only with registered operators.
- Kangra airport has limited flights, which sell out quickly in season.
When to go
The whole year at a glance
- Best time
- Snow likely, roads can close
- Monsoon, landslide risk
- Fine, check weather
Kangra valley
- Dharamshala1,457 mDharamshala: Best: Mar–Jun, Sep–Dec; Monsoon: Jul–Aug
- Palampur1,256 mPalampur: Best: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov; Monsoon: Jul–Aug
- Bir1,525 mBir: Best: Mar–May, Oct–Nov; Monsoon: Jul–Aug
- • March to June and October to December are the best months, with clear views of the Dhauladhar.
- • Tea plucking is busiest from April to October.
- • July and August are very wet; flights to Gaggal are sometimes cancelled in bad weather.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Kangra Valley package cost?+
About ₹24,000 per person for six travellers on standard hotels, or ₹30,000 per person for a couple, for all 6 days. Comfort hotels cost more; the price table shows every option.
What is Masroor famous for?+
A group of rock-cut temples carved from a single ridge of sandstone, often compared with the temples of Ellora.
Can we start from Chandigarh or Delhi instead?+
Yes. Chandigarh adds about 250 km each way; Delhi about 480 km.
Is paragliding included?+
No. Tandem flights are paid directly to the operator; we can recommend registered ones.
Can we buy tea at Palampur?+
Yes, from the factories and the co-operative shop in town.
Which car do we get on the Kangra Valley trip?+
A sedan for two travellers, an Innova for up to four and a Tempo Traveller for six, with the same driver for the whole trip.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Kangra airport arrival guide
- Dharamshala to Palampur taxi
- Bir Billing paragliding guide
- Taxi service in Palampur
Price and route sources: Wikipedia: Masroor Temples · Wikipedia: Kangra Fort · Wikipedia: Baijnath Temple · Wikipedia: Andretta
