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About
Pragpur |
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Pragpur is a very popular village with very less population in
the Kangra valley. Pragpur is located at an altitude of 1800
ft. Pragpur is India’s first certified heritage village along
with the nearby village of Garli. Pragpur is referred to as
the white ranges as it lies on the foothills of the massive
Dhauladhars. Prag means pollen in Sanskrit which is India’s
ancient language.
The village of Pragpur was set up in the memory of Princess
Prag Dei belonging to the Jaswan Royal Family by the Kuthiala
Soods. At Pragpur there are a number of heritage structures
for sightseeing as Pragpur itself is the 300 years old
inherited home of the Kuthiala Soods. Pragpur is developed
into a Rural Heritage site with the help of ‘The Indian
National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage’.
The main attraction of Pragpur village is the well-preserved
and protected ancient architecture where the prominent Kangra
School of painting has originated. There are orchards which
contain very tasty sweet seasonal fruits such as King of
fruits mangoes, citrus fruits and lemons. During the spring
season, the land is decdorated with colorful flowers.
The places of interest in Pragpur are Taal or the artificial
pond which was founded as early as in 1864 AD, the Nehar
Bhawan that has got a history of 250 long years, the temple of
Radha Krishna and the village inn also known as Dhunichand
Bhardial Sarai. The judge court is a heritage resort which was
founded by Justice Jai Lal in the 20th century in a typical
Anglo-Indian style of architecture.. Many silversmiths can be
seen working in the market of pragpur who are selling showy
jewelleries. The Pragpur village is also famous for the
weaving cottage industry. Tourists purchase hand woven
blankets, shawls and hand block printed clothes.
Pragpur is a good holiday spot for those who want to spend
their time individually and in a traditional way. Our heritage
is conserved at other places in Pragpur only, Lala Rerumal
Haveli by Raos in 1931. This Haveli has a Mughal style garden,
a large water reservoir and a pleasure terrace also. Other
places of interest for seeing preserved heritage are Butail
Mandir, Courtyards of the Sood Clans, an ancient Shakti Mandir
and Atiyalas or public platforms. Tourists are always welcomed
here with a warm heart.
The Kangra Valley, where Heritage Village Pragpur is located,
is panoramic and replete with history. It is the home of the
famous Kangra school of painting and possibly the world's -
most certainly India's - oldest ruling lineage comes from
here.
The area of Pragpur was part of the Principality of Jaswan
whose chief, in the late 16th or early 17th Century accused a
band of learned men, led by a Kuthiala Sood, to find a
suitable place to honor Princess 'Prag' of his royal lineage.
The core area of Pragpur is notified as a "Heritage Village",
and, along with the nearby village of Garli, the surrounding
area is a Hertitage Zone. The Soods are a special community
laying claim to being Agnivanshis - born of a sacred fire -
with references to them in ancient Hindu texts like the Rig
Veda. At the time when Simla was the summer capital of the
British Raj the Soods from around Pragpur owned more than half
of it, and they still continue to be the leading community.
The site chosen for Pragpur lies in the shade of the
Dhauladhar mountains - the white ranges - and is said to be so
located as to receive the astral benefic influence of prayers
that have been offered for thousands of years at three nearby
ancient SHAKTI (Primordial Energy) Temples of Bajreswari
(Kangra), Jwalamukhi and Chintpurni. Founded about 3 centuries
ago Pragpur has held onto the essence of an earlier era -
unchanged shops, ornamental village tank, cobbled streets, mud
plastered and slate roofed houses. |
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Village Tourism |
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Heritage Village Pragpur is perfect for Village land nature
Tourism and is being promoted as an example of community
involvement in tourism. The Indian National Trust for Art and
Cultural Heritage jointly with the government of Himachal
Pradesh is developing and preserving Heritage Village Pragpur.
Apart from The Judge's Court , Pragpur offers a variety of
accommodation with rates to suit all pockets. Several heritage
structures are now being restored using original techniques but
with modern facilities to facilitate tourist.
The Taal: Dating before 1868, the Taal or pond forms the core of
Pragpur village and serves as a recreational space for young and
aged alike. The Taal is enclosed by heritage structures. |
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Pragpur Weather |
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Paragpur experiences a temperate climate throughout the year,
and the climate can be divided into three seasons, namely
summer, winter and monsoon. Summers in the village of Paragpur
are quite moderate as compared to the nearby regions, and
winters are also moderate. The climate of the region throughout
the year is thus amusing, and the village can be visited
anytime.
Summer Season
Summers in the village of Paragpur extends through the months of
April, May and June. These three months are the summer months,
and temperatures will hit a maximum of thirty two degrees (32°C)
and a minimum of twenty degrees (20°C) during this time. This is
a good time to visit the village, due to the pleasant climatic
conditions.
Monsoon Season
The region of Paragpur experiences heavy rainfall during the
months of July, August and September. These three months are the
monsoon months in Paragpur, and this is also a good time to
visit the place, as the general weather will be hospitable.
Winter Season
Winters in the village of Paragpur are mild and temperatures do
not drop as low as they do in other parts of the state.
Temperatures during the winter will drop to a minimum of sixteen
degrees (16°C) during the winter, and it may also hit a maximum
of twenty five degrees (25°C) during this time. Winters are from
October to February. |
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Tourist Attractions in Pragpur |
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Jai Singh Palace- Jai Singh Palace was founded in 1918 AD,
Jai Singh Palace in Pragpur is well-known for its
architectural splendour.
Maharana Pratap Sagar
Maharana Pratap Sagar, also known as Pong Dam Lake is one
of the prime attraction of Kangra. This 2 km long dam is
categorized as the highest dam in the country and is
located on the Beas river. It was founded in the year 1975
and is about 60 km from Dharamsala. The lake behind the
dam is a well known wildlife sanctuary. Recently
established water sports center offers various water
sports like sailing, canoeing, rowing, and water skiing.
Chintpurni Temple
Chintpurni temple is about 20 km from Pragpur and is
dedicated to Goddess Parvati or Durga and many legends
have been associated with this temple.
Dada Siba Temple
Pragpur Dada Siba Temple is situated about 22 km from
Pragpur. It is a very old Temple and the main highlight
here is the beautiful Kangra murals on the inner wall of
the temple.
Chamba Pattan
Chamba Pattan is situated at a distance of 6 km from
Pragpur on the bank of Beas River is Chamba Pattan, a
great picnic spot. It is also a great place for angling.
Fishing facilities are available here but one requires a
fishing license.
Garli
Garli is located about 4 kms from Pragpur, is a charming
village which falls within the heritage zone outlined by
government of HP. This small heritage village is older in
history than Pragpur. Buses from Pragpur to Garli are
available but one can have a pleasant walk passing through
the tiny Muhin village, enjoying the beautiful
surrounding. |
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How to reach Pragpur |
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By
Rail
Una is the the nearest railhead to Pragpur., which is about 67
km away. Taxi fare from Una station to Pragpur is about Rs 1200.
Una is connected to other railway stations of India by regular
train services.
By Road
Buses to the village of Paragpur will be available from
Chandigarh. Regular buses to the village of Paragpur will be
available from here in both air conditioned and non air
conditioned types. One can opt for government buses and even
private buses in order to reach Pragpur. There are regular buses
from the village of Pathankot that ply to Paragpur too. Buses to
the village of Paragpur can also be taken from the city of
Amritsar. The village of Paragpur lies at a distance of 190
kilometres from the place.
By Air
The nearest airport to Pragpur is at Shimla, which is about 203
km from Pragpur. Shimla is connected to Delhi, Mumbai and
Kolkata by air. International travelers can get connecting
flights from Delhi, which is 418 km away from Pragpur. |
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