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Rural Monkey, Kangra (2024)

10/03/2023

Welcoming the King to our Jungle.
First record of at and first camera trap image of tiger recorded in .

Courtesy regular monitoring by our staff led by Range Officer Sh Surender Singh.

28/02/2023

और अंत में हम सब कहानियां बन जाएंगे,
पर तुम अलग हो प्रकृति, तुम कविता बनोगी,
क्यूंकि कभी अंत नहीं होता कविताओं का और प्रकृति का।

25/02/2023

मैं तुम्हे सिर्फ़ ताजमहल में नही देखता,
मैं इन पहाड़ों में भी तलाशता हूं तुम्हे

कुछ लोग दुनिया बदलना चाहते थे
कुछ तख्त पलटना चाहते थे

हमें इश्क़ था
हम बस उसकी गली से
चुपचाप उसे देख निकलना चाहते थे।

16/02/2023

The Taste of Himachal Pradesh 😍
Himachal’s Winter Snack : Galgal/Dudunj ka Khatta

himachalpradesh

16/02/2023

उसके घर का पता
अभी भी
एक पहाड़ है।।

16/02/2023

कितना उम्मीद भरा होता है,
किसी भी शहर में
पहाड़ को बर्फ़ से ढका देखना।।

16/02/2023

नदी ही हर बार
समुन्दर क्यों हो?

समुन्दर भी तो कोशिश करे-
नदी के लिए-
एक बार ही सही
पर पहाड़ चढ़े।।

01/02/2023

🅱🅰🅸🅹🅽🅰🆃🅷 🆃🅴🅼🅿🅻🅴 🅾🆅🅴🆁🆅🅸🅴🆆:ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् । उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ॥

★Baijnath Temple is one of the most popular temples in Himachal Pradesh, and here, Lord Shiva is worshipped as the 'God of Healing'. Baijnath or Vaidyanath is an avatar of the great Lord Shiva, and in this avatar, the great lord rids his devotees of all miseries and pain. As a result, this temple holds ultimate significance to all Lord Shiva devotees and is considered to be extremely sacred. In fact, the water of this temple is believed to be of medicinal value and has the potential to cure several illnesses and diseases. This draws thousands of devotees from all around the world every year.

★Baijnath temple was built in 1204 A.D by two native merchants, Ahuka and Manyuka, who were devotees of Lord Shiva. Situated at a distance of only 16 kms from Palampur, this time-honoured temple is a place where one can attain sterling peace and untainted tranquillity in the gentle caress of god. It is one of the very few temples in India where both, Lord Shiva and Demon King Ravan are worshipped.

★According to the ancient scriptures of Hindu tradition, Lord Shiva established 12 jyotirlingas, which were pillars that emanated pure light and unencumbered power, across the country as a challenge to Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma; and one of these 12 jyotirlingas rests inside the famous Baijnath Temple.

★The ancient but magnificent temple is set in the backdrop of the Dhauladhar Himalayan Range. Imagine, an ancient rustic temple standing gloriously in front of white mountains! The view of the peaks in the Himalayan Range covered in ghost grey mist as they pierce the sky is a feeling of both, marvel and satisfaction.

18/01/2023

Chamunda Devi Temple in Himachal Pradesh
(ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे)

★Chamunda Devi Temple, or the ‘Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham,’ is one of the most prestigious and renowned holy shrines in Himachal Pradesh. It was built during the reign of Maharaja Umed Singh and presents the impressive architecture of the old era and is dedicated to Goddess Kali. Chamunda Devi Temple also known as Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham is also known as the abode of Lord Shiva and Mata Shakti.

★The temple is ancient and came into existence in the 16th century. There is a legend associated with the story of shifting this temple. It was around 400 years ago that a king and a priest prayed to Shri Chamunda Devi asking her consent to shift the image to an accessible location (earlier the temple is at aadi Himani chamunda). The goddess appeared in the priest’s dream and suggested to him the exact location of where the idol would be found.

★This 16th-century temple is the unique masterpiece of ancient times and is full of floral and animal carvings on silver sheets. It was built using only wood and gabled roofs. It has a cave-like scoop with structures (Lingam) representing Nandikeshwar (Shiva) and a running water pool with the statues of Lord Shiva and Saraswati at the backside of the temple.

★ The legend it that Chamunda emerged from an eyebrow of Goddess Durga with an aim to kill demons Chanda and Munda. After a fierce battle, Devi killed both these generals of demon kings Shumbha and Nishumbha.

18/01/2023

Nestled amidst the aesthetic natural boundaries of Dhauladhar Range, Bir in Himachal Pradesh, is an adventure seekers' paradise.
Surrounded by the serene landscape and snow-clad peaks, it is a must visit to recharge yourself!

18/01/2023

Badolia Mandir and Waterfalls 😍

Sirmaur District, Himachal Pradesh♥️

18/01/2023

Hikkim in Himachal Pradesh, India, at an altitude of 4724 meters above sea level, houses the highest post office in the world.

18/01/2023

Komic, the world’s highest village in Himachal Pradesh, has been connected to Kaza by a metalled road. Now, tourists visiting Komic village in the Spiti valley will enjoy a comfortable ride from Kaza. The village is situated at a height of 15,027 feet.

18/01/2023

Chamba Rumal derives its origin from Himachal Pradesh. Birds, animals, trees, and everyday life activities and motifs are used as themes to make these. Further, geometrical & floral patterns, scriptures, mythological scenes, and folklores are part of this embroidery.

18/01/2023

in 1890s & in 2022 ! The pictures tell a story of continuity & change 🌲

18/01/2023

Himachal Pradesh is among ’s most-visited north Indian states by domestic and international tourists.

18/01/2023

Kangri Dham: The Food Festival of Kangra
Each district has its own culture and food. And the same is with Kangra. It is famous for its tourist destinations, world-famous temples, valleys and “Kangri Dham”

Kangri Dham History
It is believed that Dham was initially served as ‘Prasad’ in temples but now it is served as an entire meal during festivals, marriages, etc. It is said that King Jaisthamba, one of the Kings of Chamba, was so fascinated by the Kashmiri food(WAZWAN)that he decided to recreate those dishes among Chamba locals and to offer it to their local Goddess. During that period, Chamba was famous for its spices, Rajma and milk. Hence, the cooks came out with a new dish called “Dham”.

Kangri Dham Menu:
Dhaam is only cooked by “Botis”, which is a particular caste in Brahmins, who have been following this practice for years. During the feast, around 7-9 dishes are served which includes Rajma Madrah, Kadi, Khatta, Sepu Badi, Rice, Dal etc. are cooked for the meal. What makes this feast different from others is that the whole meal is cooked without using onion, ginger and garlic. In addition to this, no vegetables are used. Only lentils and dairy products are used. The utensils used for cooking are made of brass.

The mid-day meal is finally served in leaf plates (Sal or Banyan tree leaves) called “Pattlals”. Sweets like Halwa, Fereni and sweet rice are also served at the end of the meal.

The menu starts with-
Rice, Moong dal, Rajma (Red Kidney Beans), Chole (Chickpea) is cooked in Desi Ghee which is known as ‘Madrah’.
It is then followed by preparing ‘Maash dal’ which is mixed with three types of dals- Moong dal, Urad dal, Masoor dal.
It is then topped with Khatta, which is prepared by Jaggery and Tamarind in an iron vessel.
Finally, ‘Mitha Bhaat’ is served which is a sweet made of either sweet rice or bread crumbs in yoghurt.

18/01/2023

Pragpur Heritage Village
Pragpur is a village situated in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. Lying in the shadows of Dhauladhar range, and developed about 3 centuries ago, the village of Pragpur along with the nearby village of Garli, is notified as a “Heritage Village” by a State Government notification dated 9 December 1997. As per the constitution of India and Panchyati Raaj Act, Pragpur village is administrated by the sarpanch, who is the elected representative of the village.

Pragpur was founded in the late 16th century by the Patials in memory of Princess Prag Dei of the Jaswan Royal family. The area of Pragpur was part of the principality of Jaswan whose chief, in the late 16th or early 17th century, charged a band of learned men, led by a Kuthiala Sood, to find a suitable place to commemorate Princess ‘Prag’ of his royal lineage.

Along with Pragpur, the nearby village of Garli is a part of the Heritage Zone. The Judges Court is a resort built in a typical Anglo-Indian style of architecture. It stands in 12 acres of greens, and is just a short walk from the village core and the Taal.

The places of interest within the Heritage Village Pragpur are the Lala Rerumal Haveli built in 1931 by a Rais of Pragpur, which has a Mughal style garden, pleasure terrace and a large water reservoir. Butail Mandir, Chaujjar Mansion, courtyards of the Sood Clans, an ancient Shakti Mandir and atiyalas or public platforms are the pride of this heritage village.

18/01/2023

Shangarh is a beautiful hamlet in the Kullu district that leaves tourists in awe of its spellbinding natural beauty and amazing scenery.

18/01/2023

Lake situated at the foot of the peak in the Budhil valley of the district, one of the main pilgrimage spots in , offers mesmerising vistas.

According to one popular legend, it is believed that Lord Shiva created Manimahesh after he married Goddess Parvati, who is worshipped as Mata Girija. There are many legends narrated linking Lord Shiva and his show of displeasure through acts of avalanches and blizzards that occur in the region.

Legend also mentions that Shiva performed penance on the banks of Manimahesh Lake. In the same vein, it is mentioned that Gaddis (Shepherd), the tribes of this region, adopted Lord Shiva as their deity.

Gaddis are the people who reside in the Gaddi Valley which is the name of the upper regions of Ravi River where the Mount Chamba Kailash lies.

Further, according to the legend, the Shiva, who lived in Mount Kailash, the highest mountain of the state, gifted the Gaddis with a Chuhali topi (pointed cap), which they wear traditionally along with their other dress of chola (coat) and dora (a long black cord about 10–15 m long). The Gaddis started calling the land of this mountainous region as 'Shiv Bhumi' ("Land of Shiva") and themselves as devotees of Shiva.

18/01/2023

Kotgarh valley is famous for its world class quality apples. The apple cultivation of the place was initiated by Satyanand Stokes who was an American missionary.

Apples make up over 80 per cent of Himachal Pradesh’s Rs 3,500 crore fruit economy, with the fruit primarily grown in Shimla, Kullu, Kinnaur and Mandi districts. With 39,460 hectares, Shimla accounts for the highest area of the crop under cultivation.

Like with most other things in the state, the apple too comes with a colonial legacy. Captain A A Lee, a British Army soldier, is said to have planted the first apple tree in Kullu Valley in 1870. The apples, however, turned out sour and not many took to them.

It was Samuel Evan Stokes, an American missionary, who unwittingly introduced commercial apple cultivation in the state. Stokes brought a few grafts of the Red Delicious — then the most popular variety of apple in the US — to Kotgarh village, about 70 km from Shimla, in the early 1920s. Stokes married a Himachali woman, had children, converted to Hinduism and became Satyanand Stokes.

“When he brought the Red Delicious to Kotgarh, it was still patented in the US. No one knew it was being grown in a small village in Himachal Pradesh. In the 1940s and ’50s, the fruit gained acceptance. And after 1958, when the import of apples was regulated by then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, there was a boom in apple cultivation.

18/01/2023

ᕼIᗰᗩᑕᕼᗩᒪI ᑕᗩᑭ- KᑎOᗯ ᗩᒪᒪ ᗩᗷOᑌT ᑭᗩᕼᗩᖇI TOᑭI:

This cap is not merely a headgear for Pahari people rather it’s a symbol of pride. It holds a very special place in the heart of people. The Himachali cap is admired for its craftsmanship, stitching & blend of colors on its exteriors.

TᕼE OᖇIGIᑎ Oᖴ ᕼIᗰᗩᑕᕼᗩᒪI ᑕᗩᑭ ( ᑭᗩᕼᗩᗪI TOᑭI):

The Himachali cap has its roots in the hills of Himachal and Uttrakhand. Its believed that the people in Kinnaur region used to wear this cap, known as Kinnauri Topi. Slowly, it reached different parts of himachal, but with variation in design patterns and the color.

TYᑭE Oᖴ ᕼIᗰᗩᑕᕼᗩᒪI ᑕᗩᑭ ( ᑭᗩᕼᗩᗪI TOᑭI)

Broadly speaking, there are 3 types of Himachali topi. These are basically round woolen caps, with a colorful flap on the front side. Hence, the color of the flap of these caps lands them into the following three categories.
– Bushehri ( from Bushehr, Rampur region of Himachal). In case of Bushehri cap the flap color is maroon
– Kinnauri (from Kinnaur district of Himachal). The flap color of this type of cap is green
– kulluvi (from Kullu & Manali region of Himachal). The flap of kulluvi topi is multi colored

18/01/2023

This beautiful work of art is one of the finest and most famous paintings ever created by Sobha Singh that captures the classic tale of Sohni Mahiwal, one of the four popular love stories & folktales of Punjab. This tale is of two soulmates who feel deeply in love with each other.

18/01/2023

KᗩᒪKᗩ SᕼIᗰᒪᗩ ᖇᗩIᒪᗯᗩY TᖇᗩᑕK
ᗩ ᑌᑎESᑕO ᗯOᖇᒪᗪ ᕼEᖇITᗩGE SITE

HISTORY & OTHER FACTS
The Kalka Shimla Railway was built during the British rule in India with an aim to connect by Shimla the summer capital of British Indian rail network. The rail network holds the Guinness Book of World Records for its 96 kilometers steepest rise in the altitude with crossover of 800 bridges and viaducts, it is one of the most beautiful hill railways in India. It was considered the “crown jewel” of the Indian National Railways during British times.

Kalka Shimla Railway (KSR), a 96.6 kilometer long a single track working rail link was built in the mid-19th century to provide a service to the highland town of Shimla, it is emblematic of the technical and material efforts to disincline mountain populations through the railway. The world's highest multi-arch gallery bridge at Kanoh and the world's longest tunnel at Barog(at the time of construction) of the KSR were the testimony of the brilliant engineering skills applied to make this a dream a reality. Then the Shimla region took on considerable political importance as the Indian Colonial government decided to take up summer residence there, because of the healthier climate linked to the altitude. The question of transport to the Himalayan foothills, the Delhi region and the Ganges plain then became crucial. The possibility of rail link was mentioned as early as 1847.

18/01/2023

The 4.25 Km long tunnel is being built beneath the 16580 Ft Shinku-La Pass and will connect Zanskar Valley in to in Himachal Pradesh.

18/01/2023

TᕼE ᕼISTOᖇY ᗩᑎᗪ ᑕᑌᒪTᑌᖇE Oᖴ ᗰᗩᑎᗩᒪI

According to Hindu mythology, the valley is regarded as the cradle of all humankind. After the great deluge, Manu, the progenitor of humanity, is said to have rested his ark on a hill side and established his abode at the present Manali, which is regarded as the changed name of 'Manu-alaya' (i.e. the home of Manu).

Manali is a town in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is situated in the northern end of the Kullu Valley, formed by the Beas River. The town is located in the Kullu district, approximately 270 kilometres (170 mi) north of the state capital of Shimla and 544 kilometres (338 mi) northeast of the national capital of Delhi. With a population of 8,096 people recorded in the 2011 Indian census Manali is the beginning of an ancient trade route through Lahaul and Ladakh, over the Karakoram Pass and onto Yarkand and Hotan in the Tarim Basin of China. Manali is a popular tourist destination in India and serves as the gateway to the Lahaul and Spiti district as well as the city of Leh in Ladakh