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The entrance to the Fort is through a small courtyard enclosed
between two gates which were built during the Sikh period, as appears
from an inscription over the entrance. From here a long and narrow
passage leads up to the top of the Fort, through the Ahani and Amiri
Darwaza (gate), both attributed to Nawab Saif Ali Khan, the first Mughal
Governor of Kangra. About 500 feet from the outer gate the passage turns
round at a very sharp angle and passes through the Jehangiri Darwaza.
The Darsani Darwaza, which is now flanked by defaced statues of River
Goddesses Ganga and Yamuna gave access to a courtyard, along the south
side of which stood the shrines Lakshmi-Narayana Sitala and Ambika Devi.
In between these shrines is a passage that leads up to the palace. It is
one of the most beautiful forts in India.
Adjoining
the Fort is the Maharaja Sansar Chand Katoch Museum run by the Royal
Family of Kangra. The Museum also provides audio guides for the fort and
the museum and has a cafeteria.
Getting There
The Kangra Fort is located 20 kilometers from the town of Dharamsala on
the outskirts of the town of Kangra.
Being a city and a municipal
council in Kangra district, Kangra is well connecting by road to the rest of
the Himachal Pradesh. There is a broad gauge railhead
located in Pathankot near Kangra at a distance of around 90 km. Taxis are
available from railway station to the city.
Reaching Kangra by airways can be
through the
Gaggal Airport, which is connecting the airport to Delhi and Chandigarh
by Air India, JetSpice and Jagson Airlines. This Airport is situated at a distance of nearly
12 kilometers from Kangra. Taxi services from the
Gaggal Airport to Kangra.
For local transport, the
commuters have the options of city bus and auto-rickshaw. Auto rickshaws
are the popular mode of local commuting.
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