Pragpur

Pragpur is a quaint little heritage village located in the Kangra Valley at the very foot of the Himalayas. It has a lovely atmosphere and makes for a great place to wander around on foot and explore at a pace that suits you. There are endless little paths and alleyways to explore and the views of the northern mountains are never too far away. Overall, it’s a relaxed and peaceful place to spend a couple of nights.

Founded in the 16th century in memory of Princes Prag of the Jaswan royal family, the village became a settlement for the Kuthialia Sood community in the early 19th century. When the merchants found riches abroad, they would come back to Pragpur to extend the village by way of schools, buildings and hospitals. Visitors may notice an eclectic variation of architectural styles including British, Portuguese and Italian, depending on the country that the wealthy merchant had travelled to and had been inspired by.

The Judge’s Court is one such building that combines colonial architecture with Mughal style, colours and details. This 300-year-old building was once home to Vijai and Rani Lal and is now a luxury hotel, surrounded by fruit orchards such as mango and litchi.

To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.
Bill Bryson