Historically known as Kiraj and Trigarta,[4][5] the town of Kangra was founded by Katoch Kshatriya Rajputs of Chandervanshi Lineage.

Another ancient name of the city is Bhimagar[6] and it was supposedly founded by Raja Bhim, younger brother of Kuru Emperor Yudhishthira of Indraprastha (now Delhi).

It was destroyed, together with the fort and the town, by 1905 Kangra earthquake on 4 April 1905, when 1339 people died in this place alone, and about 20,000 elsewhere.

Also, this claim is negated by historians who have cited various sources to say that the fort was impregnable and remained unconquered until the conquest by Emperor Jehangir in 1622.

But, while the war between the Sikhs and Katochs was taking place, the gates of Kangra Fort were left open.

Kangra stayed with the Katoch Kings until 1828 when Maharaja Ranjit Singh annexed it after Sansar Chand's death.

The district of Kangra extends from the Jalandhar Doab far into the southern ranges of the Himalaya.

The Palampur fair, established by the government with a view to fostering commerce with central Asia, attracts a small concourse of Yarkandi merchants.

The Lahulis carry on an enterprising trade with Ladakh and countries beyond the frontier, by means of the pack sheep and goats.