Jaisinghpur

Jaisinghpur has been known as the first place in Kangra or perhaps in entire Himachal for staging the Ramlila festival. Ramlila of Jaisinghpur started around 90 years ago and almost all the actors that participated were Brahmin, mainly from the Awasthi community. Pandit Balkishan Awasthi, a native of Jaisinghpur who lived in Mumbai, notable for his work and association with theatre, has brought all the Drama items required for Ramlila from Mumbai and started the Ramlila festival single-handedly at Jaisinghpur. He used to play the role of Ravana and became very popular because of his dialogue delivery and strong deep voice. The uniqueness of the Ramlila was the Sanskrit language used at that time, most Ramlilas in North India are based on the 16th century Avadhi version of Ramayana, Ramcharitmanas, written by Gosvami Tulsidas entirely in verse, thus used as dialogues in most traditional versions.

Jaisinghpur is also famous for its annual fair known as Holian which is celebrated in March during Holi, the festival of colours. The Holian of Jaisinghpur is famous for its delicious Aalu Chholey and Jalebi. Holian continues for almost a week. Holding of Kushti (wrestling) at Dargah during Holi is an annual affair spectated by multiple visitors.

There are many natural water resources in the town. Baayein near PWD Rest House and Naoun are favorite places among the youth in summer, however, it serves as the major water source for the people of Jaisinghpur. It was also famous for its vegetable production on the banks of Beas river. The spot is popularly known as Bhuare ke Bagh. Nowadays the growing of crops, including vegetables, has been stopped in Jainsinghpur and the entire adjoining area because of the increase of stray animals, monkeys, wild pigs, rabbits, deers (Kakkar, Barahsinga and Neel Gaye), which spoil the crops.

The menace of wild and stray animals has increased nowadays. A possible cause is the decrease of tigers/leopards due to local poachers as these predators were responsible for keeping such animals under control.

Jaisinghpur Chougan

View of the river Beas from Jaisinghpur

Sukad Khad bridge

Jaisinghpur Bus Stand

According to the 2001 India census,[1] the population of Jaisinghpur town is 1,273 and the overall population of Jaisinghpur tehsil is 58,623. This number represents 26,666 males and 31,957 females.

The temples of Bijapur, JanakiNath, and Baba Mani Ram temple are of similar design indicating that they were constructed in the same era (approx. 500 years old). They are religious places of Jaisinghpur to visit.

Bijapur is the adjoining village of Jaisinghpur which is famous as the birthplace of Maharaja Sansar Chand, the 18th century King of erstwhile Kangra State. There are still the remains of three-storey Mahal of Maharaj which have turned into ruins now but one can just judge how prosperous people of that time lived in this Palace. One marble stone is engraved with "Birth Place of Mahraja Sansar Chand-1765 A.D." Maharani Tara Devi the fourth wife of Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu & Kashmir and the mother of Scholar, Congress M.P. Karan Singh is also from this royal family of Bijapur. The other major attraction of Bijapur is more than 500 years Sita Ram Mandir. The statues of god Rama, Laxman and Sita and Hanuman outside the temple are worth seeing as well. The broken arm of Shri Hanuman Ji which is reported to have broken by the then Muslim invaders but who could not break the temple is still lying on the feet of Hanuman statue. There are small structures of concrete all around this village which tell how fortified the village would have been for the security of the then Kings.

One can enjoy boat riding which at Basanti which is the source of crossing river Beas. Several migratory waterbirds such Siberian Crayons (Saras) etc. can be seen near the river all around.

There is Ardaa Baba Mandir near the forests of Sandalwood in Netru village, which is very very old and people pay respect to Baba on every occasion. The other attractions are forests of sandalwood of Netru (4 km from Jaisinghpur) which are being stolen by local thieves nowadays.

Kunjeshwar Mahadev Temple which is another very old temple and Palace of King (Saradkhana) are other attractions in Lower Lambagaon.

The Ashapuri temple is a religious place of area and scenic view of whole Changer area from the heights of this temple is worth watching.

For staying in Jaisinghpur the only place is the Govt Rest House which may be booked through local Executive Engineer of PWD at very nominal rates.

• Detailed BLOG on JAISINGHPUR.
• Jaisinghpur travel guide from Wikivoyage

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jaisinghpur.