Nurpur Fort and Brij Raj Swami Temple

Nurpur Fort stands in the small town of Nurpur about 24 kilometres east of Pathankot on the road to Dharamsala, and it is one of the most rewarding stops on this stretch of road. The fort was the seat of the Pathania Rajput dynasty that once controlled this corner of the hills, and its ruins — crumbling walls, a remarkable temple, and carved stone work — are far more impressive than the town's modest appearance suggests.

The Brij Raj Swami Temple within the fort is still an active place of worship and houses an exceptional marble image of Krishna and Radha that has been venerated here for centuries. The stonework on the temple facade is finely carved. The fort walls themselves offer views across the Chakki River valley and the surrounding hills. Buses and shared taxis between Pathankot and Dharamsala pass through Nurpur, making it an easy stop on a journey rather than a special detour.

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A story
The Brij Raj Swami temple inside Nurpur Fort contains a remarkable marble image of Krishna and Radha that has been worshipped here since the 17th century. The Mughal emperor Jahangir himself stayed at Nurpur and reportedly admired the fort, while the Pathania rulers who built it defied multiple Mughal attempts at conquest before eventually being absorbed into the empire as vassals.