About The Judge's Court

The Kuthiala Soods were instrumental in the foundation of Pragpur a built their homes around a courtyard. A branch of Kuthialas, who still have their original home in the ancestral courtyard, are descendants of a key figure of undivided Punjab, Justice Sir Jai Lal, a friend of Lord Hardinge and an intimate of the colourful and almost legendary Maharajas of Patiala and Kapurthala and perhaps the more blue blooded Hill Rajas of Jubbal, Keonthal and Bushair. The 300 year old ancestral home has been restored using the original techniques but with modern plumbing and lighting. The property is famous as 'Judge Sahib ki Kothi', and hence it came to be known as The Judge's Court. As the Judge's Court has been restored, and is being run by the owning family, it offers a rare kind of intimate hospitality.

City Information

Kangra, one of the most panoramic areas in Himachal Pradesh is replete with history and is the home of the famous Kangra School of paintings. A lesser known fact is that probably the world's - most certainly India's - oldest ruling lineage also comes from Kangra. Pragpur with its small population is located at an elevation of about 1800 feet in the Kangra Valley. It nestles below the majestic Dhauladhars - The White Ranges. 'Prag' in Sanskrit means ' Pollen' and Pragpur literally translates as 'Country of Pollen'. Said to have been founded in early 17th century to commemorate Princess Prag Rani, Pragpur is unbelievably picturesque having held onto essence of an earlier era, unchanged shops, cobbled streets, an ornamental village tank, mud plastered and slate roofed houses. The countryside has a gentle rustic beauty and offers safe passage to travellers.