Prominent personalities

* **Captain Vikram Batra (1974–1999)**: Indian Army officer awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his heroism in the Kargil War; born in Palampur. * **Captain Saurabh Kalia (1976–1999)**: Indian Army officer who laid down his life in the Kargil War, widely honored in the city. * **Shanta Kumar (b. 1934)**: Prominent Indian politician and author who served as the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh and a Union Minister; a Palampur native. * **Sardar Sobha Singh (1901–1986)**: Renowned Indian contemporary painter who spent much of his life in nearby Andretta. * **Major Somnath Sharma (1923–1947)**: The first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra; spent significant parts of his childhood in the Kangra district.