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Location:
Himachal Pradesh
Discovered In: 920 A.D
Altitude: 726m.
Attractions: Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Bajreshwari temples,
Chamunda Shrine
Best Time To Visit: Mid-May to Mid-October
Dale Of Milk And Honey
Chamba, the land of antiquity, art and scenic beauty, is a
wonder in itself for every visitor. Situated at the height of
996 m. above
 sea
level on the south bank of the Ravi River, the ancient Pahari
capital was founded in 920 A.D. by Raja Sahil Verma, who named
it after his favourite daughter Champavati.
Chamba valley is noted for the magnificence of it's
scenery-touching the fringe of the Shivaliks and having three
well-defined snowy ranges, the Dauladhar, constituting the outer
Himalayas, the Pir Panjal or the mid Himalayas, and the Zanskar
range or the inner Himalayas.
Chamba's serene beauty makes it the ideal holiday retreat. The
land of mystic serenity, enchanting vistas, refreshing air,
lofty mountain passes and slopes, provides ample opportunities
to nature lovers. The place and adjoining areas have immense
scope of leisure pursuits. The waters, hills, plateaus and the
snowline, which can be sighted from any of the buildings and the
main square, make a spectacle that can become an inspiration for
many painters and poets
TEMPLES
Lakshmi Narayan Temple: Lakshmi Narayan Temple, which is the
main temple of Chamba town, was built by Raja Sahil Verma in the
10th century AD. Built in Shikhara style, the temple consists of
Bimana i.e. Shikhara and Garbh Griha with a small antralya.
Lakshmi Narayana Temple has a mandapa like structure also. The
wooden chhattries, the shell roof, atop the temple were in
response to the local climatic conditions as a protection
against snowfall. more...
Chamunda Devi Temple: Located just one-km away from Chaugan, is
the ancient temple of Chamunda Mata, overlooking the fortified
Chamunda and the tempestuous river Ravi. A good place for
picnic, it offers a panoramic view of the town as well as
villages situated on the left bank of the river. more...
Katasan Devi Temple: Another popular temple of the Chamba
district, it is about 30-km from the town near Baira Siul
Project. This calm and peaceful spot is ideal for picnic lovers
and one can witness a full view of the valley from its premises.
{ Book Temple Tours }
PALACES
Maharaja's Palace: This palace belongs to the erstwhile rulers
of Chamba and the most outstanding buildings in the town. Of
these, Rang Mahal or 'the Painted Palace', with towers on either
side, is undoubtedly the most interesting one. There is one room
in the building, the walls of which are painted with murals
depicting episodes from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
Rang Mahal: Also known as the 'Painted Palace', was built by
Raja Umed Singh in the mid-18th century. The architecture of the
palace reflects Mughal influences. Later on, Jit Singh and
Charat Singh made certain additions. It became the women's
residence until 1947 and now houses a college. The wall
paintings are splendid and represent one of the most extensive
hill collections. The Paintings follow stories of Lord Krishna.
MUSEUMS
Bhuri Singh Museum: A veritable storehouse of exquisite
paintings of the famous Kangra and Basholi schools, as well as a
mass of epigraphical material on the history of Chamba. Also
housed in the museum are woodcarvings, ancient manuscripts and
murals from Rang Mahal.
OTHERS
Chaugan: This public promenade situated in the heart of the town
is a grassy maidan less than one-kilometre in length and about
seventy-five metres wide is a busy local trading centre for
villagers from the surrounding hills. Each year Chaugan is the
site for the 'Minjar' procession, a fair that lasts a week and
comprise of large number of sports and cultural activities.
Church of Scotland: The Presbyterian Church and Mission House of
the Church of Scotland lie opposite the Museum.
Khajjiar: The lush green meadow with a small lake is surrounded
by thick pines and crowned by forests. A little away from the
lake is the Khajji Nag Temple, which was built, in the 12th
century
HOW TO GET THERE
Air: Chandigarh and Bhuntar are the nearest airports, located at
135-km and 131-km from Bilaspur.
Rail: The nearest broad gauge railway station is at Kiratpur
Sahib and nearest narrow gauge railway station is at Shimla,
which are connected by regular bus services.
Road: Bilaspur is approachable by road from Shimla and
Chandigarh.
WHERE TO STAY
Accommodation options in and around Bilaspur vary from luxurious
hotels such as HTPDC's Hotel at Swarghat to reasonable budget
hotels.
CLIMATE
Situated in the hot temperature zone the climate of Bilaspur
ranges from high temperature to sub tropical and snow rarely
falls over here.
FAIRS & FESTIVALS
The Nalwari or Annual cattle fair is held at Bilaspur for four
or five days in March / April months, the occasion is marked by
wrestling and other amusements. Cattle are brought from Nalagarh
and neighboring parts of Punjab to sell over here.
NEARBY CITIES
Deoli: 13-km
Markand: 25-km
Bahadurpur: 40-km
Sarium: 58-km
Tiun: 55-km
Swarghat: 40-km
Nangal: 13-km
Chandigarh: 135-km
Bhuntar: 131-km |