Chamba - Himachal Pradesh

Tourism

Chamba has a number of temples, Palaces and stylished buildings. The striking objects of interest are the old temples which exhibit architectural beauty of design and execution.

Chamunda Devi Temple is situated at the Shah Madar Hill. The temple stands on a raised platform. The temple has artistic carvings on its lintel, pillars and the ceiling. Lord Shiva temple is exactly behind it in the Shikhara style. In front of the temple there is a platform from where you can see Chaugan, Circuit House, most of the temples and river Ravi. This temple is around 3 Km from Chamba. It lies on the right hand side of the Chamba-Jhamwar road. The temple is an ideal picnic spot throughout the year because it has an easy approach and a commanding view.

Dalhousie Unique hill station Dalhousie sets you on the gateway to the enchanting Chamba Valley. A colonial town having colonial bungalows and exotic colonial grandeur and low-roof tea stalls make this place really unexplainable. After visiting the spot like Khajjiar, Satdhara springs and Kalatope you would feel like heaven.

Panchpula, a beautiful spot, is barely 3 kms. from G.P.O. On the way to Panchpula is Satdhara springs gurgling with refreshing water, believed to contain some medicinal properties. There is an elegant monument erected at Panchpula where several streams meet at one point.

Khajiar 23 kms from Dalhousie by road and 13 kms from Kalatop is the mini Switzerland of India at a height of 6400 ft. Hutchison writes, "Khajjiar is a forest glade of great beauty, 6400 feet above sea level". Khajjiar is often referred to as "Gulmarg of Himachal Pradesh". There is a small lake in the center of the saucer shaped meadow which has in it a floating island. A little away from the lake is the temple of Khajji Nag belonging to 12th C. AD. In the mandapa of the temple one can see the images of the Pandavas and the defeated Kaurvas hanging from the roof of the circumambulatory path. The sanctum of the temple has been beautifully carved from wood.

Kalatop is 10 kms from G.P.O. at an altitude of 8000 feet. Walking along the secluded and forested road through upper Nakorota hills, one reaches Lakkarmandi. Lakkarmandi is nestled between 8600 feet high DayanKund peak on its right and Kalatop on the left. Dayan Kund has military installations and is closed to civilians except the local people who visit Bhulwani Mata temple near DayanKund.

Mani-Mahesh is 28 kms from Bharmour. The lake is situated at the height of 13,500 feet above sea level and at the base of Mani-Mahesh Kailsah peak (18,564 feet). In Chamba prominent yatra starts from Laxmi-Narayana Temple to Mani_Mahesh in the month of August or September. The CHHARI is taken to the sacred lake of Mani-Mahesh, which is one of the chief tirthas in the district. Mani-Mahesh kailash is a virgin peak. On the margin of the lake is a small marble Shivling called CHAUMUKHA. There is a Gauri Kund where women take a holy dip before returning to their home from yatra.

Banikhet- the gateway to Dalhousie. At Banikhet the road divides for Chamba and Dalhousie. It is around 7 km from Dalhousie. A Nag temple in Padhar Maidan now called mini stadium is a place of worship for the people of Banikhet and villages around. The temple is approximately 150 years old. Residential colony of Chamera Hydro-electric Project is setup over here. There is also a PWD rest house at Banikhet.

How to reach Chamba

By Air: The nearest Air Ports are Amritsar in Punjab & Jammu in Jammu & Kashmir are approx. 190 Km from Chamba.

By Rail: The nearest railway station is Pathankot in Punjab which is approx.119 km from Chamba.

By Road: Chamba is well connected by all weather road. Regular buses, taxis and coaches from Delhi & Chandigarh. Delhi is 627 km & Chandigarh is 357 km from Chamba.