Chamba is the district town of Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh, India. there is a famous saying ‘’ Shimla nahi basna… Kasauli nai basna… Chamba Jana jaguar and folk songs are sung on it too. Located at an altitude of 1,006 meters above mean sea level, the town is situated on the banks of the Ravi River, at its confluence with the Sal River. Established by Raja Sahil Verma in 920 AD, following the specific request of his daughter Champavati (Chamba was named after her), the town has retained its medieval charm.
That dynasty ruled for over 1 millennium uninterrupted. Mughal emperors Akbar and Aurangzeb did attempt to annex Chamba but were unsuccessful in subjugating this territory into their kingdoms. Raja Prithvi Singh (1641-1664 AD), who was on amicable terms with Emperor Shahjahan was instrumental in introducing the court lifestyles of the Mughals. After the defeat of the Sikh empire, the rulers of Chamba built cordial relations with British. Many progressive reforms and developments were made in Chamba under the British.
The valley surrounding Chamba is well known for its streams, meadows, temples, and lakes. Chamba witnesses snowfall sometimes during winter that adds to its beauty. Well known for its paintings, handkerchief, Chamba is also the main market for many villages in the surrounding areas. Located on the right bank of the Ravi river valley, built on successive flat terraces, Chamba lies at the intersection of Dhauladhar,PirPanjal and Zanskar ountain ranges and is known as the ‘Land of Lord Shiva’. Trekking from Chamba to the Manimahesh and the Pangi Valley are worth exploring.
There are many stunning, intriguing places around Chamba. One of the most famous hill station in India that holds a magical allure for tourist Chamba is a former princely state, open to tourist throughout the year, the best time to visit Chamba is from March to October. Tourism in Chamba is most suitable for those who are religious-minded because of an uncountable number of temples. Chamba is very very famous for its beautiful temples made in Shikhara Style.
One of the least explored areas in the state, there are numerous places and temples worth visiting in and around Chamba, these include Akhand Chandi palace, Hari Rai temple, Bharmaur, Champavati temple, Katasan Devi temple, Laxmi Narayan temple, Mani Mahesh lake, Rang Mahal palace, and Sui Mata temple. Also, worth visiting are Khajjiar lake, Chamera dam, Banni Mata Temple, Gurudwara Sahib Built by the Maharaja of Patiala, Bhalei Mata temple, Vajreshwar temple, Kalatop wildlife sanctuary, Bhuri Singh Museum, Chamunda Devi temple, Chamba church, and Upper Bakrota.
Chamba is the staging point to visit Gandasru Mahadev, Churah Valley. Chama Chaugan, and Rock Garden at Devi Devra. Chamba is the stopover for a visit to another hill station Dalhousie about 55 km away. The annual Minjar Mela, which is marked by traditional and modern stalls selling local handicrafts, is held at the Chamba Chaugan. The “Suhi Mata Mela” is held annually at Suhi Mata temple. Tourism in Chamba is centered around the town, which has numerous hotels, guesthouses, and lodges that provide mid-range and budget accommodation. Besides tourism agriculture is the most important economic activity.
Tourists can also visit Katasan Devi temple a few kms from Chamba town which is located in close proximity to the Baira Siul Hydroelectric project, which is also worth visiting. Another place worth visiting from Chamba is the Saho village 18km away on the banks of River Sal, it is home to the Chandrashekhar Temple, which is reportedly 1,100 years old and contains a naturally formed Shivlinga. Chamba is also famous for its miniature Pahari paintings, patronized by Raja Udai Singh and Raja Jai Singh.
Most of these paintings are based on Hindu mythology and depict Radha Krishna, Shiva Parvati, Krishna Sudama, and more. Some of the paintings capture the romantic ambience of the monsoon. These paintings can be seen at Bhuri Singh museum. Chamba is well known for manufacturing traditional handicrafts which are a must-buy item for the tourist. moist well known are traditional footwear for both men and women. Interestingly, women’s footwear is called “vegetarian” as it is made without leather. Also, worth buying as souvenirs, are hand-made caps, handkerchiefs, and shawls.
Unique thing about them is that they are hand spun in such a way that they look identical from both sides.Also worth buying are local jewelry. adventure seekers can try out skiing on the slopes of snow-clad mountains in and around Chamba. Thrill seekers can also try out river rafting in Ravi or Sal rivers. The town is famed for its local cuisine, and restaurants serve a variety of Indian, Chinese, and Continental dishes at reasonable prices. Accessible only by road, Chamba has no rail or air link. The nearest airport is at Gaggal, which is located at a distance of 170 km and the nearest railway station is Pathankot, Punjab (120 km). Chamba truly defines ‘beauty within itself’. It’s a place that mesmerise the inner soul with its natural beauty.
