Chamba - India HillTop Trips - Splendid hills and Majestic retreats

Chamba was founded by Raja Varman who named the town after his daughter Champavati.The small town of Chamba is located amidst the Shivalik ranges and is famous for its temples. The architecture of the temples of Chamba reflects the unmatched architectural superiority of the Indian sculptures.Chamba has a grassy promenade which is the focus for the Sui Mata and Minjar festivals.

Hill Resort | Elevation | Travel | Season | Tourist places | Accommodation | Location | Chamba Map

The Hill Resort

Located in the picturesque valley, Chamba is a beautiful town in Himachal Pradesh. Chamba is a town of temples and scenic locations. The architecture of the temples at Chamba is marvellous and tells the story of the erstwhile Chamba rulers.

Chamba was a part of the Mughal Empire and later became the part of various Sikh kingdoms. It was finally taken over by the British and became a part of the state of Himachal Pradesh. Chamba is yet another of those destinations which still stand oblivious to most tourists and therefore unspoilt and fresh like a daisy for the lucky few who venture out seeking new places to explore and enjoy Chamba is at an altitude of 1600 mt above sea level. One can reach Chamba in about 7-8 hrs from Delhi via Hardwar, Rishikesh & Narendranagar (290 km). One can also combine stay at Chamba with one at Mussoorie or Dhanolti and reach via Dehradun, Mussoorie and Dhanolti. Chamba was founded by Raja Varman who named the town after his daughter Champavati.The small town of Chamba is located amidst the Shivalik ranges and is famous for its temples. The architecture of the temples of Chamba reflects the unmatched architectural superiority of the Indian sculptures. Chamba has a grassy promenade which is the focus for the Sui Mata and Minjar festivals.

History

Chamba was once ruled by the Rajput rulers in the 6th century AD and made Chamba city as the capital. Later Raja Shail Verman founded the town and named it Chamba after his daughter Champavati. Chamba was also ruled by the Mughals. Later the town came under the Sikh kingdom.

Fairs and festivals

Chamba is known for its festivals. The Sui Mata festival is held for four days in March/April every year in memory of princess Sui, who gave her life to protect the people of Chamba. Women in Chamba revere her and her image is carried from the Old Palace (Rangmahal) to her small shrine accompanied by singing and dancing.

The Minjar festival is celebrated in late July/early August every year. The origin of this festival goes back to the 10th century AD. This festival marks the harvesting of the annual maize crop. It culminates with a procession to River Ravi and throwing of the silk tassels or Minjars (representing sheaves of maize), worn by men and women into the river.

Shopping

Minjar Festival Handicrafts and brass antiques are two wonderful items that you can shop for in Chamba on your tour to Chamba.

Travelers hunting for souvenirs can visit the Old Palace that houses the Himachal Emporium, from where they can buy handicraft items like embroidered fabrics and brass items.

Places To Eat

Chamba is famous for its hot chili sauce known as chukh, which is a mixture of green and red peppers, lime juice, mustard oil and salt.

The Past

The local Rajput rulers ruled Chamba valley in the 6th century AD and made it their capital city. Raja Sahil Verman founded the town in 10th century and named it after his daughter Champavati. It was a part of the Mughal Empire in the medieval period and later became the part of various Sikh kingdoms. It was finally taken over by the British and became a part of the state of Himachal Pradesh, when India became independent in 1947.

Travelers can get important information from the Tourist Office (Ph: 22671) located in Hotel Iravati on Court Road.

Elevation

Chamba - 1600 mt

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Location Details

The beautiful town of Chamba is located in the north-western part of Himachal Pradesh. Himachal Pradesh is in the north of India and is home to some of the most beautiful hill resorts in India. The Chamba town is located on the bank of the Ravi and lies between the two mountain ridges. Chamba is about 56 kilometres from Dalhousie via Khajjiar.

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How to Reach There and Distances

There is neither an airport nor a railway station in Chamba. The bus station in Chamba is located near the Chowgan. The bus service from Chamba to Bharmaur (3 1/2 hours), Dharamshala (10 hours), Khajjiar (1 1/2 hours), Dalhousie (3 hours), and to Pathankot (6 hours) is very good.

By Air

Nearest airport is Dharamshala connected to Delhi by Vayudoot services.

By Rail

Nearest railhead is Pathankot (120 km) which is connected to all the major cities of India.

By Road

Important road distances are: Amritsar 245 km, Kangra 180 km, Pathankot 120 km, Shimla 422 km, Manali 470 km, Mandi 334 km, Jammu 229 km, Dharamshala 180 km, Dalhousie 56 km, Khajjiar 30 km etc.

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Best Season to Visit/Weather

The weather in Chamba is alpine. Summers (April-June) are mild and winters are cold (November-February). It experiences southwestern monsoon rains in July-September.

The best time to visit Chamba is between March and June.

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Tourist places near Chamba

Chamba is home to a number of temples and they make a wonderful tourist attraction. The Laxmi Narayan Temple Complex is a must visit place in Chamba. The architecture of the temples is wonderful and reflect the beautiful art of that era when the temples were built in the 10th century. The other temples that one can visit include Hari Rai Temple, Champavati, Vajreshwari, Sui Mata and Chamunda Devi.

The Laxmi Narayan Temple is the main tourist attraction of the town. The architecture of the six temples in this complex is an example of the Hindu shikhara style of architecture. However, the local flavor is distinct and makes the carvings on these temples unique. Three temples are dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and another three to Lord Shiva. The temple was built in the 10th century AD and was renovated in the 16th century. This Laxmi Narayan Temple complex also some fine sculptures of residing deities, which include figures of Lord Vishnu (of the Hindu trilogy), Goddess Laxmi (Goddess of wealth), Narasimha (Lion form of Lord Vishnu) and Lord Krishna.

Chowgan, the grassy promenade at the heart of the town, is the focus for local festivals.

To the northeast of the Laxmi Narayan temple lies the small Surara temples. Nearby is the Brajreshwari Devi temple, dedicated to Goddess Durga. This temple is constructed in the of traditional shikhara style and is known for intricate carvings on its surface.

The Chamunda Devi Temple is located on a hill overlooking the town of Chamba and one has to climb for about 30 minutes to reach it. This temple is dedicated to Chamunda, the wrathful form of Goddess Durga. The entire wooden ceiling of this temple is embellished with intricate carvings depicting floral motifs and different deities. This temple has a number of brass bells, offered by the devotees, and footprints of the Goddess on a small pillar.

The Sui Mata Temple is located between the Chamunda Devi temple and Brajreshwari Devi temple, and is dedicated to Sui Mata (a local princess, who gave her life for the people in Chamba). Colorful paintings within the temple depict the life of Sui.

The 11th-century Harirai Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu is also made in the Shikhara style and has a triple-headed statue of Lord Vishnu made from eight different materials.

Other temples to visit in Chamba are the Radha Krishna Temple, the Sitaram Temple and the Champavati Temple.

The Rangmahal or the Old Palace is another important place to visit and houses the Himachal Emporium, from where the travelers can buy handicraft items. The Bhuri Singh Museum has a good collection of artifacts belonging to this region. Of particular importance is the collection of traditional miniature paintings. St Andrew's Church and Gandhi Gate are also worth visiting.

Sites Nearby

The picturesque Chamba valley is the home of a number of important places like Dalhousie, Khajjiar and Bharmaur. Dalhousie is 43 km from Chamba and is an important station. Khajjiar is 24 km from Chamba and is a grassy meadow, amongst the pine trees with a pond in the middle. Sixty-five kilometers southeast of Chamba is Bharmaur and is famous for its trekking trails and temples.

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