INFORMATION ABOUT CHAMBA

Chamba is bounded on north-west by Jammu and Kashmir, on the north-east and east by Ladakh area of Jammu and Kashmir state and Lahaul and Bara-Bangal area of Himachal Pradesh, on the south-east and south by the District Kangra of Himachal Pradesh and Gurdaspur District of the Punjab.

The Chamba District is situated between north latitude 32° 11? 30? and 33° 13? 6? and east longitude 75°49 and 77° 3? 30?, with an estimated area of 6528 square Kilometers and is surrounded on all sides by lofty hill ranges. The territory is wholly mountainous with altitude ranging from 2,000 to 21,000 feet.

Sawan-Bhadon (July-August) have romance in the names itself. The artists of Pahari miniature paintings have depicted the rains in various moods and styles.

CHAMBA TOURISM

The Places of Interest and Sight Seeing



• Laxmi Narayan Temple : Laxmi Narayan Temple, which is the main temple of Chamba town was built by Sahil Verman in the 10th century A.D. The temple has been built in the Shikhara style.



• Champavati Temple :The temple of goddess Champavati is shikhara style stands near the royal place and the tradition holds it that this temple was made in the name of Raja Sahil Verman's daughter Champavati.



• Vajreshvari Temple :This temple is also of shikhara style built in stone at the entrance of Sarota outside the town dedicated to goddess Vajreshwari. It is known for its fine sculpture. It is believed to have been erected in eleventh century A.D.



• Chamunda Devi Temple at Chamba :This temple is dedicated to the goddess Chamunda in her terrific form. This temple is of a later class and is made in hill type architecture. It stands on small spur of Shah Madar hill. A beautiful and holistic view of Chamba town is obtained from the premises of the temple.



• Hari Rai Temple :Shri Hari Rai temple (Vishnu temple) is located near Chaugan gate. The temple is in shikhara style built in stone. The image of worship is Vaikuntha form of Vishnu having three faces-human, boar and lion. The bronze image of the deity is in superb execution.



• Bansi Gopal Temple, Chamba : This temple is also of shikhara style and is situated in the vicinity of Chamba palace. This temple is dedicated to Lord Krishana whose image holding a flute is enshrined with Radha



• Chandershekhar Temple at Saho :There is a beautiful temple devoted to Lord Chandershekhar in the heart of Saho village.



• Vishnu Temple, Saho :A small shrine opposite the temple of Chandershekhar of Saho is dedicated to Vishnu. The image of the god has three faces. The central one is that of a human, while those on the right and left are those of a lion and a boar respectively. The image is besmeared with Ganges sand.



• Mindhal Temple in Pangi :Mindhal Devi temple is located in Mindhal village, twelve kilometers from Killar (in Pangi) towards south. Mindhal Devi temple is also known for wood carvings. the temple has a slanting tin roof. It is a great pilgrim centre for the pangwals who worship the deity for better crops and fortune.



• Bhader Kali (Sri Bhalei mata ) Temple :The temple of Bhader kali popularly known as sri Bhalei Mata is located on a beautiful squr of 3800 feet height at a place called Bhalei which is now a sub-tehsil headquarters. The temple can be approached either from Chamba or from Dalhousie side and is at a distance of 40 kilometers from Chamba and 35 kilometers from Dalhousie.



• Chamunda Devi Temple at Devi Kothi :This temple was built by Raja Umed Singh in A.D. 1754 at Devi Kothi in Churah tehsil and is known for wood carvings and well paintings. The English version of the inscription incised on wooden door jambs is as under:



• Trilochan Mahadev :This temple of Trilochan Mahadev is located on a rock near Gehra on way to Bharmour along the bank of Ravi. The temple has no archaeological importance. The legend associated with the temple is however interesting and engages our attention.



• Chhatrari Devi Temple :Two-third way between Chamba and Bharmour with a diversion of eight kilometers from Luna bridge on Chamba Bharmour road is a village with fertile land called Chattrari. In the heart of this village is the famous temple of Adashakti, more popularly known as Chattrari Devi temple which looks like any ordinary house of the village from outside but once you enter, you find it a real wonder.



• Manimahesh Temple, Bharmour : This is one of the most famous temples of the Chaurasi temple at Bharmour. The temple is in shikhara style dedicated to Manimahesh, in the name of Lord Shiva. the idol of worship is a shivalinga placed in side the temple surrounded by a number of other small images including those of ganesh and Durga with a child in her lap.



• Chaurasi :Chaurasi is a spacious level ground where the galaxy of temples mostly in the form of Shivlingas exist. Important temples which desreve mention as described by Shri Thakur Sen Negi in the district Gazetteer of chamba are:



• Kunjar Mahadev :Kunjar Mahadev is a great pilgrimage centre situated in Tundi pargana in Hatli Dhar range falling in Sihunta sub-tehsil. At Kunjar Mahadev is a Shiv pindi and a water well. pilgrims draw water from the well and take bath.



• Ardha Gaya :There is a bowli (water reservoir) situated within the Chaurashi area. Besides being a great water source, it has attached to it self a holy significance and is called Ardha Gaya. There is an interesting legend about this bowli. Once in the hoary past, Lord Shiva accompanied by Parvati and their son Ganesh were strolling at this place.

ACCOMODATION/STAY OPTIONS IN CHAMBA

• HOTEL AKHAND CHANDI
• CLASSIC HILLTOP RESORT


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