» Chamba

Chamba is located in the northwestern part of the state of Himachal Pradesh in the northern region of India. The town lies on River Ravi, in a valley between two mountain ridges. Chamba is 56 km from Dalhousie via Khajjiar.

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.

Town of Temples
The small town of Chamba is located in a picturesque valley, amidst the Shivalik ranges and is famous for its medieval temples. The architecture of the temples of Chamba reflects the glory of its erstwhile rulers. It is also known for its local festivals.

» Major Attractions of Chamba

Laxmi Narayan Temple : 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.

Chamunda Devi Temple : 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.

Rang Mahal : The Rang Mahal 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.

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.

» Places to Stay in Chamba

The accommodation in Chamba provide a taste of the village life in the traditional mud and wood building among rolling hills and terraced fields. The slightly shabby Hotel Chamunda, Jimmy's Inn, is situated opposite the bus stand. Chamba's best hotel is HTPDC Hotel Iravati on the northwest edge of the Chowgan.

» Fairs & Festivals of Chamba

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 / 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.

» Climate of Chamba

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.

» Shopping in 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.

»How to Get there

Air : Nearest airport is Dharamshala connected to Delhi.

Rail : Nearest railway station is Pathankot (120 kms) which is connected to major cities in India.

Road : Chamba is connected to all parts of the country. Important road distances are: Amritsar 245 kms, Kangra 180 kms, Pathankot 120 kms, Shimla 422 kms, Manali 470 kms, Dharamshala 180 kms, Dalhousie 56 kms, Khajjiar 30 kms, Mandi 334 kms, Jammu 229 kms etc.

North India Tour Packages

Hotels in Himachal Pradesh