Chamba

Chamba, Himachal Pradesh

Chamba is a small town in the state of Himachal Pradesh in India. Sitting at the height of over 996 meters on the bank of the river Ravi, the town is known for its spectacular temple architecture and splendid natural beauty. The town is situated amongst beautiful valleys and has tourists visiting the place throughout the year. The area has rich flora and fauna in the Sub Himalayan ranges and is known for a pleasant climate throughout the year. The temples, lakes, and wildlife sanctuaries in the region makes it an ideal tourist destination. This place is also known as the Land of Shiva. It has a serene and untouched natural beauty. There are five lakes, five wildlife sanctuaries and numerous temples in the region. It is famous for its Pahari paintings which originated between the 17th and 19th century and its handicrafts and textiles.

KEY ATTRACTION AT Chamba

Akhand Chandi Palace: Akhand Chandi Palace in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, is a living example of Raja Umedh Singh's architectural skills and knowledge. At an altitude of approximately 996 m above sea level, Akhand Chandi Palace forms a perfect example of India's vibrant past, which has been beautifully preserved and restored to capture the attention of globetrotters. It was built by Umedh Sigh, sprawling over acres of greenery, to serve as his residence. While the green colour roof is the distinct feature of the palace, other structures like hand painted walls, delicately carved doors, spread out wood and glass work and window frames make it a perfect example of a colonial type building. Later the palace was redesigned, renovated and modernised by Raja Sham Singh with the aid and assistance of British engineers. The Zanana Mahal and the Darbar Hall was then added to the building in order to expand and beautify it. However, the Palace was sold to the Himachal Pradesh government in 1958 which was then converted into a college building. The splendid views of Chaugan, Sui Mata, Chamunda Devi Temple, Laxmi Narayana Temple, Rang Mahal, Bansi Gopal Temple and Hari Rai Temple from Akhand Chandi Palace are something which cannot be missed. It is bordered by abundant greenery that keeps the environment cool and pleasant throughout the year.

Bhuri Singh museum: The Bhuri Singh Museum, located in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, is the result of the priceless contributions of Raja Bhuri Singh and the effortless services of Dr. J. Ph. Vogel. It is one of the major attractions of the state. The museum is a grand collection of invaluable assortments that have immortalised the art, culture and history of Chamba.The museum was started by the royal collections and paintings donated by Raja Bhuri Singh. It has since then expanded voluminously. The gallery, at present, features Basohli paintings, rare Sarda script, embroidered Pahari miniatures, coins, royal jewellery, costumes, arms, stone sculptures, memorial stones, carved doors, frescoes, copper plate grants, musical instruments and Guler-Kangra paintings, to name a few.

Laxmi Narayan temple: Built by Raja Sahil Verma in the 11th century, the Laxmi Narayan temple complex is said to be the largest and oldest temple complex of Chamba. There are six temples in the complex which are arranged from north to south directions, dedicated to either Lord Vishnu or Lord Shiva. Apart from these main temples, the complex houses three more temples namely: Radha Krishna Temple, Shiva Temple of Chandragupta and Gauri Shankar Temple.

Chamunda Devi Temple: It was built by Raja Umedh Singh in 1762 and is a wooden temple with a gabled roof. The temple’s architecture is a marvellous cross between the Indian and British styles and is dedicated to Chamunda Devi an incarnation of the Goddess Durga. The temple is elaborately designed with wood carvings and figures of various deities inside the complex.Champavati Temple: It was built in the memory of princess Champavati by King Sahil Varman around 935 AD. The temple is built in the Shikhara Style and is known for its elaborate stone carvings. The walls and the doorways of the temple are intricately carved and the temple is thus considered among the most exquisitely designed religious monuments in Himachal Pradesh.

Rang Mahal: Rang Mahal was founded by Raja Umedh Singh. This is a beautiful palace with architectural blend of Mughal and British style. The walls of the palace are decorated with beautiful Hill Style paintings depicting the life of Lord Krishna.

HOW TO REACH Chamba

Gaggal airport in Dharamsala is the nearest airport at a distance of 185 km. The other Airports are Amritsar (230 km) & Jammu (230 km). Flights from Chandigarh, Delhi and Kullu connect Gaggal airport. Pathankot is the nearest railhead at a distance of 118 km. Trains from Ahmedabad, Bhatinda, Delhi, Hatia, Jammu, Udhampur, etc. run regularly to Pathankot. Chamba is well connected by road to most neighbouring regions and major parts of Himachal Pradesh. Regular private and state-owned buses from Bharmour, Khajjiar and Dalhousie ply to Chamba.

WEATHER AT Chamba

The summer season begins in the mid of April and lasts till the end of June. The Climate remains pleasant during this period. The weather during the day is warm and nights are comparatively cool. The temperature during summers can rise up at a level of 37°C. The monsoon begins in the end of June and continues till mid-September. The weather during this time is misty and cloudy. The valley appears really beautiful during this time with freshly washed leaves shining in the bright sunshine. The winter season in the valley is extremely cold as the temperature remains low and reaches below freezing point, due to the chilly winds in the area. Peak winters are from December till February. Occasional snow fall may also occur during this time. The minimum and maximum temperature recorded during this season is 0 °C and 15 °C correspondingly. The best season to visit Chamba is all through the year.