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Chamba

On the north-west and west, Jammu and Kashmir; on the north-east and east, Ladakh, Lahul and Bara Bangahal on the south-east and south, the districts of Kangra Chamba stand on the right bank of Ravi river on what can be describe as an irregular plateau. Chamba is srounde by green mountain. and is one of the oldest Native States in India, having been founded no later than 600 and perhaps as early as 550. It is situated in the bosom of the Himalaya Mountains and dates back to sixth century. the story of the state begin in Bharmour 65 km form Chamba when it was founded by mythical Maru. In codified history the state owes it Origin to king Maru Bharman of sixth century regard as the eighth descendent of Maru. in the begining of the tenth century King Shail Barman sallied out of Bharmour to conquer the lower Ravi valley and created of Town Chamba the name Chamba is driven from the name Champavati Sahil Barman's daughter. champavati still worshipped as a goddess in Chamba .Before Raja Sahilla Varman came on the same the Chamba region was divided into bits and pieces of territory called Rahnu occupied by numerous Ranas and petty Chieftains who carried on relentless warfare with each other. Raja Sahilla Verman subjugated the Ranas and unified the territory. Rajas, therefore, for better administration divided Chamba into five zones known as Mandlas. These Mandlas were later reamed as Wizarats. This five fold division of Chamba region continues till today. The Wizarats are now called Tehsils. These are Bharmour, Chamba, Bhattiyat, Churah and Pangi. 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. Chamba's real claim to fame lies in its fine temple in addition the are many excursion near the town. the embroidery of Chamba town especially the famous Chamba rumal and handicraft in metal and leather are exceptional quality .Many hydel projects have come up here.
HOW TO GET THERE :  Chamba is connected by road and is 580 km from Delhi. It is 24 km from Khajjiar, Dalhousie via Khajjair, is 56 km. The closest railhead is at Pathankot, 118 km away. The airport at Gaggal in Kangra is at a distance of 170 km. Taxis/buses are available from these places.

CLIMATE: In winter, the temperature gets very low because of cold winds, when heavy woolens are required. It is hot in summer and the temperature rises up to 38 degrees
Local Transport: Rickshaws and buses can be availed. Tourists can hire daylong or even weeklong taxis.
STD / Internet:-STD and faxing facilities are available at the Telegraph Office behind Rishi Hotel. now days internet is possible in Chamba 

Banks:-The State Bank of India and Punjab National Bank are both on Hospital Road. You can exchange Visa and Amex travellers’ cheques here.

Hospital/ Medical Centres: The District Hospital is on Hospital Road; as well as some pharmacies,
Place to stay:
THE IRAVATI: Modern and centrally located Himachal Tourism runs the HotelIravati at Chamba. Surrounded by flowering bougainvillea and set in an attractive lawn, this by far, is the good place to stay in Chamba.

ADDRESS: Hotel Iravati, Chamba (H.P.) - 176310.
Tel: (01899) - 222671. Fax: (01899) - 222565.
Places of Tourist Interest:
Laxmi Narayn temple : With six main shikara style and sevral smaller shrines Narayan Temple It is the most famous tourist attraction place in Chamba.There are six temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.Three temples are dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and another three to Lord Shiva. these are close to the old place. The devotees offer little brass bells to get their wish fulfilled.footprints of the Goddess is one more thing one can see
HARI RAI TEMPLE: This is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and dates back to the 11th Century.

OTHER TEMPLES: The profusion of temples in Chamba and their craftsmanship is remarkable. Some important shrines are Champavati, Vijreshwari, Sui Mata and Chamunda Devi.

THE CHOWGAN: Chamba's wide concourse is the hub of much of towns activity and also serves as its promenade.

RANGMAHAL: This old palace is an interesting mix of colonial and local architectural styles.

AKHAND CHANDI PALACE: Now a college, this imposing building once housed Chamba's ruling family. Much of the original craftsmanship can still be seen.

BHURI SINGH MUSEUM: Named after Raja Bhuri Singh of Chamba, this is a treasure house of Chamba's rich past. The exhibits include copper plates, murals, doorways, costumes, paintings and stone carvings.

ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH: Over a century old, this is a charming dressed stone structure with lancet windows.

Bharmour:- The inhabitants of Bharmaur are the Gaddis, a semi-nomadic tribe. Their dress is markedly different as compared to other areas. The head-dress is markedly different as compared to other areas. The head-dress of a man is a cap called top with a peak-like projection and flaps round the margin. The peak of the cap is said to represent the Kalish peak, the abode of Lord Shiva. The flaps are used to cover the ears during cold weather. The front of the cap is adorned with dried flowers, a tuft of features or a string of beads.On the body, a loosely-sewn pattu (hand-spun coat) popularly called chola is worn reaching below the knees. It has a deep collar which hangs loose in two lappets in front. The chola is tightened round the waist by means of black cord called dora made of sheep’s wool which may run into 60 meter length. The coat is loose over the waist-band (dora) and on this receptacle the Gaddis stow many of their belongings including lambs. On migration march of the Gaddies we can have glimpse of lambs nestling in the pockets of their chola. The legs are generally bare but many were pattu pyjamas. From the gridle hangs a knife, a flute box and steel for striking a light and a small leather bag used to keep money. Shoes generally made of leather are the footwear used.
CHATRARI (45 Km): An attractive Temple of Shakti Devi is located here.
MANIMAHESH:(98 Km): This sacred lake (4183m) is associated with Lord Shiva and is a site of annual pilgrimage from mid of August to mid of September each year. Distance from Bharmaur is 28 Km. Weaving in Chamba like in other hilly districts is one of the most important craft which evolved in to an extremely fascinating craft as family units and professional weavers handed down these techniques over the centuries. This occupation was traditionally with the people belonging to Scheduled Castes. The profession has now been picked up by almost all castes. Brahamans of Chattrari and Muslims of Kihar have come to be known for doing all kinds of weaving. Due to perishable nature of the material, ancient specimens of fabrics have not survived till date. There is hardly any archaeological evidence of preserving these specimens but there are references to woolen wraps in Pahari folk song. Sir George Watt, Director of exhibition of Indian Art held at Delhi in 1903, makes a special reference to a black Pashmina shawl belonging to the royal family of Chamba woven by the court weaver in the year 1750 during the reign of Umed Singh. Shawls, blankets , thobis, pattus, pattis, loia etc. are the products of weaving which are traded after meeting the family needs.
craft of pahari jewellery. The only available evidence to the ornamentation are the metal, wood and stone sculptures dating back to 7th centaury A.D. onwards Bharmour and Chattrari where female figurines in Pahari miniature paintings are depicted with elaborate ornamentation like necklace with circular beads, dodmala, karanphul, jhumkha, champakali and chandrahar commonly worn by Pahari women. Chamba is famous for hand-made chappals. This trade is concentrated in the hands of cobbler families. It is said that once upon a time Chamba had no tradition of leather shoes and they wore crude grass shoes. Things changed when a princess of Kangra was married in royal family of Chamba. The princess brought a cobbler family to Chamba as a part of dowry and with this came the culture of leather shoes.
The craftsman: of this trade use lather of sheep, goat and calf skin for the purpose. The striking feature of Chamba chappal is the embroidery done on them. The embroidery is done with silk and golden threads called russi - tilla. The motifs usually are of lantana flower and leaves. A unique pair of leather shoes with zari belonging to royal family of Chamba is preserved in Bhuri Singh Museum. leather embroidered belts are also commonly worn by the local people The tradition of wood carving goes back to 7th – 8th century AD. The temples of Lakshna Devi in Bharmour and Shakti Devi in Chattrari are embellished with highly intricate woodwork done in a classical manner of the post Gupta period. Deodar wood is chiefly employed for wooden architecture of the temples as well as local houses. Later wooden temples of seventeenth century are also decorated with figurative kind of work, displaying the strong influences of the Chamba school of painting. Some devil masks are also preserved in Chamba museum which were used in dance in temple complex of Chattrari.
The Chamunda temple: Devi Kothi of (Churah) Shakti Devi temple Ganda dehra and Chamunda Devi temple of Chamba town are famous for their exquisite wooden relieves depicting the themes of Hindu mythology and folklore. The remains of the State Kothi Bharmour are now preserved in the Bhuri Singh Museum, Chamba
Mohd. latif is such one craftsman who has received National award for the making of the replica of a door of Bharmour Kothi. Latif hails from the family of traditional carpenters and his father Miran bux was also a good craftsman.
No other district in Himachal Pradesh provides as good variety of people as Chamba does. The five Wazarats of erstwhile Chamba State namely Chamba, Bhattiyat, Churah, Pangi and Bharmour now form sub-divisions of Chamba district. The people are called Chambyals, Bhattiyals, Churahis, Pangwals and Bharmauris according to the area they live in. Religion wise population can be divided into Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians.
Chamba has the distinction of having two tribal areas, Pangi and Bharmour. These areas have been declared as scheduled areas under the Constitution of India and as such the population living in these areas has acquired the status of Scheduled Tribes. Besides there is a sizeable population of the Bhots of Tibetan origin known as Bhatoris living in upper reaches of Pangi.
Two nomadic tribes i.e. Gujjars and Gaddis inhabit some parts of the district. While Gaddis inhabit Bharmour and upper parts of Bhattiyat, the Gujjars are mainly found in Chamba, Churah and Salooni tehsils.
The Gaddis:- The Gaddi are semi-agricultural tribe. They own large flocks of sheep and goats which are their main source of wealth. With them they go far a field, the summer being spent in the higher mountains of Pangi and Lahul and the winters in the low hills bordering on the plains. Some members stay back at home to tend the cattle and cultivate the land. On the whole they are better shepherds than farmers.The Gaddis are identifiable from a distance due to their typical dress comprising topa, chola and dora. They sport a hukah (smoking pipe) in their hand and khalru containing cereals and other essential articles on their back. The Gaddis are simple and honest lot. They are more known for their simplicity. The Gaddis are sturdy people. The women are good looking. They are god-fearing people. Lord Shiva is their chief deity
The Gujjars :The Gujjars are also a pastoral tribe. They rear buffaloes and keep moving in search of grazing pastures throughout the year. In summer they go to the high hills/dhars while in winter they move out to the plains. Most of the Gujjars families have cultivated land with them but their chief wealth is still the buffaloes.
They build there temporary structures at the grazing places called kothas. The Gujjars trace their origin to Gujarat. Certain unforeseen reasons forced them to emigrate from Gujarat-Kathiawar region to Jammu & Kashmir and later to Chamba. The Gujjars in Chamba are predominately Muslims.

khajjiar

Khajjiar:-Often called India's Switzerland, the exquisite glade of Khajjiar (1960m) has a circumference ofabout 5 km. Along its fringes, thick forests of deodar climb the slopes, the snow-line rests above these woods. At Khajjiar there is a 12th century temple dedicated to KhajjI Nag. Within the temple are life size wooden images of the five Pandav brothers.
ACCESS: Khajjiar is connected by road and is 23 km from Dalhousie and 26 km from Chamba. It is 520 km from Delhi. The closest railhead is at Pathankot, 120 km. The airport at Gaggal in Kangra is at a distance of 180 km. Taxis and buses are available from all these places.

CLIMATE: In winter, the temperature hovers around freezing point with snowfall and heavy woolens are required. In summer, the climate is mild and light woolens / cottons are recommended.

Dalhousie

Dalhousie:-In western Himachal Pradesh, the hill station of Dalhousie is full of old world charm and holds lingering echos of the Raj era. It covers an area of 14 sq. km. and is built on five hills - Kathlog,Patreyn, Tehra, Bakrota and Balun. It is named after the British governor General of the 19th century, Lord Dalhousie. The town's heights varies between 525 m and 2,378 m, and is surrounded by varied vegetation - pines, deodars, oaks and flowering rhododendron. Dalhousie has charming colonial architecture, including some beautiful churches. Its location presents panoramic views of the plains and like a long silver line, the river Ravi twists and turns below Dalhousie. The spectacular snow-covered Dhauladhar mountains are also visible form this enchanting town. ACCESS: Dalhousie is 485 km by road from Delhi and 52 km from Chamba. The closest railhead is Pathankot, 80 km away. The airport at Gaggal in Kangra is at a distance of 135 km . Taxis and buses are easily available from these places.

CLIMATE: In winter, the temperature can drop to freezing point when heavy woolens are required. The summer temperature are mild and light woolens / cottons are recommended.

PLACES OF INTEREST:

CHURCHES: There are four beautiful churches in Dalhousie. These are St. Andrew's Church and St. Patrick's Church at Balun, St. Francis church at Subhash Chowk and St.John's Church at Gandhi Chowk.

SUBHASH BAOLI (1 km): It was at this enchanting spot surrounded by majestic trees, that Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose spent time in 1937, contemplating and meditating.

PANCHPULA (3 km): This is a picturesque spot where a stream feed a series of pools. A monument has been built here in memory of the freedom fighter, Sardar Ajit Singh.
KALATOP (10 km): This wild life sanctuary is a home to the 'ghoral' and Himalayan black bear.

SHOPPING: Tibetan handicrafts including pullovers and carpets at Dalhousie. Chamba Slippers, 'Rumals' and Shawls at Chamba town.

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