An Overview of Himachal Pradesh district Bilaspur

 "An Overview Of Himachal Pradesh "

"District Bilaspur  "  

Part-I

The part I will cover the main attractions in Bilaspur Town.

Old temples in Old Bilaspur , now submerged in water of Govind Sagar Lake.

Bilaspur is a beautiful district in Himachal Pradesh, its head quarter is situated on the left  bank of Govind Sagar Lake about 90 Km from Shimla state capital and 140 Km from Chandigarh , the town is now known as NBT  that is New Bilaspur Town .

View of Govind Sagar Lake 

The NBT , New Bilaspur Town was established  when  the old Bilaspur Town was proposed to be submerged in Govind Sagar Lake . The old Bilaspur Town has been submerged in water of Govind Sagar formed due to construction of Bhakhara Dam on river Satluj at village Bhakhara in district Bilaspur . 

It is situated on Chandigarh Mandi Manali National Highway it is about 60 Km from Kiratpur on this National Highway .

District Bilaspur has about 1167 square Kilometres area. The district Bilaspur has its boundaries with  district Solan , Hamirpur ,Mandi  Una and district Ropar of Punjab .

Bilaspur Princely State was merged with Himachal Pradesh on 1st July 1954 and became a district of Himachal Pradesh .

Bilaspur Town is the first town in India which is constructed as per architectural planning . It has Raura sector , Changar sector and Diyara sector and main market etc.

Initially the district was having two tehsils , one Bilaspur Sadar and second one was Ghumarwin  but at present two new tehsils have been created one  Shri Naina Devi with head quarter at Swarghat and another one is Jhandutta .

View of Kandrour Bridge

Major Crops  Grown :- 

The district Bilaspur has its major crops Maize , wheat ,paddy grown in its plain areas . The cash Crops are ginger , tomotos and sugarcane in few portions. The carnations and capsicum is being grown in green houses.  Agriculture is contributing a lot towards economy of the district. 

The Tomotos , Ginger , Carnations Capsicum are major commercial cash Crops.

Horticulture Activity :- 

The fruits grown in district Bilaspur are Mangoes,  Papaya , Guava , Orange, Lemon . Now an apple variety suitable for subtropical area has been developed by Mr. Hariman Sharma and is now being grown successfully in some areas of district Bilaspur . Rajat Biotech Lab at Dhadhol is also contributing a lot in developing varieties of apple from tissue culture technology.

Now Government of Himachal Pradesh with the help of Assian Development Bank has started a HP SHIVA project in this district along with 8 other districts for establishing horticulture  gardens of fruits like Orange , lemon , Guava and other fruits

 Fishing Activities :- 

The Government of Himachal Pradesh has established Asia's largest hatchery farm at Deoli during the year 1961-62 on the bank of Ali khad . The fish seed from this farm is poured in Govind Sagar , river Satluj and Seer Khad as these are the largest water bodies for fisheries . Seed from this farm is also given to farmers who are involved in blue revolution.

View of Govind Sagar at Bhakhara Dam.

The Deoli fish breeding farm is set up on 4.4 hectares and has 14 hatchery nursary pond units and 2 big brood stock tanks . The farm has the complete facilities of training and development. The varieties like Silver Carp. Mirror Carp are produced here. 

Trout fish is also being produced in  water of Satluj in Coldam . So fish farming is playing a major commercial role in contributing towards the economy of the district as well as state . Over 600 metric tons of fish is exported to other states and about 18 metric tons is consumed in the state every year large quantities of which is being produced in Bilaspur district .

Beauty of Bilaspur Town:-

The nature is imparting immense beauty to Bilaspur Town as it is situated on the bank of Govind Sagar Lake , the water of Lake provides facilities of water sports , transport to surrounding areas. The paragliding from Bandla Hill is another charm for adventure sports.

Nalwari Mella Bilaspur:- Bilaspur is famous for its Nalwari Mella which is held in the month of March every year and is declared as a state fair. Previously cattle trade was main, but now cultural activities , trade of other comodities and wrestling and other amusement are charms for visitors .

The Important Places from Tourism Point of View :- 

Nahar Singh Temple at Dholra :- 

The Nahar Singh Temple is situated at Dholra on the bank of Govind Sagar Lake. The Baba Nahar Singh is one of the most worshipped deity in district Bilaspur . People call Bajia , Pipalwale , Dalawala to Nahar Singh Devta .

Princess Naggar Devi was married with Raja Deep Chand of Bilaspur. Baba Nahar Singh Temple was built by Raja Deep Chand. It was Raja Deep Chand who in 1650 AD shifted his capital to Bias Gufa . It is said that with the help of 2 Hindu and 2 Mohamdan faqeers he searched a place on the bank of river Satluj called Bias Gufa on the name of Vias Rish and established his capital at Bias Gufa later called Bilaspur .

The old town established by Raja Deep Chand and he constructed a palace called Dholar . 

Baba Nahar Singh was patron deity of Nagar, once the capital of Kullu .  When princess of Kullu married with Raja Deep Chand of Bilaspur , the idol of Baba Nahar Singh came princess to Bilaspur.

At one time the queen fell ill and spells of unconsciousness continued repeatedly,then it was revealed that idol of Baba Nahar Singh which was brought with queen was not established with all religions rituals.

Then Raja Deep Chand built the Nahar Singh Temple at Dholra and placed the Khadaun of Baba Nahar Singh in the temple as his symbol. Then Raja Deep Chand offered prayers and Rani got well.

Since then a fair ,jatra are organised at the temple on every Tuesday in the honour of Baba Nahar Singh. Then temple of Rani Kulluvi is also built up  near Nahar Singh Temple .

Vias Gufa :- 

The another important sacred place which belongs to Mahabharat fame ,located on the left bank of river Satluj  is Vias Gufa. It is said that Maharishi Vyas meditated at this place. That's why this place is holy place for pilgrims.

The origin of Vyaspur starts from here later on it is named Bilaspur .

Laxmi Narayan Temple :-

The Shikhar style temple near Bilaspur bus stand is Laxmi Narayan Temple, holy place for pilgrims. 

View of Laxmi Narayan Temple at Bilaspur HP

The temple has idols of Bhadwan Laxminarayan , Shiva , Rangnath , Adi Shakti Durga and Baba Bangali . 

The idols of Rangnath and Shivalinga of Shankeshwar brought from old temple which now has submerged in Govind Sagar Lake have been established in this temple.

Celebrations are held in this temple on Janmashtami and Shivratri in this temple and people offer their prayers .