An Overview of Himachal Pradesh , district Chamba Outer Part III

 An Overview of Himachal Pradesh , 

District Chamba  Outer Part III

As Tourists places of district Chamba are attractions of nature so people all over India and abroad come to visit Chamba Himachal Pradesh .

The important and popular hill stations we must visit are :- 

Mini Switzerland Khajjiar  :- 

Khajjiar mini Switzerland 

The Khajjiar which is called mini Switzerland of Himachal Pradesh . It is very popular among tourists . The nature here is very much loving to tourists . Khajjiar is about 26 km from Dalhousie , a beautiful grassy ground with a lake in the centre. You can visit it at any time of the year . 

Dalhousie Town :- 

A beautiful hill station about 45 Km from Chamba district headquarters and about 85 Km from Pathankot ( Punjab ) is named after the British Governor Lord Dalhousie of 19 th century. 

This beautiful town is located at an altitude of 1970 metres above mean sea level on the five hills  named  :- 

View of Dalhousie Town.

The five hills , Kathlog , Potreys, Tehra , Bakrota and Bolun . The varieties of trees like Pine , Deodar , Oak and flowering Rhododendron impart immense natural beauty to the town .  Tourists enjoy the relaxing beauty of of Dalhousie Town during their trip to this hill station .

Church of Scotland Chamba :- 

It is situated in the main market of Chamba . It was built by Raja Sham Singh , the construction was started in 1899 AD and was completed in 1905 AD and was honoured to the Church of Scotland mission .

Church of Scotland 

Chamera Lake :- 

View of Chamera Lake

One another manmade wonder is Chamera dam and Chamera Lake which is about 35 Kms from Dalhousie on Chamba Dalhousie road.The Chamera Lake is results of Chamera dam . It is a very beautiful lake surrounded by green hills . The Lake provides many picnic spots with water sports activities for tourists .

Chamera Hydal Power Project 

The dam is 295 metres long and 226 metres high on river Ravi . The dam has its normal elevation 763  above mean sea level . It is a hydropower project in Chamba district .

Bharmaur :-  

Some time the capital of Chamba , before it is shifted to Chamba by King Shahil Verman was Brahmputra now  the present Bharmaur .

Bharmaur is sub division of district Chamba and is about 60 Km from Chamba . It is a very beautiful place and is on the way to Mani mahesh 

Bharmaur is also famous for its Chaurasi temples built by Rajas which are still as it is .

Mani mahesh Lake :-  

Mani mahesh Lake

The Mani mahesh Lake is the abode of Lord Shiva and lacs of pilgrims visit this place every year . It is at a distance of 14 km trek from Hadsar . Mani mahesh Lake is situated at an elevation of 4080 metres above mean sea level . 

View of Mani mahesh mountains

Some other important attractions are :- 

Sui Mata Temple :- 

This temple was built in the memory of Maharani Sui by Raja Shahil Verman his wife . Maharani had sacrificed her life for the people of her kingdom to overcome the scarcity of water.   After her sacrifice the water began to flow.

Every year a fair is held in the memory of Rani Sui .

Chamunda mata Temple Chamba :- 

The temple of Mata Chamunda Devi was built by Raja Umed Singh in 1762 and is located on Shah Madar hills opposite to the Chamba town . Every year pilgrims visit these temples to offer their prayers .

Minjar Fair :- 

The very famous Minjar Fair is held every year in Chauhan ground which is famous for culture and trade of Chamba .

An Overview of Himachal Pradesh district Chamba Part II

An Overview of Himachal Pradesh .

District Chamba Part II

Chamba is an ancient town founded by Raja Shahil Verman in 920 on the special request of his daughter Champa vati on the bank of river Ravi  in 10 th century and named after her name . The town Chamba is situated at an altitude of 1006 metres above mean sea level on the bank of river Ravi at a distance of about 333 Kms from State capital Shimla .

View of Laxmi Narayan Temple 

The Chamba district shares the boundaries with Kistwar and Doda districts of Union Territory Jammu and Kashmir in the North West , Ladakh Union Territory in the West  , Lahaul valley of district Lahaul Spiti in North East , Bara Banghal in East  , district Kangra in the South East and Pathankot of Punjab in the South .

Chamba Town 

District Chamba is located in sun Himalayan range of Mountains . It is located between the Dhauladhar and Zanskar mountain ranges . The Dhauladhar mountain range cuts off it from Kangra valley.  It also has Pir - Panjal  mountain range which is separating it from Kashmir and Lahaul . 

The mountainous ranges are the major factor responsible for its pleasant climate and flora and fauna  , which attracts the tourists to exhibit the peace of mountains.

The Major Crops :- 

The traditional agriculture crops in the region  are Maize , Wheat , paddy  etc . 

Cultivation of flowers 

Now the government has  implemented a Green Gold project in the district to improve the economic status of 8000 thousand families through diversification towards cultivation of cash Crops like   seasonal vegetables ,  Mashroom cultivation , cultivation of medicinal plants , aromatic plants  and cultivation of Flowers  with the provision of suitable market . This step has certainly raised the income of farmers .

Flower cultivation in poly house.

About 70 percent of the total population of the district  are  directly or indirectly connected with  agriculture , cultivating  oil seeds ,  cereals , peas , Rajma etc ,bee keeping  , the traditional agriculture  and rearing of cows , baffalo  , sheep and goats .

Fishing Activities :- 

Many people earn their livelihood from catching fish and selling in the market . The department of fishery is playing a excellent role in helping them . The office of the Fishery department is functioning at Sultanpur at Chamba .

The Important Places to Visit :- 

Few important places which are worth seeing in  Chamba are given as under :- 

Laxmi Narayan Temple :

It is the oldest temples in Shikhar style architecture having six idols of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva . The central one is carved in marble . Every day people offer their prayers in the temple . 

View of Laxmi Narayan Temple at Chamba Himachal 

Shree Hari Rai Temple at Chamba :- 

Shree Hari Rai Temple is built in 11th century and is built next to the gate of Chaugan ground . The temple is built in stone Masonry in Shikhar style architecture and it is established with Lord Vishnu idol having three faces human ,Lion and Boar made up of ashat dhatu ( 8 different materials )  . People offer their prayers to Lord Vishnu every day . The Lord Vishnu's main idol  is adorned with Mukat , kundal , finger rings , armlets and necklaces .

Shree Hari Rai Temple Chamba 

Champavati Temple :- 

Champavati Temple is situated in the centre of Chamba town near police post and Treasury building . 

The temple is built in Shikhar style architecture  with the blend of Nepal designs by Raja Shahil Verman in the memory of his beloved daughter Champa vati .

The temple premises has idol of Mahishasur Mardini Godess Durga, Vasuki Nag and Wazir . Thousands of pilgrims visit this holy place every day . During Navratri huge crowds can be experienced here .

Champavati Temple Chamba 

Chaugan  ," The City Centre of Chamba ." :-

Chaugan is a beautiful large ground in the heart of Chamba town . Chaugan means a plain areas in local Himachali language . Initially these were five Chaugans but in 1890 leveling was done and converted into a one big ground . It had been used as a cricket ground by the British at that time .

The Chaugan is a centre of many activities . It is about one Kilometre long and 75 metres wide grassy ground .  Sports activities are conducted in this ground ,state level and district level functions are also organised in this ground . Munger Festival is also held in this ground . Weekly market of Mahila Mandals and self help groups can be seen in this ground .

View of Chaugan 

Rang Mehal , The Himachal Imporium :-  

Raja Umed Singh had built this beautiful Rang Mehal during 1764-94 in Surara Mohalla in Mugal architecture . It is a five storied building having streets on its three sides East , West , North and on the fourth side the residences of Wazirs of the ruling family. In the middle there is an open ground was being used for various activities . 

Rang Mehal 

The Rang Mehal as the name explains was a Luxury palace at that time with all facilities .

When Raja Shri Singh shifted to  Akhand  Chandi Palace  the Rang Mehal was used as a residential building by servants and elderly woman .

Now the government is using this building for various offices and a centre of handicrafts  , handlooms .

The Rang Mehal was beautifully decorated with paintings having scenes from Ramayana , Durga Shapt-shati , Mahabharat and Shiv -Parvati  painted by Miyan Tara Singh and his assistants 

Now this historic building has been taken over by the government and is used as Himachal Emporium the centre of attraction for handicrafts .

Bhuri Singh Musium Chamba :-  

Bhuri Singh Musium is a historical monument which reveals history, art and culture of Chamba . It built by Raja Bhuri Singh in the year 1908 and inaugurated on 14 September 1908 by Raja Bhuri Singh. He donated all his collections of British Empire coins , Mughal Empire coins ,Arms  and paintings to the musium .

Bhuri Singh Musium Chamba 

The name of the musium is kept on the name of Raja Bhuri Singh  who ruled the state from 1904 to 1919 .

The Kangra and Basholi style arts can be seen in the musium . Sharda and Takri scripts are kept in the musium .  Tourists used to visit this historic Musium .