Chamba is a quaint little town, nestled in a
picturesque valley in the northwestern part of the state of Himachal
Pradesh, in India. Chamba 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.
The town lies on
the banks of River Ravi, in a valley between two mountain ridges. Chamba is
56 km from Dalhousie via Khajjiar. 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.
HISTORY
OF CHAMBA
Ruled by the local Rajputs from the 6th century AD, the
town of Chamba was founded by Raja Sahil Verman in the 10th century and
named it after his daughter Champavati. It was a part of the Mughal Empire
in the medieval period and later became the part of various Sikh kingdoms.
It was finally taken over by the British and became a part of the state of
Himachal Pradesh, when India became independent in 1947.
BEST
TIME TO VISIT
The best time to visit Chamba is between March
and June.
CHAMBA SIGHTSEEING
The Laxmi
Narayan Temple is the main tourist attraction of Chamba. 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. The Laxmi Narayan Temple complex also has
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.
Chamba from the days
of yore has been famous for its local festivals and Chowgan, the grassy
promenade at the heart of the town, is the focus for the local festivals.
To the northeast of the Laxmi Narayan temple lies the small Surara
temples. Nearby is the Brajreshwari Devi temple, dedicated to Goddess Durga.
This temple is constructed in the of traditional shikhara style and is known
for intricate carvings on its surface.
The Sui Mata Temple is located between the Chamunda Devi
temple and Brajreshwari Devi temple, and is dedicated to Sui Mata (a local
princess, who gave her life for the people in Chamba). Colorful paintings
within the temple depict the life of Sui.
The 11th-century Harirai
Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu is also made in the Shikhara style and has a
triple-headed statue of Lord Vishnu made from eight different materials.
The Rangmahal 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.
Other temples to visit in Chamba are the
Radha Krishna Temple, the Sitaram Temple and the Champavati Temple.
HOW
TO REACH
Chamba does not have an airport nor a railway station. The
bus station in Chamba is located near the Chowgan. The bus service from
Chamba to Bharmaur (3½ hours), Dharamshala (10 hours), Khajjiar (1½
hours), Dalhousie (3 hours), and to Pathankot (6 hours) is very good.
FAIRS
& FESTIVALS
An unique feature of Chamba are its many 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/early 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.
