Chamba is bounded on north-west by Jammu and Kashmir, on the north-east and east by Ladakh area of Jammu and Kashmir state and Lahaul and Bara-Bangal area of Himachal Pradesh, on the south-east and south by the District Kangra of Himachal Pradesh and Gurdaspur District of the Punjab. The Chamba District is situated between north latitude 32° 11΄ 30″ and 33° 13΄ 6″ and east longitude 75°49 and 77° 3΄ 30″, with an estimated area of 6528 square Kilometers and is surrounded on all sides by lofty hill ranges. The territory is wholly mountainous with altitude ranging from 2,000 to 21,000 feet. Regarding the early history of this region it is believed that this area was at time inhabited by certain Kolian tribes, which were later, subjugated by the Khasas. The Khasas too after a ... read more

Chamba, Champavati Temple The temple of goddess Champavati is shikhara style stands near the royal place and the tradition holds it that this temple was made in the name of Raja Sahil Verman's daughter Champavati. Champavati was of religious disposition and used to visit sadhu's place, the site of the present temple. The Raja grew suspicious of her going to sadhu, so he followed her one day with dagger drawn in his hand. But when he reached sadhu's places, he found neither sadhu nor his daughter there. A voice however came from the stillness upbraiding him from his suspicion and saying that his daughter has been taken away from his as punishment. He was further commanded to construct a temple in her memory to atone for his sin and to avert calamity to his family. The ... read more

Chamba, Hari Rai Temple Shri Hari Rai temple (Vishnu temple) is located near Chaugan gate. The temple is in shikhara style built in stone. The image of worship is Vaikuntha form of Vishnu having three faces-human, boar and lion. The bronze image of the deity is in superb execution. Stylistically the image is certainly of earlier date than the second half of the 11th century A.D. The central figure of the image, with a pronounced well-modelled chest and waist, is clad in dhoti with prominent but stylised folds, arrayed artistically. The fixture is elegantly decked in beaded anklets with pendants, bracelets, finger-rings, armlets with diamond-shaped central pieces, a beaded garland, an elaborate necklace with pendants, flower-shaped kundals and mukut (crown). The hair is arranged in coiled locks falling on shoulders and back. The eyes are laid ... read more

Chamba , Bhader Kali (Sri Bhalai Mata ) Temple The temple of Bhader kali popularly known as sri Bhalei Mata is located on a beautiful squr of 3800 feet height at a place called Bhalei which is now a sub-tehsil headquarters. The temple can be approached either from Chamba or from Dalhousie side and is at a distance of 40 kilometers from Chamba and 35 kilometers from Dalhousie. The deity is in the front of an image of black stone of two feet height and is enshrined in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. Bhadar Kali draw a large number of pilgrims from far and wide. A big havan ceremony is performed during navratras of Ashwin and Chait months. The temple of Bhadar Kali seems to have been built originally by Raja Pratap Singh during his ... read more

Chamba Valley (Himachal Pradesh) India The district as a princely State was under the rule of progressive and staunch Hindu Rajas and a large number of temples owe their origin to the princes. One of them, Raja Sahil Verman in the tenth century was particularly noted for his religious zeal and was apparently a staunch believer in Vishnu cult. Most of the Vishnu temples are concentrated in Chamba town and Lakshmi Narayan temple is the most important one. The temple of Nar Singh at Bharmaur, Thakur Murli Manoharji at Raj Nagar and of Nar Singh at Bart gal in Pargana Bhalai is some of the other important Vishnu temples. The cult of Siva is more ancient and has a wider sphere of influence. This is natural because the Himalayan range, her many peaks, the Kailash mountain, ... read more