Everybody is aware of panoramic sights offered by Himachal Pradesh in India. One the best destination which is known but still unexplored by every voyager in this pictorial state of India is the holy land of Lord Shiva – Chamba. The pristine town of Chamba is located at the rise of 926 m on the shore of Ravi River hence portrays stunning views of the Himalayas, valleys, gorgeous meadows with the essence of spirituality.
There is a lot more in Chamba which need to be unfolded so, stay connected will and unveil every well-known aspect of Chamba with us.
Chamba – A Blessing of God in Himachal
Chamba Town sometimes experiences snowfall during winter that adds to the beauty of Chamba Town. Chamba has the most sacred place in whole Himachal known as Manimahesh which is said to be the birthplace of the supreme deity – Lord Shiva. Dalhousie and Khajjiar that are on Himachal’s are renowned all over the world for tourism activities. Trip to Chamba offers eternal memories of a place that is so beautiful and spending, you feel like you have spent a whole year and this is the key quality of Chamba as far as tourism in Chamba is concerned.
Also Read:Â Top 5 Places To Visit In Himachal Pradesh
Well Known Places to Visit in Chamba
Bharmaur, famous for its iconic Chaurasi Temples, Dalhousie, India’s quietest hill station, Khajjiar, known as Mini Switzerland, while travelling to Chamba, you will pass Pangi Valley which is popular for its stunning Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar range beauty. Exploration of treks from Chamba to Manimahesh and Pangi Valley is worthwhile.
Temples in Chamba
Chamba is the most suitable destination for those who are divine determined because of an uncountable number of temples. Most famous temples here are the Sui Mata Temple, Laxmi Narayan Temple, Brajeshwari Devi Temple, Chamunda Devi Temple and Hari Rai Temple. Chamba’s temples are mostly dedicated to Lord Shiva and Vishnu and are built of Richy engraved stone.
So let’s explore its renowned attractions-
Khajjiar lake
Khajjiar Lake is one of Himachal Pradesh’s most beautiful lakes and one of Chamba’s best places to explore. The lake is situated at an altitude of 1920 m from the middle sea level surrounded by snow-covered mountains and cedar trees. Khajjiar Lake’s best time to visit is from February to April when the weather is highly beautiful and visitors will enjoy different activities while enjoying the beauty of the countryside.
One of Khajjiar Lake’s most popular attractions is ‘Floating Island’ which is renowned the herb and vegetation that grows on the surface of the lake. Therefore, if you want to spend time alone and away from the busy city, Khajjiar Lake would be the place to go.
Dalhousie
Dalhousie is a hill station full of colonial appeal that is distributed over five hills. It is named after the 19th-century British governor-general Lord Dalhousie. This beautiful hill station depicts its visitor’s natural beauty with a variety of vegetation that includes impressive valleys of pines forest, vistas of wooded hills, waterfalls, oaks, deodars, and flowering rhododendrons.
Thein preserves some beautiful churches. There are also magnificent views of Chamba valley and the mighty Dhauladhar range with its awe-inspiring snow covered peaks filling an entire horizon. Read More Here: Dalhousie – Switzerland Of India
Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary
Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary is situated on the midst of Dalhousie and Khajjiar and giving major sighting option to travellers due to the ambience and greenery of its surroundings. This sanctuary is stretched in an area of around 31 km² with mostly deodar forest. It is one of the most famous shrines of wildlife in Himachal Pradesh.
If you love wandering around natural panorama then there is no better destination than strolling around deodar forest into the wildlife sanctuary. While strolling at Kalatop Wildlife sanctuary you will observe many wild animals, including Goral Barking, Jackal, Langur, Snake, Leopards, Black Marten Himalayans, deer etc.
Chamunda Devi Temple
One of the holiest sites and best to visit in Chamba is the Champavati Temple. It was designed by Raja Sahil Varman in memory of Champavati, his daughter and is close to the Chamba Treasury building. This temple is constructed in the Shikhara style and is characterized by many ornamental stone sculptures. The shrine of Vasuki Naga, Wazir, and Mahisasuramardini Goddess, is in the temple, the incarnation of Durga Goddess. The temple is of great historical and architectural importance and is supervised by the India Archeological Survey. Every year millions of Hindus, especially in Navratri, visit the temple.
Chamera Dam
Chamera dam is constructed on the River Ravi, making it one of the most important places to visit in Chamba. One of the most unique features of the place is the contrasting difference between the morning and night temperature. In the morning, you can feel 35°C On the other hand, during the nights, the temperature may drop up to 15°C to 18°C making it cool and peaceful.
If you are expecting any aquatic life here, then this will disappoint you. Apart from it is well known from watersports and fun activities such as sailing, paddle boating, rowing, angling, motor boating and kayaking are offered at the lake. You can also enjoy a ride in houseboats at Chamera lake.
Manimahesh Lake
Another stupendous lake in Chamba district, Manimahesh Lake has the same importance as that of Lake Mansarovar in Tibet. Manimahesh Lake is considered Lord Shiva’s abode, Lake Manimahesh has immense religious significance. This religious journey is brimming with fun and adventure. The Manimahesh pilgrimage begins from Chamba’s Lakshaminayaryan Temple and ends at Manimahesh Lake.
After Janmashtami, the holy journey ends and lasts for 15 days. Devotees walk barefoot through the rocky landscape as they worship Lord Shiva. We sing hymns and bhajans along the way in Lord’s praise. Once the pilgrims enter their Manimahesh Lake destination they bathe in the lake’s holy water. The travel to Lake Manimahesh is an incredible experience.
Champavati Temple
Champavati Temple is one of the most religious destinations and best places to visit in Chamba. It is situated near Treasury building in Chamba and it was established by Raja Sahil Varman in the memory of Champavati who was her daughter. The architecture of this temple is Shikhara style and various ornamental stone carvings make it distinct from others.
The temple holds the shrines of Vasuki Naga, Wazir and Goddess Mahisasuramardini, an avatar of Goddess Durga. The temple has a great archaeological and historical value and is taken care of by Archeological Survey of India. Millions of Hindus visit the temple each year, especially during Navratri.
Lakshmi Narayan Temple
Your trip will be incomplete without visiting this great temple in Chamba as the Lakshmi Narayan Temple is one of the oldest and largest temples in Chamba. It which was built in around 11th century by Raja Sahil Verma. The complex of Lakshmi Narayan temple has around six temples in total, all dedicated to either Lord Shiva or Lord Vishnu.
The main idol of Lord Vishnu is made up of rare marble, which used to be found in the mountains of Vindhyas. Apart from the six main temples, there are three more temples in the complex, namely Radha Krishna Temple, Gauri Shankar Temple, and Shiva Temple of Chandragupta.
Bhuri Singh Museum
The museum had originally been built as a place for the exhibition of Raja Bhuri Singh ‘s paintings in 1908. But now it also contains objects such as graven doors, frescos, monuments and numerous other historical objects that reflect Chamba’s culture and tradition.
The Chaugan heritage can be applied to the antique jewels of the royal Chamba family, royal costumes and musical instruments. If you’re an old guy, check out Himachal Pradesh, one of the most recommended places to visit in Chamba.
Best Time To Visit Chamba
You can also experience a decent amount of snowfall in Chamba if you’re visiting during winters. But many travellers say that ideal months to enjoy a temperate climate at Chamba is from March to June. But you will experience warm weather when you will visit in autumn.
Overall, Chamba tourism provides the most beautiful travel experience to a visitor, mixing adventure tourism, religious tourism and fun-oriented tourism. Chamba is one of Himachal’s most-visited locations. So visit this beautiful location and let us know what you like the most in Chamba.
Also Read: Palampur – An Offbeat Hill Station Blessed With Aromatic Tea Gardens
