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Chamba>> Tourist information and travel guide on Chamba, Sightseeing in Chamba,
honeymoon destination, summer getaway, trekking in Chamba, temples |
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When you seek an
unusual break from the hackneyed hill station theme, turn your searchlight towards Chamba,
a scenic Himalayan town just 50kms from Dalhousie. Chamba blossomed as the ancient capital
of the Pahari Rajas; it was named after King Sahil Varman’s daughter Champavati.
Today it is the quintessential valley township, famous for its myriad temples, forests and
charming hill folk.
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At 915m, Chamba rises above the River Ravi as it rages by, leaving verdant valleys and dense deodar forests in its
wake. The forests are rich in wildlife - ibex, marmot and snow leopard haunt the upper
reaches above the snow line, and musk deer, brown bear, leopards and wild boar in the
lower elevations. Mountain birds such as the partridge and pheasant flit across the vale.
Pretty waterfalls and streams tumble down the mountainside and at every turn, the
valley’s beauty seems to grow.
The Chowgan, a huge grassy field, is the
centre of town life - the gathering point for all things religious, political and social.
The Gandhi gate on the Chowgan’s south-west face was built to commemorate Lord
Curzon’s visit to the town in 1900. Other interesting places are the Akhand Chandi
Palace, now a museum and the Bhuri Singh Museum that houses a collection of
ancient Chamba artefacts and manuscripts.
Many a trek into the Himalayas is launched from
Chamba - through Bhaderwah to Kashmir, through the Sach Pass into Pangi Valley and to
other peaks in the Dhauladhars, Peerpanjal and Laskar mountains. Bharmaur (65 km), the
ancient capital of Chamba, is a popular village that can be accessed by road. The Gaddi
tribes lead their goat and sheep to pasture at Bharmaur in summer. While in the area,
visit the sacred Manimahesh Lake where thousands have a holy dip around Janamashtami.
Chamba is bound to bowl you over with its scenic
beauty, temples and its sense of tranquillity. Try it - you’ll like it!
Getting t o
Chamba: Chamba is 580 km from Delhi and120 km from Pathankot, the closest
railhead. The nearest large airports are at Jammu and Amritsar, both 245 km away, from
where buses, taxis and tourist vehicles are available. Dalhousie is just 50 kms away from
Chamba. Within Chamba, you can move around in taxis, jeeps, buses and minibuses.
Best time to visit Chamba: Summer - April to
October - is quite the best time to be here; the weather is pleasant barring the monsoon
months of July and August. Summer temperatures range from 8°C at night to 39°C during
the day, while winter temperatures drop to freezing - between 10°C and 1°C. Cotton
clothes and light woollens are fine for summer, but heavy woollens and snow clothes are
required in winter.
Accommodation in Chamba: Himachal
Tourism and Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam have deluxe rooms in town. There are private
hotels, motels and guesthouses where you can get low and medium budget accommodation.
Tariffs range from Rs 400 upwards. Book in advance, especially during tourist season.
For more country information, see India.
For detailed state information, see Himachal Pradesh. |
