Chamba

Soaked in old world charm, the picturesque town of Chamba, ensconced within the verdant valley of the gushing River Ravi, in Himachal Pradesh, may be a natural paradise. From pristine lakes, scenic waterfalls to the snow-capped Dhauladhar mountains and plush forests, Chamba may be a tranquil retreat. Dotted with several ancient temples that echo with legends and myths, the town may be a prominent spiritual centre and invites devotees from everywhere the region. Its numerous walking trails and waterfronts present ripe opportunities for adventure enthusiasts who can enjoys trekking, hiking, river rafting and camping. The rich history of Chamba is reflected in its various traditional arts and crafts like handkerchiefs, Pahari paintings, cast metalware and shawls.

Dating back to the 6th century, Chamba is understood because the land of Lord Shiva and therefore the Kailash Parvat (mountain). Set amidst the Shivalik hills, Chamba is claimed to possess been founded by Raja Sahil Varman, of the princely Chamba state, after he conquered the Rani Valley from Ranas and Thakurs within the half of the 10th century. He also moved his capital to Chamba from Bharmour. consistent with Kalhana, the Kashmiri poet, who is usually considered the primary historian of the country and mentions about the place in his work, Rajatarangini, the first name of the town was Champa. As Champavati, the daughter of Sahil Varman, is worshipped as a goddess in Chamba, he built a temple for her. The temple, thereafter, became the family temple of the rulers of Chamba. More popularly referred to as Chameshni, Champavati is additionally said to be guarding the fragrant champaka trees that adorn the region. The town holds two popular fairs, Minjar Mela and Suhi Mata Mela that last several days. While the previous is persisted the second Sunday of the Shravana month or August and celebrates the victory of the Raja of Chamba over the ruler of Trigarta (now referred to as Kangra), Suhi Mata Mela is widely known within the months of March or April.