When it comes to tourism, the hilly state of India, Himachal Pradesh, is mentioned, where you will find many places to visit. Today in this episode we are going to talk about Chamba surrounded by natural beauty. Chamba is also known as the land of Lord Shiva. Due to the variety of flora and fauna found here, it is a major tourist destination in India. Here you can see many forts and palaces ranging from ancient temples. There are many wonderful places around Chamba too, which you can visit during your city tour. Here we are going to tell you about the major tourist places of Chamba where you can enjoy visiting. Let us know about them...

Chamera Lake
Chamera Lake is the most beautiful and rich natural lake in Chamba district near Dalhousie, which attracts tourists immensely with its charm. Let us tell you that Chamera Lake is located at a distance of 25 km from Dalhousie which is a reservoir created by Chamera Dam and is situated at an altitude of 1700 meters. This popular tourist destination of Himachal Pradesh is very much liked by all the tourists traveling here. Chamera Lake is a major source of supply for the villagers here and is fed by the Ravi River.

Laxmi Narayan temple
Lakshmi Narayan Temple is a famous temple of Chamba. It is situated in the main Chamba City. Lakshmi Narayan Temple was built by Raja Sahil Varman. It was constructed in the tenth century AD. This temple is built in the Shikhar style. The temple has a spire, sanctum sanctorum and antarala. The entire temple is made of stone. Beautiful carvings have been done on the walls of the temple. Carvings of Gods and Goddesses can be seen here. A pavilion-like structure is built in the temple. A wooden canopy can be seen in the spire above the temple. A wheel roof has been built over the temple so that if snow falls, the temple remains safe. There are other temples built in the Lakshmi Narayan temple complex. Shiva temple, Radha Krishna temple, and Gauri Shankar temple have been built here.

Harirai Temple
Hari Rai Temple is a very important temple in the Chamba district. In this temple, all three incarnations of Lord Vishnu are installed which are in the form of humans, lions, and pig. These three incarnations of Lord Vishnu have been made and decorated in such a wonderful way that they look quite attractive. In this temple, along with other different forms of Lord Vishnu, idols of Lord Surya, Shiva, Arun, and other similar deities have been installed.

Manimahesh Lake
Manimahesh Lake, located at a distance of 52 kilometers from Chamba, is considered a major center of faith for Hindu devotees. According to mythological beliefs, Manimahesh Lake was constructed by Lord Shiva after his marriage to Mother Parvati. For this reason, the religious importance of Manimahesh Lake is considered equal to that of Mansarovar Lake. Manimahesh Lake, located in the Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas, has an altitude of 4080 meters above sea level. A huge fair is organized every year at Manimahesh Lake on the eighth day of Amavasya in August and September. The journey undertaken at this time of the year is called “Manimahesh Yatra”.

Chamunda Devi Temple
Chamunda Devi Temple is situated on the top of Shah Madar Range. Tourists can see the spectacular view of Chamba City from this temple. Chamunda Devi Temple was built by Raja Umed Singh in the year 1762. Nestled amidst the forests of Patidar and Lahla, this temple is made entirely of wood, with massive roofs. Situated on the banks of river Baner, this temple is dedicated to Goddess Kali, who is also known as the goddess of war. Earlier to reach this temple one had to climb 400 steps cut out of stones but now the temple can be easily reached through a 3-kilometer-long concrete road from Chamba. The seven hundred-year-old temple has a cave-like structure at the back which is considered to be a symbol of Lord Shiva.

Thala Falls
Thala Waterfall is a very beautiful waterfall located at a distance of about 10 kilometers from Bharmour. The special thing about this waterfall is that this waterfall keeps flowing throughout the month of the year. This waterfall is not a monsoon-dependent waterfall. Two more waterfalls can be seen at some distance from this waterfall. If we talk about their names then they are said to be Chhandu and Ghared waterfalls.

Akhand Chandi Mahal
Akhand Chandi Mahal is the oldest palace of Chamba built in medieval times. This palace was built by the then-ruler of Chamba, Raja Umed Singh during 1747-1765. Sometime after that, during the colonial period, Raja Sham Singh got the Akhand Chandi Mahal rebuilt with the help of British engineers. After the independence of India, in 1958, the then-king of Akhand Chandi Mahal sold this palace to the government of Himachal Pradesh. After some time, the state government converted this palace into a district library and government college. Akhand Chandi Mahal to Chamunda Devi Temple, Rang Mahal, Bansi Gopal Temple, And the views of Lakshmi Narayan temple look very beautiful. The influence of Mughal and British architecture is reflected in the construction of Akhand Chandi Mahal.

Sui Mata Temple
Sui Mata Temple is a major temple located in the Saho district in Chamba which was built by King Varman in memory of his wife Queen Sui who sacrificed her life for her people. Situated on top of Shah Darbar Hill, this temple offers a spectacular view of the small settlements below. The Sui Mata temple complex is divided into three parts including the main temple, a channel, and a monument dedicated to Queen Sui Mata, which is considered a symbol of her sacrifice. Travelers can reach Sui Mata Temple with the help of paved stairs along a path from below.

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