When it comes to tourism, the hill state of India, Himachal Pradesh is mentioned, where you will find more than one place 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 also many wonderful places around Chamba that 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 a lot. Let's know about them...
Chamera Lake
Chamera Lake is one of the most beautiful and rich natural lakes in the 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 who visit here. Chamera Lake is a major source of supply for the villagers here and is fed by the Ravi River.
Laxmi Narayan temple
Laxmi Narayan Temple is a famous temple in Chamba. It is built in the main Chamba town. The Lakshmi Narayan temple was built by Raja Sahil Varman. It was built after 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 deities can be seen here. The temple has a pavilion-like structure. A wooden canopy can be seen in the shikhara above the temple. A wheel roof has been made over the temple so that if snow falls, the temple will be 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 prominent temple in the Chamba district. All three incarnations of Lord Vishnu are enshrined in this temple which is in the form of humans, lions, and pigs. These three incarnations of Lord Vishnu have been made and decorated in such a wonderful way that it looks very attractive. Other forms of Lord Vishnu as well as idols of Lord Surya, Shiva Arun, and similar deities have been installed in this temple.
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 built by Lord Shiva after his marriage to Goddess Parvati. For this reason, the religious importance of Manimahesh Lake has been considered equal to Mansarovar Lake. Located in the Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas, the height of Manimahesh Lake is 4080 meters above sea level. A huge fair is organized every year in Manimahesh lake on the eighth day of the new moon in August and September. The yatra undertaken at this time of the year is called "Manimahesh Yatra".
Chamunda Devi Temple
The Chamunda Devi Temple is situated on the top of the Shah Madar range. From this temple, tourists can get a spectacular view of Chamba city. Chamunda Devi Temple was built by Raja Umaid Singh in the year 1762. Nestled amidst the forests of Patidar and Lahla, this temple is made entirely of wood, with huge 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 one had to climb 400 stone-cut steps to reach this temple 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 believed to be the symbol of Lord Shiva.
Thala Waterfall
Thala Waterfall is a very beautiful waterfall located at a distance of about 10 km from Bharmour. The special thing about this waterfall is that this waterfall flows only for the whole 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 called Chhandu and Ghared Jharna.
Akhand Chandi Mahal
Akhand Chandi Mahal is the oldest palace in Chamba built during medieval times. This palace was built by Raja Umaid Singh, the then ruler of Chamba, during 1747-1765. Sometime after that, during the colonial period, Raja Sham Singh got the Akhand Chandi Mahal reconstructed with the help of British engineers. After India's independence in 1958, the then Raja of Akhand Chandi Mahal sold this palace to the Government of Himachal Pradesh. After some time, the state government converted this palace into the district library and government college. The views of E Mata Mandir and Laxmi Narayan Mandir are 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 Rani Sui who sacrificed her life for her people. Situated atop the Shah Darbar hill, the 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, who is regarded as a symbol of her sacrifice. Travelers can reach Sui Mata Temple from below with the help of paved stairs along a path.
