Page 130 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

128  DELHI & THE NOR TH

r Chamba
Chamba district. 378 km (235 miles)
NW of Shimla. * 20,300. @
( daily. _ Sui (Apr), Minjar (Jul/
Aug). Travel permits: Contact the
Deputy Commissioner, (01899) 225
371. For details, see pp734–5.
This town was chosen as the
capital of the former princely
state of Chamba in the 10th
century, when Raja Sahil Varman
moved here from Bharmour.
He named it Chamba after his
favourite daughter, Champavati,
Silverton, one of the many colonial houses in Dalhousie also called Chameshni, who
legend says, sacrificed herself to
e Dalhousie Environs provide water for the parched city.
A scenic road through dense During the Sui festival, women
Chamba district. 336 km (209 miles)
NW of Shimla. * 7,400. @ forests of pine, deodar, oak, horse and children sing her praises in
n Geetanjali Hotel, near bus chestnut and rhododendron the town’s many temples.
stand, (01899) 242 136. ( daily. leads to the Kalatope Wildlife A bridge over the Ravi river
_ Summer Festival (Jun). Sanctuary, about 8 km (5 miles) leads up to the town, situated
east of Dalhousie. With prior on the ledge of a mountain,
Sprawling over five hills that permission from the wildlife overlooking the right bank
range in height from 1,525 m authorities at Chamba it of the river. In the town’s
to 2,378 m (5,003 ft to 7,802 ft), is possible to take a centre is the Chaugan,
Dalhousie still retains its Raj-era diversion at Bakrota a huge expanse of
ambience, with spacious, gable- and drive to a rest meadow that is the
roofed bungalows and churches house deep inside the focal point of its
flanking its leafy lanes. Originally sanctuary. About 26 cultural and social
conceived as a sanatorium for km (16 miles) east of life. Clustered around
the expatriate population rather Dalhousie is Khajjiar, it are a number of
than as a fashionable summer situated at a height of imposing buildings,
retreat, it was founded in 1853 2,000 m (6,562 ft). This Silver mask of including the old
and named after Lord Dalhousie, saucer-shaped expanse Parvati, Chamba Akhand Chandi Palace,
the governor-general of British of green meadow, part of which is now a
India between 1848 and 1856. bordered by towering deodars, college. The Chaugan is also the
The most popular walks are the has a picture postcard beauty, main marketplace with shops
twin rounds of Garam Sarak comparable with the finest that sell a variety of merchandise,
(“Warm Road”) and Thandi Sarak views in Kashmir or Switzerland. ranging from traditional silver
(“Cold Road”), so called because The centre has a small lake, jewellery with enamelled clasps
one path is sunnier than the and the glade is flanked by a to embroidered Chamba chappals
other. A shorter walk from the temple dedicated to the local (sandals) that may look flimsy
Circuit House to Gandhi Chowk deity, Khajjinag. but are excellent for walking
– the central part of town, where up hillsides.
a school, church and the post O Kalatope Wildlife Sanctuary Chamba’s towering stone
office are situated – offers For permission contact: Forest Depart- temples are some of the finest in
spectacular views of the Pir ment, Chamba. Tel (01899) 222 639. the region. The most important
Panjal Range. From Gandhi
Chowk, another pleasant ramble,
about 3 km (2 miles) long,
leads south to the pretty
picnic spot of Panjpula or
“Five Bridges”.
For Raj aficionados, a track
leading off to the right from
the main bus stand moves
past the old British cemetery
in the woods, before reaching
the cantonment. One of the
two churches here boasts pretty
stained-glass windows and
sandstone arches. Images of deities on the walls of Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Chamba
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p695 and p707

128-129_EW_India.indd 128 26/04/17 11:43 am
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Date 25th April 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm