Chamba is an ancient town in the Chamba district in the state of Himachal Pradesh. It is Located at an altitude of 996 metres (3,268 ft) above mean sea level and the town is situated on the banks of the Ravi River. The towns of Dalhousie and Khajjhiar are popular hill stations and vacation spots for the people from the plains of northern India.Chamba is the only district in northern India to preserve a well-documented history from c. 500 AD.Regarding the early history of this region, it is believed that this area was at time inhabited by certain Koliyan tribes which were later subjugated by the Khasas. The Khasas too after a time came under the sway of Audumbaras (2nd century BC).The Audmabaras had republican form of government and worshiped Shiva as their principal deity.Much information about Himachal’s ancient history is given in epics like the Mahabharata and the Ramayana and other scriptures like the Vedas and the Puranas.

The Mahabharata mentions the janapadas (some sort of a kingdom) of Kuluta (Kullu),Trigarta (Kangra), Kulind (Shimla hills and Sirmaur), Yugandhar (Bilaspur and Nalagarh), Gobdika (Chamba) and Audumbar (Pathankot).

Famous Places

The city layout can be distinctly demarcated into two zones; namely the 'Old Town' before the British introduced their urban architectural styles and the British period of contemporary monuments, bridges and buildings.

Monuments built prior to 1846

  Buildings in Chamba were traditionally constructed using local materials. Buildings were made out of dry stone masonry, with the walls and floors of the older houses plastered with a concoction of clay and cow-dung.Thick wooden beams were used to support the walls, paying attention to durability and to withstand earthquakes, and wooden cantilever construction was often used to support the verandas.The staircases and doors were made from wood,with the doors often decorated in religious reliefs and flanked by two lamps to light it at night.

Champavati Temple

This temple was built by Raja Sahil Varman in memory of his daughter Champavati. The temple, located near the Police Post and the Treasury building, is built in the Shikhara style, with intricate stone carvings. It has a wheel roof and is large as the Laxmi Narayan Temple. An idol of the goddess Mahishasuramardini (Durga) is worshipped in the temple. The walls of the temple are full of exquisite stone sculptures.

Lakshmi Narayan temples

The Lakshmi Narayan temples complex, devoted to the Vaishnavite sect, includes the main Lakshmi Narayan temple, built in the 10th century by Raja Sahil Verman. It has been built to suit the local climatic conditions with wooden chatries and has a shikara, and a sanctum sanctorum (Garbhagriha), with an antarala and a mantapa. A metallic image of Garuda,the vahana (mount) of Vishnu is installed on the dwajastamba pillar at the main gate of the temple.On account of its historical and archaeological importance, the temple is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Chamunda Devi Temple

Chamunda Devi Temple is located in a prominent position on the spur of Shah Madar range of hills, opposite to the Chamba town. It was built by Raja Umed Singh, and was completed in 1762.It is the only wooden temple with gabled roof (single storied) in Chamba,while all others in the town are built from stone in the north Indian Nagara architectural style.In the past, the temple was accessed through a stone paved steep path laid with 378 steps, but it is now approached by a 3 kilometres (9,800 ft) motorable road.

Akhand Chandi Palace

The Akhand Chandi Palace, noted for its distinct green roof, was built by Raja Umed Singh between 1747 and 1765 and used as his residence.Later, Raja Sham Singh refurbished it with the assistance of British engineers. In 1879, the Darbar Hall (also named 'Marshal Hall' after the builder) was built.Raja Bhuri Singh added the Zenana Mahal (residence of Royal ladies).

Bhuri Singh Museum

The Bhuri Singh Museum at Chamba was established on September 14, 1908 in honour of the raja at the time, Raja Bhuri Singh,who ruled Chamba from 1904 to 1919.J. Ph. Vogel, an eminent indologist, and expert on the history of Chamba state, proposed the museum to preserve a number of valuable inscriptions, mostly in Sarda script, which contained some rare information about the medieval history of Chamba;the Prashastis (Inscriptions) of Sarahan, Devi-ri-kothi and mul Kihar (fountain inscription) are still preserved in the museum.