Sightseeing

Dalhousie

Dalhousie is popular with Punjabi tourists and finding accommodation during the early summer and peak Indian holiday periods can be difficult. The high season runs from mid-April to mid-July, mid-September to mid-November and mid-December to early January. For a large many people of Bengal, Maharashtra and Gujarat, Dalhousie, inexpensive and unspoilt from the crowds that throng to other hill stations, continued to be popular. Film companies found the locale ideal with its quiet beauty and concommitant amenities, including besides, the hotels, clubs and cinema houses, as well as a skating rink. Nearby is the Thermal Maidan, which is a meadow stretching for nearly three kilometers and Tagore Marg, a stately avenue flanked by pine and cedar.

The 12th century Khajjinag temple has fine woodcarving on the cornices and some crude carvings of the five Pandavas, the heroes of the Mahabharata, which were installed in the temple by the Raja of Chamba in the 16th century.

The six temples in the complex, all featuring exquisite sculpture, are representative of the shikhara style. Three of the temples are dedicated to Vishnu and three to Shiva. The largest temple in the group is that of Lakshmi Narayan and is directly opposite the entrance to the complex. Some of the fine sculptures around the temple include those of Vishnu and Lakshmi, Narsingh and Krishna with the gopis. The fourth temple on the right, the Gauri Shankar temple, is dedicated to Shiva.
 

Bajreshwari Devi temple conforms to the shikara style, and is topped by a wooden amalaka. The entire surface of the temple is elaborately carved, featuring two friezes of rosettes at the lower levels. It is fronted by two stone columns with richly carved capitals and bases.

About a 10 minute walk from the Chamunda Devi temple is a small modern temple dedicated to Sui Mata. Colourful paintings around the interior walls of the temple tell the story of Sui, a Chamba princess who gave her life for the inhabitants of Chamba.
 

Harirai temple is fine stone shikhara-style temple, on the north-westernside of the Chowgan, near the fire station, dates from the 11th century. It is dedicated to Vishnu and enshrines a fine triple-headed image of Vaikuntha Vishnu reputedly made from eight different materials. At the rear of the temple is a fine sculpture of Vishnu astride six horses.

Gandhi Gate, bright orange gateway on the south western side of the Chowgan was built in 1900 to welcome Viceroy Lord Curzon to the city. This was the main entrance into the city before the new road was built.

Another attraction is the Bhuri Singh Museum, which is a rich store house of Chamba's cultural heritage and an excellent and interesting collection of this region particularly the miniature paintings of Kangra and Basholi schools of art. Besides, a vast epigraphical material relating to the history of the regions and some of the murals of the Rang Mahal Palace, which was damaged in a fire, are also housed in the museum.

Bhandal Valley, for lovers of wild life, this beautiful spot 22 kms from Salooni and linked to it by road, offers a wonderful opportunity for a pleasant week-end. The Bhandal Valley, at a height of 1,831 metres (6,006 ft) links Chamba with Jammu & Kashmir.

Sarol - apian retreat, just 11 kms from Chamba is a remarkable picnic spot where, along with beautiful Agricultural gardens and a Sheep Breeding Farm, there is a Bee-keeping Centre. The honey from the apiary is delicious. To reach this charming spot one has to travel 8 kms by bus and the rest on foot.

Killar, 137 kms north east of Chamba is situated in the deep and narrow gorge of the Chenab river. It can also be reached through the Sach pass. Here you are in the high Himalayas, in the scenic beauty of the valley. It is the desire of many a hardy trekker to visit these lands of pretty faces, beautiful dances and scenic splendour.