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Chamba
[Chamba Hill Station]
Chamba
Coordinates:
32°34'12?N 76°7'48?E? / ?32.57°N 76.13°E? / 32.57; 76.13
Country :
India
State :
Himachal Pradesh India
District :
Chamba district
District :
Chamba district
Chamba is an ancient town in the Chamba district in the state of Himachal Pradesh, in northern India. According to the 2001 Indian census, Chamba has a population of 38,312 people.[1] Located at an altitude of 996 metres (3,268 ft) above mean sea level, the town is situated on the banks of the Ravi River (a major tributary of the Trans-Himalayan Indus River), at its confluence with the Sal River.
The town of Chamba, the district headquarter of Chamba district is situated in the western Himalayas between north latitudes 32°10' and 33°13' and east longitudes 75°45' and 77°33'. The town stands on a plateau on the right bank of the Ravi river valley between Dhauladhar and Zanskar ranges south of the inner Himalayas. This town was founded by Raja Sahil Varman when he conquered the lower Rani valley from the petty chiefs called Ranas and Thakurs in the beginning of 10th Century. It seems the original name of the town was Champa as mentioned in Kalhan's Rajtarangani. In the bansauli or genealogical rolls of the Chamba Rajas a reference occurs of place which was adorned with highly fragrant Champaka trees and guarded by Goddess Champavati or more popularly known as Chameshni. The temple was built by Sahil Varman in the honour of his daughter Champavati who is worshipped as a goddess in Chamba. Champavati temple became the family temple of the ruling family.
General
information
Area:
6528 sq. km
Population
4.60 lakh
Season:
The best tourist season to visit Chamba is round
the year. Adventure tourists may like to undertake
winter trekking from November to March when the
higher reaches of the district are snow clad and
access to most of the villages is on foot.
Climate:
The climate of Chamba in general is tempreate
with well defined seasons. However, there may
be variations because of micro-climatic systems
depending upon altitude and mountain aspect. The
winters last from December to February. March
and April generally remain cool and dry but snowfall
does occur at higher elevations during these months.
The temperature begins to rise rapidly from the
middle of April till last week of June or first
week of July when monsoon breaks-in. Monsoon continues
till the end of August or mid September. During
the monsoon, the weather remains misty, humid
and cloudy. October and November are comparatively
dry but cold. The maximum temperature in Chamba
town in summers is 38°C and the minimum in
winter is 0°C.
Approach:
Chamba is approximately 52 kms from Dalhousie.
The distance is reduced by 6 kms. via Upper Barkota
and Khajjiar road. Bus and taxi service is available
from Chamba to Pathankot, Delhi, Dharamsala, Shimla,
Chandigarh, Jammu and most of the Punjab cities
along the national highway.
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