Chamba Town
चंबा
The thousand-year-old capital of a former hill kingdom on the Ravi River, with Chaugan Lawn, the Bhuri Singh Museum and Rang Mahal palace as the highlights of a day trip to Chamba.
Chamba was founded as a capital by Raja Sahil Varman in the 10th century and survived for over a thousand years as an independent hill kingdom. It lies about 50 km from Dalhousie, roughly a 2-hour drive. At the town centre is Chaugan, a large grassy lawn where a week-long Minjar festival is held each July and August. Beside the lawn, the Bhuri Singh Museum opened in 1908. It houses Pahari miniature paintings, Chamba Rumal embroidered handkerchiefs and ancient inscribed stones. Rang Mahal, an 18th-century palace, still has murals. The old town is built into the hillside, and its stone-paved lanes sell Chamba sandals and embroidery. Visits are usually combined with the Lakshmi Narayan temple complex and the Chamunda Devi Temple in a one-day trip, and you can have lunch in town.
Opening hours
All day; museum closed Mon, approx. 10:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Lakshmi Narayan Temple Complex, Chamba
- Chamunda Devi Temple, Chamba
- Khajjiar
- Dainkund Peak
- Kalatop-Khajjiar Wildlife Sanctuary
- Upper Bakrota Walk
- Panchpula
- Satdhara Springs