When you seek an unusual break from the hackneyed hill station theme, turn your searchlight towards Chamba, a scenic Himalayan town just 50 kms from Dalhousie. Chamba blossomed as the ancient capital of the Pahari Rajas; this hill town of Chamba was named after King Sahil Varman’s daughter Champavati.

Today Chamba is the quintessential valley township, famous for its myriad temples where many people make pilgrimages, deep forests, and trekking trails for the adventure and outdoor enthusiast and charming hill folk.

So travel to Chamba for a fun-filled holiday.

How to Reach Chamba?

By Air : The closest airports both 245 kms away are Jammu and Amritsar from where buses, taxis and tourist vehicles are available.

By Rail : The nearest railhead at Pathankot is 120 kms away. From here again you can get taxis and buses up to Chamba.

By Road : Chamba is approximately 613 km from Delhi. From Delhi take NH 1 towards Jalandar via Ambala.Here turn off onto NH 1A towards Pathankot. Take the SH to Chamba via Banikhet.

Best Time to Visit Chamba

The best time to visit Chamba is between April and October. If you want to avoid peak summer rush, then you should go either between April and June or between August and October.

The summer months are March through June and the temperature stays between 14ºC and 30ºC. Gales are common in the region in the winter months, with minimum temperatures plummeting to 0-4ºC.

The Minjar Fair is organised in mid-July and is popular amongst tourists and locals alike. Do not miss it!

Things to do in Chamba

Visit beautifully carved temples, palaces and museums, Chamba’s list ofthings to do include sightseeing and activities like trekking and fun-filled picnics with families. This scenic region lies above the Ravi River and is ornamented with lush green valleys and dense deodar forests. You can take a long walk in the never ending enigmatic forests or enjoy watching wildlife especially in the lower elevations. Don’t forget to buy the famous Chamba chappals for yourself and a bottle of chilly pickle for your friends back home.

Places Near Chamba

There are numerous places near Chamba that you may visit on a day’s trip. Some of the prominent and the popular places near Chamba include New Tehri Township, Khajjiar Valley, Dhanaulti, Dalhousie and Bharmaur.

The nearest destination among the places to see near Chamba is the newly developed state of the art New Tehri Township, which is the only township in the Uttaranchal region and is situated at a distance of 18 kms from Chamba. Some of the popular attractions of this place include the massive Tehri dam nearby and the Kana Tal or lake.

The picturesque Khajjiar Valley is situated just 22 kms away from Chamba and has a scenic little meadow with a lake in the middle and a horse track running around the periphery.

Dhanaulti, 27 kms from Chamba, is a region surrounded by thick alpine forests that is yet to be fully explored and hence a place of virgin natural beauty. It is a must see for nature lovers. You can go visit the Surkanda Devi temple nearby during your stay there.

The nearest major hill station from Chamba is Dalhousie. Located at a distance of 56 kms from Chamba, Dalhousie – a pretty little town – is one of the erstwhile British summer capitals and is divided into two halves by the Subhash Chowk. It has a popular botanical garden near the Chowk.

Moving further we come to Bharmaur, a location very popular with tourists. It is at a distance of 65 kms from Chamba. It is home to beautiful pasture lands and the Gaddi tribe, a community of goatherds.

Hotels in Chamba – Choice is Yours

There are numerous hotels in Chamba ranging from 3-star, 4-star and 5-star deluxe to budget hotels.