LAXMI NARAYAN MANDIR CHAMBA
This temple is one of the oldest as well as the largest one in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, the Laxmi Narayan Temple attracts a whole lot of visitors. The six temples in the Laxmi Narayan Temple complex are arranged from north to south and are dedicated to either Shiva or Vishnu.
Though built in the 10th century, the Laxmi Narayan Temple continued to be decorated by rajas who occupied the throne of Chamba afterwards. For example Raja Balabhadra Verma added the metallic image of Garuda on a high pillar at the main gate of the temple while Raja Chhatra Singh contributed the gilded pinnacles on the temple tops.
The legend of the temple states that Raja Sahil Verma, who constructed this temple, sent nine of his sons to the Vindhyas mountains to get marble which was suitable for the construction of the Vishnu idol.
The Laxmi Narayan Temple is constructed in the Shikhara style. There is Bimana (Shikhara), garbhgriha and also a mandapa like structure. The wooden chattris and the shell roofs reflect the climactic condition of the place where snowfall is quiet expected.
The Lakshmi Narayan Temple complex is opened first between 6 am to 12.30 pm and then from 2.30 to 8.30 pm.
CHAMUNDA DEVI TEMPLE CHAMBA
This temple is dedicated to the goddess Chamunda in her terrific form. This temple is of a later class and is made in hill type architecture. It stands on small spur of Shah Madar hill. A beautiful and holistic view of Chamba town is obtained from the premises of the temple. It has pent-roof of ordinary type of temples in the area but has beautiful wood carvings preserved in it. In the ceiling several panels have been carved which make the temple artistically important. In those panels four-armed Shiva is standing wearing a tiger's skin, holding a trident and a cup in his two left hands and a damru in the upper right hand while the fourth one hands down. Then Yashodha while churning the butter milk and Krishana is trying to steal the butter. This scene has a lively representation in as much as Yashodha while churning the butter milk is seen looking backwards. The four armed Durga stands, holding a sword in her upraised rights hands and an object in the lower rights hand. The lion is in the background. She wears a mukut (crown) over her hand and other usual ornaments. Another hands shows Durga holding in her four hands a dagger and a sword, a shield and a trident. The lion is in the background. Besides, there are depiction of the goddess Mahishasuramardini, Vishnu and Ganesh.
CHAMUNDA DEVI & BERA WALI MATA DARSHAN
Maa Chamunda and her sister Bera Wali Mata. Mata always visits to her sister once a year and when she coming to chamba from her house & going back there is lot of rain on that day. Cause there is a belief of the old people of Chamba behind this that the roads should be clean when mata coming and going from her house....
Bera Mata visits only for 15 days and on 14th day there is a very big fair in chamba for celebrating the visit of Bera Wali Mata.
HARI RAI TEMPLE CHAMBA
Shri Hari Rai temple (Vishnu temple) is located near Chaugan gate. The temple is in shikhara style built in stone. The image of worship is Vaikuntha form of Vishnu having three faces-human, boar and lion. The bronze image of the deity is in superb execution. Stylistically the image is certainly of earlier date than the second half of the 11th century A.D.
The central figure of the image, with a pronounced well-modelled chest and waist, is clad in dhoti with prominent but stylised folds, arrayed artistically. The fixture is elegantly decked in beaded anklets with pendants, bracelets, finger-rings, armlets with diamond-shaped central pieces, a beaded garland, an elaborate necklace with pendants, flower-shaped kundals and mukut (crown). The hair is arranged in coiled locks falling on shoulders and back. The eyes are laid with silver. Of the four hands, the right hands hold the short stalk of fully blossomed lotus and the corresponding left hand a conch shell.
There are number of niches in Hari Rai temple which project Brahmanical deities. These include Shiva seated on a bull with Uma seated to his left. The mounts of both the deities viz. Nandi and lion appear on the front over the pedestal. Surya is represented seated on a chariot holding lotus bud in upper right hand. The lower left hand is in varada-mudra while the corresponding hand displays abhaya-mudra. At the pedestal are shown Aruna-the charioteer driving seven horses. At the entrance of the temple are shown two female deities of Ganga and Yamuna. There are some erotic scenes as well at the temple exterior.
The image of the deity was stolen by the anti-social elements in the year 1971 but was fortunately recovered in Bombay. The image was then re-enshrined in the temple much to the happiness of the Chambyals.
CHAMPAVATI TEMPLE CHAMBA
The temple of goddess Champavati is shikhara style stands near the royal place and the tradition holds it that this temple was made in the name of Raja Sahil Verman's daughter Champavati. Champavati was of religious disposition and used to visit sadhu's place, the site of the present temple. The Raja grew suspicious of her going to sadhu, so he followed her one day with dagger drawn in his hand. But when he reached sadhu's places, he found neither sadhu nor his daughter there. A voice however came from the stillness upbraiding him from his suspicion and saying that his daughter has been taken away from his as punishment. He was further commanded to construct a temple in her memory to atone for his sin and to avert calamity to his family. The temple was accordingly built and named after the king's daughter, who is worshipped as goddess. The presiding deity in the temple is the goddess Mahishasuramardini, a form of Durga, whose image remains installed in the temple. In the courtyard of this temple there is a small shrine housing the image of Vasuki Naga and Wazir.
SRI BHALAI MATA CHAMBA
The temple of Bhader Kali popularly known as Sri Bhalai Mata is located on a beautiful squr of 3800 feet height at a place called Bhalei.The temple can be approached either from Chamba or from Dalhousie side and is at a distance of 40 kilometers from Chamba and 35 kilometers from Dalhousie. Bhadar Kali draw a large number of pilgrims from far and wide. A big hawan ceremony is performed during navratras of Ashwin and Chaitr months.The temple of Bhadar Kali seems to have been built originally by Raja Pratap Singh during his reign. He was a religiously disposed king. The legend is that the deity appeared to Raja Partap Singh in dream and told him that she was lying hidden in a place called Bhran about three kilometers from the present site of temple. The deity asked the Raja to bring her from there and make a suitable temple for her. The Raja with his officials went to the site and discovered the image. The Raja and his team were very happy as they had already decided to construct a temple Chamba town. So they started their journey back. On way back they stopped for rest at Bhalai and when they halted their journey in Bhalai. A Brahman from Kilod village was invited to interpret this peculiar incident. The Brahaman interpreted that the deity did not want to go to Chamba, rather she desired her temple to be right here in Bhalai. So this was the reason, the temple was built at Bhalei by Raja Partap Singh and later renovated by Raja Sri Singh.
TRILOKPUR MAA BALASUNDRI NAHAN:
Shri Mahamaya Balasundari Jee Temple is situated about six kilometers from Kala Amb in hills of Himachal Pradesh at Village Trilokpur Tehsil Nahan, District Sirmour. It is a center of devotion for lakhs of pilgrims visiting from all over Northern India. It is firmly believed that due to blessings of Mata Balasundari Jee , every ambition of devotees is fulfilled. It is such a divine place where sins get vanished by just paying obeisance at Divine Pindi of Mata Balasundari Jee. Built in the year 1573 A.D. by Raja Dip Prakash, Trilokpur is an important religious place in Himachal Pradesh & is a famous pilgrimage destination.
The Trilokpur Temple attracts a number of devotees from the whole of Northern India. The Goddess of the Trilokpur Temple resembles a stone lingam like Lord Shiva.Twice a year a fair is held in Trilokpur which is visited by pilgrims from all over Northern India. It takes place during the Navratris and it is attended by a number of devotees. Located in the Nahan Town Trilokpur Temple is one of the important tourist attractions of Himachal Pradesh. Every year thousands of pilgrims visit the Trilokpur Temple to seek the blessings of Goddess Mahamaya Bala Sundri. So on your tour to Himachal Pradesh do not miss one of the most important pilgrimage destinations of Himachal Pradesh.
RENUKA JI LAKE NAHAN:
A lake, a river, wildlife and mountains to boot, do you want any more from mother nature. Named after goddess Renuka ji this place has it all. The lake the largest in Himachal on which the place is named has temples dedicated to goddess Renuka and son Parsuram. A mini zoo with lion safari close to the lake. Angling oppurtunities available at river Jataun. Walks around the lake parameter.
Renuka Wild Life Sanctuary is at a short distance with animals like Asiatic Lion, Barking Deer, Leopard may be seen along with many birds. Feeding the fishes and turtles at the lake is also a unique experience. No non-veg or alcohol is allowed in the lake complex.
If you have been to India and you are asked to describe the country in a few lines, most will go for crowded, hot and full of pestering touts or beggars! But I would say that Himanchal Pradesh is one of the best-kept secrets of India, maybe not all of it but certainly parts of it are so beautiful and yet not visited by many. Renuka lake is situated in HP and is one of such places.
The place is only 672 meters from sea level, so winter is mild and summer somewhat hot.
Renuka (name of a goddess in Hindu mythology) and another one adjacent to it devoted to her son Parshuram. Renuka lake is the bigger of the two and having a circumference of 3214 meter. The lake is surrounded by small hills and lush green vegetation. It is an ideal spot for spending a quite vacation. Boating is available on the lake. But as it is also a pilgrimage site for Hindus, you will be asked to remove your shoes. The boats are paddle boats and creak a lot. You are also required to wear life jackets if you want to enter the lake. There is a restaurant cum hotel run by the state government right beside the lake. We did not stay in this hotel but used the restaurant. It serves mostly the Indian & Chinese food but altogether food is good & hygienic. This place is high on natural beauty and low on crowds and pollution. But it is very quite. After the sun goes down, there is not much to do, no nightlife. But if you plan to visit India make sure to reach Himachal Pradesh.Apart from this place there are many places you can explore.
GURUDWARA POANTA SAHIB:
A city founded by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, Poanta sahib is situated on the Yamuna River in Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh and is a bustling township with growing industries. The tenth Sikh Guru held his famed court of poets here in the Himalayan foothills of what is today the state of of Himachal Pradesh. A beautiful, peaceful place. One stop on the way from Punjab to Hemkunt Sahib.
The word 'Paonta' means 'space for a foot hold'. When only 16 years old, the Guru left Anandpur Sahib and on the invitation of Raja Maidini Prakash of Sirmour, lived at this beautiful spot for over four years where he penned the `Dasam Granth'. The Gurudwara houses the Shri Talab Asthan where he disbursed salaries, and the Shri Dastar Asthan where he judged the turban - tying competitions. The Kavi Durbar was the venue of the poetic symposia. A memorial dedicated to Kalpi Rishi, and a museum showcasing the pens of the Guru and the weapons of those times, are also located within the precincts of the Gurudwara.
