Chamba Travel Guide

Chamba: Overview

The town of Chamba, the District headquarters of Chamba District, situated on the bank of river Ravi valley between Dhauladhar and Zanskar ranges South of the inner Himalayas. This town was founded by Raja Sahivarma when he conquered the lower Ravi valley from the petty chiefs called Ranas and Thakurs in the beginning of the 10th century. Chamba was named after Champavathi, the favourite daughter of Sahilvarma, the 10th king who made Chamba the new capital, Ancient times as the Iravati and an altitude of 996 meters, it is 52 kms from the Dalhousie.
The Chamba state is one of the oldest native principalities in Noerthern India having been founded in the middle of the 6th century AD by Raja Meruvarman with its capital at Brahmapura, now called Bharmour now called Bharmour, in the upper Ravi valley.
Raja Tarangini but in times of confusion it may have been quite other hill states, seems to have taken advantage of the disorder caused by the Mohammad Ghazni invasions to assert its independence, which it successfully maintained till the time of Akbar the Great. About 1560-1580 AD, it became subject to the Mughals. There are a number of l4etters in the state archieves, the oldest of whichdates from the reign of Shahjahan and also valuable presents. In 1752 AD Chamba passed under the Supremacy of Ahmed Shah Duram, along with the rest ef the Punjab and about 1770 AD came more or less under the control of Sikhs. In 1808 - 1809 AD it was subjected by Maharaja Ranjit Singh and was tributary iv Lahore till 1846 when the Punjab Hills were ceded to the British Government afIer the first Sikh war in 1863 at the request ,,1 Raja Sri Singh. A British political officer vv; is appointed to assist the administration.

The administration under Raja Shamsingh (1884 - 1904) and Raja Bhuri Singh (1864 - 1916 ) was highly progressive and frutful. old Sham Singh hospital came up in 1891 several other reforms were carried out The British administration intergated the state with the Imperial postal system. Public Works Department Police force and Judicial system and established a 300 men armed force , As early as in 1910 Chamba became the second town in India to have electircity supply thorough a Micro Hidel Project. Chamba has a long tradition of patronishing master craftmen and artisans. The fine traditon of metal craft. leather work and embroidery still constinues, There are seven master crastmen in Chamba town who have been awarded the Master Craftsman Award by the President of India.

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