Chamba hill station

Languages : Hindi, Himachal

Population : 19,000 metres

Rainfall : 785.84 mm

Best time to visit : March-June

STD Code : 01899
Chamba - Introduction

Chamba was founded by Raja Varman who named the town after his daughter Champavati.The small town of Chamba is located amidst the Shivalik ranges and is famous for its temples. The architecture of the temples of Chamba reflects the unmatched architectural superiority of the Indian sculptures.Chamba has a grassy promenade which is the focus for the Sui Mata and Minjar festivals.

History of Chamba

Chamba was once ruled by the Rajput rulers in the 6th century AD and made Chamba city as the capital. Later Raja Shail Verman founded the town and named it Chamba after his daughter Champavati. Chamba was also ruled by the Mughals. Later the town came under the Sikh kingdom.

Accessibilty

By Air : Nearest airport is Dharamshala connected to Delhi by Vayudoot services.

By Rail: Nearest railhead is Pathankot (120 kms) which is connected to all the major cities of India.

By Road: Important road distances are: Amritsar 245 kms, Kangra 180 kms, Pathankot 120 kms, Shimla 422 kms, Manali 470 kms, Mandi 334 kms, Jammu 229 kms, Dharamshala 180 kms, Dalhousie 56 kms, Khajjiar 30 kms etc.

Places to Visit

Laxmi Narayan Temple Complex : With six main 'Shikhara style temples and several smaller shrines, this is renowned for its finely executed classical forms.

Hari Rai Temple : This is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and dates back to the 11th century.

Akhand Chandi Palace : Now after Raja Bhuri Singh of Chamba, this is a treasure house of Chamba's rich past. The exhibits include copper plates, murals, doorways, costumes, paintings and stone carvings.

St. Andrew's Church : Over a century old, this is a charming dressed-stone structure.

Ladakh hill station

Languages : Ladakhi, Purig, Tibetan, Hindi, English.

Best time to visit : April - August

STD Codes : 1982

Introduction

The barren beauty of Ladakh with snow capped peaks and clean azure sky have attracted the intrepid traveler since the region was opened to tourists in the 1970s. Since then, Ladakh has become a favorite haunt for trekking and mountaineering enthusiasts. The rugged terrain and the majestic mountains around, make an exotic cocktail for an adventure sport lover. But before you decide to fly away to the land of Buddhist monasteries and brave people, it is imperative to understand that you need at least a week to enjoy your tour to Ladakh. Since, acclimatization it self needs at least a few days in Ladakh.

Ladakh is one of the largest provinces in Jammu and Kashmir. Bordered by the Karakoram Range, Ladakh is home to a large number of Buddhists, who have preserved their rich culture and tradition from the days of yore. A Travel to Ladakh is not just about beautiful views of snow-capped peaks kissing the blue sky or colorful flags flattering in the wind but is also about centuries old culture of Ladakhi people and their indomitable spirit to live cheerfully in one of the most hostile terrains in the world.

Accessibility

By Air : the nearest airport is at Leh. Alliance Air flights connect Leh with Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu and Srinagar.

By Road : Ladakh is well connected by surface network with major cities like Srinagar, Leh, Kargil, Manali and Keylong.

Places to Visit

Kargil : Kargil,the second town of Ladakh,is situated on the Suru River just short of its confluence with the Dras-shingo. Almost equidistant,at a little over 200-km from Leh,Srinagar,Padum in Zanskar and Skardu,the capital of Baltistan,it was in the old days the centre of a network of routes joining these places. Since Partition,Skardu has been lost to Ladakh,but Kargil remains the main staging-point between Srinagar and Leh,and the Gateway to the Suru valley and Zanskar.

Trekking in Ladakh
Trekking, Ladakh Travel Pakage When Ladakh was first thrown open to tourism an average itinerary encompassed visits to Leh and its environs with some treks into nearb valleys. The most popular of these were the 8-day Markha valley trek,the 11-day Lamayuru-Padum route and the Stok Khangri round trek. Now with growing interest in adventure tourism the focus has shifted to the mysterious valleys of Suru and Zanskar with their spectacular scenery.