HP GK Details Of Chamba In English

Himachal Pradesh Gk DETAILS OF CHAMBA IN ENGLISH

CHAMBA 

• History of CHAMBA 
• Geography 
• Rivers 
• Passes 
• Mountains 
• Culture 
• Arts 
• Demographics 
• Fairs and festivals 
• Temples

HISTORY 

• Historical Sources and History 
• Kings of Chamba –Rajataringini –kalhan 
• Pather Lekh , Shilalekh and TamrapatraLekh 
• Patherlekh –Gupta Period 
• Bhadra Salve , Yaudhya ,Audumber and kiratas established their Clan 
• Indo –greeks and Shakti kushans controlled these tribes and weakened their power 
• Regions were known as Apthakurai and Rahun and their rulers were called Thakur and Raja 
• Upper regions are conquered by Ranas From Meru varman 
• Described –Ashad –Meru Verman 
• Lower Regions come under chamba-10 th n 11 th 
• Chattar singh had taken his Authority over Paddar Region Rana 
• Last Tamrapatra –description of Rana –Ashata Varman 
• According to Hieuntsang –Chamba , mandi ,suket –jallandhar State

ESTABLISHMENT OF Chamba princely State 

• Founded -550 AD –Suryavanshi 
• King maru –Ayodhya 
• Maru –Bharmaur 

Aditya varman – 

• Bharmaur shilalekh-GreatGrandson 
• First king to add –Verman Surname 
• Early mention of Kullu –Aditya varman 
• After bala varman and diwkar Varman –kings of chamba 

Meru varman 

• Most powerful 
• Extended chamba city 
• Defeated dateshwar pal of kullu 
• Built Manimahesh temple in bharmaur 
• Lakshana devi temple ,Ganesh temple,Narsimha temple, Shakti Devi temple 
• Gugga shilpi artisan  
• Feudal king Ashad- Gam  

Ajay Varman 

• Came from Delhi 
• Settled in bharmaur 

Laxmi Varman 

• Cholera epidemic Spread 
• Kiratas attacked chamba –killed king –established authority 
• Taking advantage –jareshwarpal –got himself free –bushahar riyasat 

Mushan verman 

• Queen fled –gave birth to child in cave –leaving son in cave 
• Wazir n priest returned to cave –found many mice protecting child 
• From here king named Mushan Varman 
• Queen and mushan varman –suket  
• King sukket married his daughter with mushan varman –state pangna 
• Banned rats to kill 
• Regained control of brahmpur with Suket Army

Sahil varman 

• Founded city chamba 
• Ten sons and daughter 
• Capital from brahmpur –chamba 
• Rani naina sacrificed –water for city –suhi mela 
• Built laxminarayan temple , chandershekhar , kameshwar 
• Copper currency –chakli 

Information about sahil varman –

• tamrpatra lekh of Raja soma prakash and Astuvarman 
• Guru was yogi charpatnath – suggested to change the capital 

Yugankar varman 

• Built narsimha temple of bharmaur 
• Gauri shankar temple at Chamba
• History 

Salwahan varman 

• According to rajtaringni , Anantdev , the ruler of kashmir attacked Salwahan 
• Inscription found in tisa and seikothi –state of Balar 
• Son soma varman and Astu Varman –become king 
• Made vapika marriage to kalas son of Anantdev 

Jasta varman 

• Become King – iron Tickery inscription of pangi and chaurah 
• Become part during chamba 
• Jasta varman –Rajataringini 
• King Harsh of kashmir –sushala of lahar dynasty 
• According to pangi inscription jasta varman retained Lahaul Valley -1105AD

Uday varman 

• Married his two daughters devlekha and Taralekha to Raja Sushala of Kashmir died 

Lalit varman 

• Two patherlekh Of Lalit Varman are found in devi Kothi and saichu nala – suggest –tissa and pangi part of chamba 
• Devrikothi shilalekh – rana nagpal and pangi inscription near salahi 
• Both inscription – Maharajadhiraj 

Vijay varman 

• Took advantage of mohammad Ghori invasion 
• Occupied areas of kashmir and ladakh
• Ganesh varman 
• first title singh In chamba family 

Pratap varman 

• Contemorory of akbar 
• Rihalu Region from Chamba –given By mughals –todarmal 
• Pratap singh Varman defeated guler Chanderpal of Kangra –annexed Guler 
• Ramapati –Rajguru Of ganesh Varman and Pratap Varman 
• Statue of Mrikula devi installed udaipur 
• Bhalbhadra and janardhan 
• Kind and generous –called balikarna 
• Son janardhan removed him From throne –sat On Throne himself 
• King surajmal of Nurpur escaped and hid in Princely state 
• Surajmal brother jagat singh –king and protector Of nurpur 
• Batttle of dhalog –jagatsingh Nurpur and chamba ruler janardhan – bhimbhisar killed 
• Janardhan betrayed by Jagat singh -1623 
• Bhalbhadra –king Of Chamba 
• Chamba under jagat singh –for 20years 
• Jagat singh ordered to kill bhalbhadra –had son son prithvi –batlu saved - Mandi 

Prithvi singh 

•  Jagat singh –revolted against shahjahan -1641 
• Prithvi singh –crossed Rohtang pass,Pangi ,Churah andReached Chamba 
• Raj maan singh of Guler –helped prithvi singh 
• Prithvi singh aligned raja sangram singh Pal Of basauli –bhalei tehsil 
• Made kothi For Raj officers in churah and Pangi 
• Dispute Between over bhalei tehsil –resolved by mughals 
• Bhalei was Given to chamba -1648 
• Prithvi contemorory shahjahan- visted 9times –received statue of raghubir singh 
• Khazzi naag , hidimba Temple, Sitaram temple -Batlu –Protected by Prithvi Singh life 

Chattar Singh 

• Attacked basauli –won bhalei mata 
• Refused to accept orders to destroy Hindu temple –aurangjeb 
• Shakti singh to meet Aurangzeb –returned from bajwara 
• Chattar singh along Raj Singh of Guler ,Dheerajpul ofBasauli , kripal Dev Jammu defeated Mirza Riyaz Beg
• Uday Singh ,UgarSingh,DalelSingh 
• Chattar Singh after Death of his uncle Wazir jai singh , barber FallinG in love With His daughter –appointed wazir of chamba 
• After Uday singh -1720 AD –king dhruv dev of jammu , 
• Ugar sinGh –by Dalel singh 

Umed singh 

• Chamba kingdoms expanded to limits of Mandi 
• Rajsingh born In rajnagar 
• Built Nada mahal iN rajnagar 
• Foundations Laid ranG mahal – Umed singh 
• Left order not To sati –after death 
• Died during volcano war-1764

Raj singh 

• At age of 9years after death of his Father 
• Ghamand Chand –pathiyar of chamba 
• Rani retrived with Help _ranjit singh of jammu 
• Raj singh of chamba And sansar chand Of kangra To capture rihalu region 
• Raj singh died during war 1764 near Shahpur 
• Nikka, ranjha , Chajju And harku weree accomplanished Artist in raj singh 
• Raj singh died In 1794 By Ajit sinGh Purbia on his Head 
• Raj singh and sansar chand of kangra –Treaty In Shahpur in 1788 

Jeet Singh 

• Chamba state sent Nathu wazir with troops in war against Sansar Chand 
• Nathu Wazir went to war under gorkha Amar SinGh thapa –great chand etc bilaspur

Charat Singh 

• Charat singh become king at age of 6  
• Rani sharda established radha krishna Temple -1825AD 
• Raja Ratanu of Paddar attacked zasker -1820 –made apart of chamba  
• After death oF nathu wazir -1838 wazir bhaga appointed wazir chamba 
• 1839-vigne and general cunningham visited chamba 
• Charat singh died 42 in 1844 AD 
• Vigne –first european to arrive 
• Last practice of sati –Chamba -1844 Ad at time of death-Chadat Singh

Shri Singh 

• After death of charat singh –Shri singh ascended – mother age 5 
• Mr. singh ‘s mother –mother wazir bhaga –took charge of state 
• Lakkad shah at Mr singh –used Currency –lakkad shahi 
• Murdered belaj in sahu valley  
• After the british sikh war areas between beas and sutlej merged with british by treaty of march 9,1846 
• It was decided to give area between Ravi and Indus Rivers To Raja Gulab of Jammu who was opposed by Chamba as he used to come to this region 
• With the efforts of Wazir Bhaga ,Sir Henry lawerence maintained the independence of Chamba-annual tax state of 12000 
• On April 6,1848 british granted treaty to Mr Singh-To suceed childless king’s brother 
• 1862-adoption of child to king 
• Revolt 1857 
• Sent an army under Mian Avtar Singh –british at Dalhousie 
• Wazir bhaga -1854-replaced Wazir Billu 
• 1863 – Major Blair Reid –increased state income 173000by 1870
• Major Blair Reid –established the Pwd department and Connected Chamba to accessible areas 
• Dak bunglows at Chamba and Khazziar built king at jandrighat in 1870-71 
• A Post office –Chamba -1863  
• School opened 
• Forest wealth of chamba given to lease -99years-22000 
• Hospital opened -1866 
• Mr.singh -32 years -1870 
• Mr singh had no son 
• Gopal singh ascended throne by Major Blair Reid -1870

Gopal singh 

• Ascended throne 
• Many beauty city 
• His tenure –lord mayo -1871 
• Gopal singh – removed throne -1873 –Sham Singh king 

Sham Singh 

• At age 7 years 
• Sham singh by commisioner general of Amritsar 
• CHT to Chamba –sat on october 17,1873
• Col Blair Reid , RT Varney and CaptainCHT Marshall were supritendence At Sham Singh 
• Mian Avtar Singh , Govind Chandand Bhuri Singh were Diwan /Wazir 
• At time Sham Singh ,General Renal Taylor , Sir Henry Davies , viceroy lord Curzon visited Chamba 
• Sham Singh Attended imperial court -1876 and delhi court 1877 
• Colonel Reid got Chamba land revenue settlement- 1876 
• In year 1894 -2/3 of forest income to Chamba Government
• 1878-JohnHarry appointed as the teacher of Sham Singh 
• Haps cultivation -1880  
• In chamba palace durbar hall –name of CHT Marshal 
• Cultivation of Haps started in Chamba-1880 
• Charles atkinson visited Chamba -1883 
• In 1887-chamba postal Department –indian Postal Telegraph 
• Dispensary in Tissa -1881 
• In 1875 – colonel reid demolished and in 1891 AD -40bed hospital 
• 1895-iron suspension bridge –shitla bridge over Ravi -broken in 1894flood 
• Bhattiyat revolt in 1895 
• Mian bhuri singh –sham singh made wazir -1898 
•  1902 –fell ill 
•  1904-Bhuri Singh was made king of Chamba

Bhuri Singh 

• Ascended throne in March 12 october1904- LT Governor of Punjab-Charles Rivaz 
• Bhuri Singh Was Diwan for 7years 
• 1906 –title KCIS 
• 1908 –government returned forest to Chamba For Five Years 
• 1908-bhurisingh mueseum –phogel 
• 1910- power plant –sal river –Electricity to Chamba 
• Roads improved postal bungalows were Built 
• In year 1905 –Middle school was made high School 
• Library opened –Chamba 
• Raja Bhuri Singh –british world war 
• Raja bhuri singh died 1919 
• After which Tikka Ram Singh become king of Chamba 

Ram singh 

• Ascended throne In march 1920 by edward Mcclegan –governor of punjab 
• Mr .E.M atkinson appointed to Impart training To Raja ram singh 
• Raja opened 15 schools –Chamba 
• Appointed his brother Mian Kesari as wazir 
• Construction of chamba Nurpur Road , Chamba Bharmaur road –temporary bridge over river ravi near kiani 
• Tank construction –ram singh tenure 
• 1935 raja ram singh Died in Lahore at age -45 
• Laxman become kIng-11 years 
• 1935 –Income of Chamba -9 lakhs rupees 

Raja laxman singh 

• Laxman singh -1935 
• Chamba princely -15 april 1948

Geography 

Northwest 

• Latitude – 32 degree 10 to 33 degree 12 North 
• Longitude -75 degree 47 to 75 degree 33 Eastern Region 

Borders 

• North – Jammu Kashmir 
• East – Lahaul spiti West – Chamba 
• Mountain ranges 
• Hathi dhar – Bhattiyatt 
• Pangi – Pirpanjal 
• Dagni Dhar –Chamba and Bhadarwah

Passes 

• Jalsu – Kangra- Chamba 
• Sach – Chamba –Pangi 
• Kugti – Lahaul –Bharmaur  
• Padri – Jammu- Chamba 
• Basodan –Chamba-Bhattiyat 
• Waru pass – Chamba – Dharamshala

Rivers

Chenab 

• Chamba from Thirot 
• Leaves – Sansari Nala-enters Poddar valley 
• Miyar khad –udaipur 
• Saichu Nala – Sach –chenab 

Ravi 

• Originates from Barabhangal 
• Budhil and Tundah –originates from confluence of Kugti and Manimahesh 
• Joins Ravi River near Khadamukh 
• Obri khad –near Sultanpur 
• Mangla Khad –near sitla bridge 
• Tundah Khad –merged ravi near Dunali 
• Sal khad –by confluence of Hol Khad and Kidi khad near Saho 
• Joins Ravi near balu -Chamba

Siul River 

• formed by merger of Sanghni Khad 
• After meeting baira khad –river siul –huge form 
• Chunhada –Churah joins Ravi 
• baira – upper churah

Temples 

• Manimahesh temple – Bharmaur – Meru varman 
• Shakti devi temple 
• Chatrari – chamba 
• Built meru varman 
• Gugga was Chief craftman 
• Ganesha temple 
• Located bharmaur 
• Meru varman 
• Narsimha temple  
• Located In bharmaur 
• Built by tribhuvan rekha Devi 
• Hariraya temple 
• Laxman Varman  
• Kameshwar temple 
• Temple saho And chamesani 
• Sahil varman 
• Gauri Shankar Temple 
• Yugankar varman 
• Bansi gopal 
• King Bhalbhadra varman -1595 
• Sita Ram Temple 
• Built by Batlu 
• Nurse of Raja Prithvi singh 
• Hidimba temple 
• Mehla –prithvi singh 
• Radha Krishna Temple  
• Rani Radha of Jeet Singh -1825 

FAIRS AND FESTIVALS 

 SUHI FAIR 

•  Month of april 
•  Particularly women and children 
•  Dedicated to Rani Sunaina 

 Manimahesh Fair 

• Manimahesh lake 
• Bharmaur Region 
• Beginning from janamashtmi 
• End in radhashtmi 

 PHUL YATRA 

• Start of closing season 
• Snow bound valley 

 Bhojri festival 

• After minjar 
• Specially for women  

 Minjar fair 

• Started by sahil varman 
• Varun devta worshipped 
• Celebrated in month of august 

 Mehla jatar 

• april 

 Chamunda jatar 

• April 

 Kugti jatar 

• Chamba 

 Nawala 

• Gaddis 
• Flower garlands 
• Aincheliayan songs

 Lakes 

 Khajjiar Lake 

• Chamba & Dalhousie. 
• Average depth -thirteen feet 
• Holds sacredness 
• Khajji Nag 
• Huge grassy glade with surroundings of evergreen cedars. 
• Whole ensemble -piece of sapphire -of gold and emerald. 

Manimahesh Lake 

• Twenty-six kilometers from Bharmour 
• Budhil valley 
• pilgrimage spots. 
• altitude of 13,000 feet at the foot of the Kailash peak 
• Every year, on the eighth day of the light half of the moon 
• In the month of Bhadon, a fair is held at this lake, 
• Attracts thousands of pilgrims assemble here to take a dip in the holy water. 

 Ghadhasaru Lake 

• Churah tehsil of Chamba 
• 24 km from Tissa 
• altitude of 11,500 feet. 
• held scared and circumference -kilometer. 
• temple of goddess Kali located near lake. 
• mostly visited by local people -prayer at  Kali temple. 
• The trek is somewhat difficult 
• but well rewarded at the end.

 Mahakali Dal Lake 

• between Sano and Gudial in Chamba 
• altitude of near 12,000 feet. 
• sacred to the goddess Maha Kali. 
• little bigger than Khajjiar and Manimahesh lake. 
• surrounded by wild meadows and peaks.  

 Chamera Lake 

• Altitude of 763m 
• developed by Chamera Dam 
• on the Ravi River at Chourah 
• An artificial lake, 
• Collection of Chamera Hydroelectric Project 

 

Lamadal Lake 

• an elevation of 3900 metres 
• The largest and the deepest in the area  Lord Shiva,  ‘Lama Dal’ means a long lake

Folk dances 

Dangi 

• Dance of Chhatrari village 
• Performed festivals ,during jatara 
• By gaddis semicircular patterns 
• Singing love ballads of Sunni and Bhukhu 
• Dancers join hands and move –graceful dance 

Slow tempo 

• Sikri  
• Chamba 
• Women dance 
• Performed during Suhi Fair 
• Held in spring  
• Dandras dance 
• Chamba 
• Traditional dance performed by men’s gaddi tribe 
• Traditional costume of Chola dora and tight fitting 
• Churidhar pyjamas 

Jhanjar Dance 

• Performed by both men and women 
• Beginning very slow  
• Rises to an exciting climax 
• Folk drama 
• Jhaanki and Hanter

Arts and Culture 

• Chamba painting  
• Basholi painting 
• Raja udai singh – first recognition 
• Centre of painting –Ram And Krishna 
• Nikka ram chamba famous 
• Chamba rumal 

Embroidery 

• Handkerchief –kashida 
• Shapes –rectangular –square 
• Threads –silken and colorful  
• Embroidery –double satin –dorukha 
• Finest specimen –battle of kurukshetra –Raja gopal singh 
• British resident -1883 –victoria and albert mueseum london 
• Geographical -1999 
• Maheshi Devi -1965 –national award 
• Shri prem lal –designer  

Folk songs 

• Kunjo chanchlo ,Fulmu –Ranjhu ,Bhukhu –Gaddi 

Language 

• Chambyali ,Bhatayati ,Churahi , pangwali Bharmauri 

Books 

• Muktar Sir Tarikh-e –Riyasat cham- Garib Khan 
• Antics of Chamba - B.C.Chhabra

Economy 

• Agriculture 
• Maize and wheat 

Animal 

• husbandary Cattle , cows ,sheep and goat 
• Sheep breeding Center –sarol Chamba milk Scheme -1978 

Hydroelectric Project 

• Chamera-I (540MW), 
• Chamera –II (300MW) 
• Baira siul –(198MW ) 
• Hadsar –(60MW) 
• Bharmaur –(45MW)

Minerals 

• Copper –Chamba 
• Limestone –baroh sind 
• Gypsum –bathri 
• Magnesite –nachentar and Suai of Bharmaur 
• Slates –Chamba 

Valleys 

• Chamba valley Known as valley of Honey and Milk Between pirpanjal Inhabitants are called chambial 
• Pangi valley 

Chamba 

• North east of chamba 
• Monkey valley –Bander Ghatti  

Dalhousie 

• Established 1854 –lord Dalhousie 
•  Spread over Five hills –Kathlog potreys tehra Bakrota,Balun 
•  Named –lord Dalhousie 
•  Jawahar lal , netaji , rabindernath tagore –stayed here Church 
•  Andrews church 
•  1903 
•  Protestants Christians 
•  Known as Church of scotland 
• ST. John Church 
•  Gandhi chowk 
•  Built 1863 
•  Oldest church 
•  Protestant catholics 
• St francis 
•  Subash chowk 
•  1894 
•  Catholic Church 
• St.patrick 
• Largest church of Dalhousie 1909 
• Famous places in chamba 
• Rang mahal 
•  Akhand Chandi 
•  Raja bhuri Singh 
• Satdhara Falls 
•  The term ‘Satdhara’ -for seven springs, 
•  which means that this waterfall gets its white water 
•  from seven different springs. 
•  name Satdhara Falls.. 
•  Dalhousie -dip in the water -mica, -medicinal properties 
•  successful in curing a number of skin diseases. 
•  The locals call it ‘Gandak’ in their native language. 
•  The refreshing smell of the mud fills the surroundings, 
•  which makes it further alluring for the visitors 
•  Panchpula
•  Samadhi of Sardar Ajit Singh (Bhagat Singh’s Uncle), 
•  a great revolutionary built -breath here.
•  explore this destination is during the monsoons 
•  when the water is in full flow and rushes down beautifully. 
• Dainkund Peak 
•  The Dainkund Peak i-Dalhousie’s highest peak 
•  The Dainkund Peak -as the Singing Hill 

Demography 

•  Area -6528
•  Literacy -72.17% 
• Sex ratio-986 

Administration 

•  Development Blocks-Chamba,Mehla,Bharmaur ,Tissa,Salooni Chowari,Pangi 
• Tehsils –Chamba ,Chowari ,Sinhuta ,Churah ,Dalhousie,Bharmaur,Pangi,Salooni 
• Subtehsils – Dharwala,Pukhri ,Kakira, Holi ,Bhalei,Telka ▪ Subdivision –Chamba , Chowari , churah , dalhousie,bharmaur Pangi,salooni