Chamba is a small town, and also a Nagar Panchayat located in Tehri Garhwal District in the state of Uttarakhand and is perfectly placed at the junction of roads leading from Rishikesh, Mussoorie, Tehri Dam Lake and New Tehri. About 50 km from Mussoorie, a small town of Chamba is located. Chamba town stands on the right bank of the River Ravi. As a former princely State, it is one of the oldest in the century and dates back to the 6th century. It has been noted that previously Chamba was a part of the Gorkha Kingdom, but later the Kings of Garhwal ruled this place.

Chamba is famous for scenic beauty with natural splendour which attracts nature lovers throughout the year, and offer panoramic view of the Himalaya Mountain. It is well known for its splendid architecture and a base for numerous excursions. There is thick forest cover with lots of deodar and pine. This place, unlike Mussoorie, is very quite and serene, with picturesque locale and excellent place to relax and unwind. Chamba is also well noted for its arts and crafts, particularly its Pahari paintings, which originated in the Hill Kingdoms of North India between the 17th and 19th century and its handicrafts and textiles.

Places of Interest at Chamba
Chamba is one of those destinations which are lesser known and stands oblivious to most tourists. As a result it is fresh and unspoilt as there are only a lucky few who venture out to seek the beauty of this place located at an altitude of 1600 meters. The nearby tourist spots are Surkanda Devi Temple, Dhanaulti, Ranichauri, New Tehri and Kanatal.


•Laxmi Narayan Temple Complex: With 6 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.
•Other Temples: The profusion of temples in Chamba and their craftsmanship is remarkable. Some important shrines are "Champavati Temple", "Vajreshwari Temple", "Sui Mata Temple" and "Chamunda Devi Temple".
•Rangmahal: This old palace is an interesting mix of colonial and local architectural styles.
•Akhand Chandi Palace: Now a college, this imposing building once housed Chamba`s ruling family. Much of the original craftsmanship can still be seen.
•Bhuri Singh Museum: Named 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 with lancet windows.
•Bharmour: Its 84 ancient temples at a height of 2141m are well known. It is also the summer home of the nomadic Gaddi people.
•Manimahesh: This sacred lake is associated with Lord Shiva.
•Chatrari: An attractive temple to Shakti Devi is located here.

How to Reach Chamba
Reaching this place can be easy. Rishikesh is the nearest railway station. Rishikesh is well connected by railway networks with major destinations of India. Trains to Rishikesh Railway station are frequent. Chamba is well connected by motorable roads with Rishikesh. Taxis and buses are easily available from Rishikesh to Chamba. Rishikesh Railway station is situated 58kms. Jolly Grant Airport near Dehradun is the nearest airport to Chamba at a distance of 125 km.