BILASPUR

The Bilaspur district is situated in Satluj valley in the outer hills and covers area of 1,167 sq. Kms. Its boundaries touch Una, Hamirpur, Mandi and Solan districts. Satluj is the main river which passes through the middle of the district and divides it into almost equal parts.The New Township Bilaspur should be regarded as the first planned hill town of the country.The best months from visiting this place are from September to December.

The Bilaspur district lies between 310 12’ 30’’ and 310 35’ 45’’ North latitude and between 760 23’ 45’’ and 760 55’ 40’’ East longitude in the outer hills of the Himalayas next to the Punjab plains and forms a part of the basin of river Satluj which flows meandering across it for about ninety kilometers. It covers an area of 1,167 sq. kms. Its boundaries touch Una, Hamirpur, Mandi and Solan districts. Satluj is the main river which passes through the middle of the district and divides it into almost equal parts.

Pre Independence :

The erstwhile ruling family of Bilaspur claims its descent from Chanderwanshi Rajputs who reigned at Chanderi in the Bundelkhad region of Madhya Pradesh. The place now forms part of Guna district. It is said that the seventh ruler of Chanderi Kingdom Harihar Chand had a dream of Goddess Jawalamukhi. Thereafter, he decided to seek his fortune in a shrine. As a result of this, he handed over the kingdom to his youngest son Govind and then proceeded towards Jawalamukhi along with his remaining four sons and established themselves at Jindbari where they constructed a fort and settled there for some time before proceeding to Jawalamukhi. They paid a visit to Nadaun the then capital of Kangra. The Raja of Kangra arranged a tent pegging contest and promised his daughter to the men who succeeds in taking a certain peg. In reality this peg was the trunk of a tree, entered the fray. Sabir Chand lost the control of his horse and was killed and the deception practiced by the Kangra Raja was discovered. Thereafter the battle ensued and the Kangra forces were defeated. Kangra Tikka and the Chanderi King Hari Chand were both among the slain.

The remaining three Chanderi princes retired to the Jawalamukhi shrine. The reigning Goddess appeared and promised each of them a kingdom. In the fulfillment of her prophecy one of the three princes was adopted by the Raja of Kumaon and other prince Gambhir Chand took possession of Chamba and the eldest son Bir Chand got Jindbari at present in tehsil Anandpur Sahib in Rupnagar district of Punjab. It was Bir Chand who constructed the Naina Devi temple. He extended the Jurisdiction of his kingdom Kahlur during his 33 years of rule and subjugated about 15 neighboring princely states. His ambition of extending jurisdiction was ultimately halted by the Raja of Sirmaur with whom he concluded treaty of peace. Thus, he carved out a kingdom of Kahlur for himself. Bir Chand was followed by a number of his successors and last of them was Kahan Chand who conquered the Hindur state (Nalagarh) and gave it to his second son Surjeet Chand from whom the present ruling family of Nalagarh descends.

The Capital of ruling dynasty continued to be located at Kotkahlur till 1600 A.D. when the heir apparent Bir Chand fled to Sunhani across the river Satluj along with mother where he settled. His father,the then ruler, Gyan Chand embraced Islam at the behest of Mughal ruler at Sirhand who was so impressed with his fine appearance that he gave his own daughter in marriage. He returned to Kotkahlur after conversion. After the death of Raja Gayn Chand, Bir Chand returned to Kotkaklur and got himself installed as the King. He kept his capital at Sunhani on the right side of river Satluj. In 1650 A.D. when Deep Chand of the same dynasty succeeded as Raja of Kahlur state, he decided to shift his capital as he developed strong disliking for the place. It is generally said that accompanied by 2 Hindus and 2 Mohammdan faquirs he sought new site for the capital and finally settled at a place on the left bank of Satluj river traditionally called “Beas gufa” after the name of Rishi Vyas. He built a palace called ‘Dholar’ over looking the river and founded a town on the river bank which was named after Beas gufa and was later on called Bilaspur. Since then the capital of Bilaspur continued to be at Bilaspur though the original town which was established by the Chandel dynasty was submerged in the 'Govind Sagar’ on 1st July, 1954. A new township above the old one has come up at an elevation of 673 metres above sea level.

Post Independence :

Himachal Pradesh came into being as a part ‘C’ State of the Indian Union on 15th April, 1948 as result of merger of 30 Punjab and Shimla Hill State in the Indian Union viz. Baghat, Bhajji, Baghal, Beja, Balson, Koti, Kumarsain, Kunihar, Kuthar, Mandi, Bushahr, Chamba, Darkoti, Delath, Dhadi, Dhami, Ghund, Jubbal, Khaneti, Keonthl, Madhan, Mahlog, Mangal, Ratesh, Rawringarh, Sangri, Sirmaur, Suket,Tharoach, Theog. At that time the state had 4 districts viz. Chamba, Mahasu, Mandi, Sirmaur and its area was 2,716,850 hectares. The State was taken over under the Central administration on the12th October, 1948.By an act of Parliament the 31st state of Bilaspur which was till then a separate entity under the control of Chief Commissioner, was integrated with Himachal Pradesh on 1st July, 1954 thereby adding one more district with an area of 106,848 hectares.

Initially, it consisted of two tehsils namely, Ghumarwin and Bilaspur Sadar. In January, 1980 the state government created a separate sub-tehsil called Naina Devi with headquarters at Swarghat out of Bilaspur Sadar Tehsil. In 1984 one new sub-tehsil namely, Jhandutta was created by carving out some areas of tehsil Ghumarwin. Jhandutta sub-tehsil was given full tehsil status in January, 1998. Administratively, the district is divided into two sub-divisions, 3 tehsils, 1 sub-tehsil, 3 community development blocks, 136 panchayats, 2 municipal committees and 2 notified area committees.

Bilaspur had been a town in 1891 and 1901 Censuses but was declassified thereafter in the year 1911. In 1931 Census, it was again classified as town and has been continuing as such since then. Naina Devi a place of religious importance was declared as town for the first time in 1953. A small town committee was setup to look after the affairs of this place till 1960. In the year 1961 it was notified as municipal committee. After 1981 Census, one more place Shah Talai has been classified as notified area committee.

KARSOG VALLEY

Himachal Pradesh >> Mandi >> Karsog

Accessible from the state capital Shimla, the tracts around Karsog and Chindi are among the most picturesque areas of Himachal Pradesh.

There are wide valleys criss-crossed by streams and carpeted with fields of assorted vegetables and grain. From fertile floors, orchards and thick forests rise to touch snow covered peaks. The small villages and their age-old architecture give expression to the phrase ‘picture perfect’. Legends and folklore abound, and every one of the temples is a repository of local culture and an example of remarkable building skills.

Named after the local deity, Chandika (Chindi) Mata, the tiny village of Chindi rests along a highway that services Shimla, Karsog and Mandi. A little further ahead, at the village of Bakhrote, is the bifurcation to Kullu and Manali along a less travelled but thoroughly delightful route. In some ways, the area harks back to old ‘hill stations’ before they became over-built messes – a few scattered houses, the little bazaar or two, patches of forests and wide open views.

From the hotel at Chindi, the rise of Kunhoo Dhar is accessed through the Karsog bazaar. This large flat hilltop presents a 360 degrees view of the area. The Karsog valley lies below, to the north is the peak of Shikari Devi. Some of the other well known ranges and mountains visible from Kunhoo Dhar are the Pir Panjal, the Hanuman Tibba, the rises around the Jalori Pass, the bare Chawasi Tibba, Narkanda’s Hattu Peak and the Shali Tibba. The villages of Churag, Chindi and Mahunag form a part of the foreground and the other sightseeing places of Dhamoon and Sairi Bangla ( Bungalow ) are also visible. Kunhoo Dhar has a large pond while a low rise holds the small temple dedicated to both Kamakshya ( Kamakhya ) Devi and Nag Dhamooni. Local tradition has it that this was the site of the original palace of the former princely state of Suket – in whose territories these tracts once were.

The village of Karsog is surrounded by wide steps of fields and holds the main bazaar of the valley. Agriculture is the mainstay of the area and it is well known for its wheat, corn, rice and a variety of lentils and beans. The valley is criss-crossed by several brooks and the ‘twin’ Amla ( Imla ) and Bimla streams. From the Karsog bazaar, the village of Mamel is a bare couple of kilometres and has the temple of Mamleshwara Mahadev. Local belief has it that the temple dates back to the times of the epic Mahabharata when it founded by the Pandava brothers. And drawing on India’s other great epic, the Ramayana, it is regarded that after King Ravana of Lanka was killed by Bhagwan Rama, his soul could not be free till an image of Bhagwan Shiva was installed here – which was done by Rama with the use of supernatural powers. The sages Parshurama and Brighu are also regarded to have meditated at the spot.

Using sleepers of considerable girth, the temple is an attractive wood and slate structure and it is believed that the sacred fire in the temple has been kept burning from times immemorial - and that the level of the ashes never increases. There is an unusually large drum in the temple with rhinoceros hide. Also shown on request, is a large grain of wheat supposedly dating back to the mythological times of the Satyuga. Some recently excavated shivalingas have been installed by the side of the temple.

A little further down lies the village of Kau and the temple of Kamakshya Mata. The goddess in this temple is regarded to be manifest at the spot due to the meditations and sacrifices of Lord Parshurama. Today, the remarkable expression and the intensity of the eyes of the principal image cast in ‘ashtadhatu’, the eight primary metals, has to be seen to be believed. The deity is depicted as the ‘Mahishasuramardini’ – the slayer of the demon Mahisha, who had stalked the world in the shape of a buffalo. Rebuilt in the original genre, the temple is a splendid example of local woodworking skills. Small chambers hold other images and the ‘bedchamber’ of the goddess. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple is said to be an underground chamber that is not accessible to worshippers. The original stone image of the deity is regarded to be in this room. A large drum, similar to the one at Mamel is one of the noteworthy objects in the temple.

A local story has it that the ruler of the erstwhile princely state of Suket, in whose territories the area fell, was pressuring the local people to join the British forces during the Second World War. The people were reluctant to do so and they feel that it was the intervention of the goddess that brought the War to an end and saved her people from being slain. A fair still celebrates the event. Dushera is another major celebration in the temple and several buffaloes are sacrificed at the time.

The hill of Shikari Devi ( 3359m ) stands as a divider between the Karsog and Janjheli valleys. From both, a steep and enjoyable hike can be done to the top. The route is through thick woods that have trees of deodar ( Himalayan cedar), spruce, fir and walnut – and several rare herbs. From Chindi, the trail rises just after the village of Bakrote and guides and ponies can be hired for the trail. From Bakhrote, you can drive along the initial couple of kilometres. Almost needless to add, the top has a spectacular view of the entire area.

The area is a wildlife sanctuary that hosts the musk deer, ghoral, bears and a variety of pheasants and other birds. Small huts of the migrant Gaddi and Gujjar people lie along the trail and in spring and again in late autumn you can see them moving with their flocks of cattle.

As in practically every other part of Himachal, temples abound in the Chindi-Karsog area. There are several dedicated to the deity Nag Dhamooni who is especially worshipped by childless couples – some of the more attractive structures are at Sairi Bangla ( Bungalow ) and at Saranda. Again near Chindi and accessed by an attractive drive through pine woods that gradually give way to deodars, the temple of Mahunag is regarded as one of the most important in the area. This is considered to be core temple of the deity Mahunag - who is regarded as the embodiment of Karna of the epic Mahabharata.

A little off the drive to Mandi lies the village of Pangana which was the original seat of the rulers of Suket till they shifted the capital to Sundernagar. The centuries-old Devi Kot temple is one of the most remarkable examples of traditional architectural skills. Its wood - mesh packed with dressed-stone, rises six stories to a height of approximately fifty feet. The deity Mahamaya and the deified princess of Suket, Chandravati are enshrined in the compound. Past Pangana, and through thick forests and little villages the road winds down to Chail Chowk and the road to Manali. En route and accessible from the vaillage Chowki – and after an uphill hike of half a dozen kilometres through thick woods, lies the temple of Kamrunag. For centuries, this temple has been held in high veneration. Interestingly, through all this time the offerings of gold, silver, ornaments and coins have been dropped in the small lake that lies in front of the temple.

CHINDI

Chindi of Shimla is located in the Karsog valley. Shimla's Chindi is amidst enormous orchards of apples and dense hilly woods of deodars and pines. It is one of the most lovely places of Himachal Pradesh. For a weekend getaway from the monotonous daily routine life, Chindi is an ideal destination that provides a welcome break. The area is well connected with roads and small shops. The climate is just superb at Chindi that makes it a heavenly place. The winter lovers have to put on heavy clothes during the winters as the temperature is very low. The summers are quite a pleasant one when one has to put on light woollen garments. Chindi being a very small hilly area, is not that way visited by the tourists but yet the place has got its own charm and splendor. The sight of the rambling hills together with the lush green forests and valleys is really something mentionworthy. Holidaying at Chindi is a very relaxing experience.

Major attractions around Chindi:
Mahunag Temple
Mamleshwar Mahadev Temple (Lord Shiva Temple)
Kamaksha Devi Temple (Durga Temple)
Pangna Killa Temple
Shikari Devi Temple

The lifestyle of the people at Chindi of Shimla is very simple that is very different from the hustling bustling city life. The silence of the place makes one feel as if he is in the fairy world. The serenity of Chindi is simply inexpressible.

TATAPANI

Himachal Pradesh >> Mandi >> Tatapani

Tatapani, 164 km from Chandigarh, and just over an hour away from Shimla (54 km) on the Naldhera-Mandi road, is one such location. Another less crowded, more interesting and only slightly longer route is via Barotiwala to Sabathu, then up to Arki and Dhami before following the winding but almost deserted military road (constructed after the 1962 war) to Basantpur and Tatapani.
As its name suggests, Tatapani is known for its hot waters, curative sulphur springs that surface on the right bank of the Sutlej and drain into the river. At just over 700 metres (2300 feet) above sea level, Tatapani can be uncomfortably warm in peak summer. As if in compensation, the icy waters of the Sutlej ensure that even the peak summer nights are cool. Frequent showers too take some of the bite out of the dry heat.
On the plus side, the swift river enveloped by steep gorges through much of its trajectory is gentle in this stretch with silver beaches and sheltered coves, where the visitor can cool off. There are scenic pathways upstream of the river to a waterfall and to Shiv Gufa, a stalacite cave with 81 shivlings 4.5 km away in the picturesque Saroor Khud, on the edge of the Sutlej gorge.
For the avid angler the Sutlej is teeming with fish. The silt in the river, specially in peak summer, however, can be an inhibiting factor. The clear green waters of Saroor Khud offer more rewarding prospects provided the local dynamite man hasn’t beaten you to the sport. Tatapani is also a prominent gateway to the enchanting Jalori pass (Tirthan river region) .With changes all around it, the sleepy village has begun to come out of its long hibernation. Since last spring, a local lad has begun to offer trips on a raft down the Sutlej.

MANDI

Himachal Pradesh >> Mandi >>{Karsog , Tatapani }

The historic town of Mandi (800 m) is built along the banks of the river Beas. It has long been an important commercial centre and the sage Mandva is said to have meditated here. This one time capital of the princely state of Mandi is a fast developing town that still retains much of its original charm and character. Today, it is a district headquarters. Mandi is renowned for its 81 old stone temples and their enormous range of fine carving, it is often called the 'Varanasi of the Hills'. The town has remains of old palaces and notable examples of 'colonial' architecture.

What To See

Rewalsar :- Positioned about 25 km from Mandi, Rewalsar is adorned with the Rewalsar Lake, well-known for its floating islands of reed, and a Buddhist Monastery, a Sikh Gurdwara and a Hindu Temple.
Sunder Nagar :- Perched at a height of 1174 meters on the raised edge of a fertile valley, Sunder Nagar is a quaint town famous for its temples. This town is 26 km away from Mandi.
Prashar Lake :- This tranquil lake lies 40 km north of Mandi. A three-storied pagoda like temple dedicated to Sage Prashar adds to the beauty of the lake.
Janjehli :- Situated 67 km from Mandi, Janjehli is an ideal destination for hikers, offering treks up to a height of 3300 meters.

SIRMOUR

Himachal Pradesh >> Sirmour

Himachal Pradesh is not only the land of snow and high mountains but also has lower hills known as Shiwalik, where too the tourists can spend their vacations, see the wonders of nature like the big lakes, wild life parks/ sanctuaries and the fossil parks etc. One such area is district Sirmaur, where a triangle of 3 important tourist places namely Nahan, Renuka and Paonta Sahib, have attracted many tourists all round the year. There are many attractions available in this triangle. One can visit these places either in the order we have explained or first visit Renuka then Nahan and lastly Paonta Sahib from Shimla side or the vice versa.

CHURDHAR

Himachal Pradesh->Sirmour->Chur Dhar

THE enchanting Churdhar mountain in Sirmaur is one of the Shivalik ranges at a height of 11965 feet (it is the highest peak in southern Himachal Pradesh), Churdhar, commonly known as Churichandni (Bangle of Snow), is blessed with some of the most spectacular and beautiful landscapes in this region. The view from the summit embraces a vast panorama of lowland tracts towards the south and snow-capped ranges, including the peaks of Badrinath and Kedarnath in the Garhwal region, towards the north.
It is believed that this is the very place where Hanuman discovered the life-restoring Sanjivini booti, which revived Lakshmana, Lord Rama’s younger brother. Ruins of an ancient town have been discovered at the nearby Dundi Devi.
A wealth of herbs and beautiful alpine flora cover these Himalayan slopes. Walking through the wildlife sanctuary, one spots the spectacular monal, Himachal’s state bird, along with koklass and kaleej pheasants. The canine-toothed musk deer and the endangered Himalayan black bear inhabit the higher forests.
Below the summit is the deodar-roofed, single-storeyed, square temple of Srigul with a lingam, dedicated to Shiva (Chooreshwar Mahadev). Pilgrims sing and dance at night during the Navratras fair in this ancient temple.
Trekkers tread over small glaciers on their way to the wind-blown Churdhar summit, which has moderate to heavy snowfall (average of 33 feet snow). Often the Srigul temple gets buried under it.On a clear sunny day, you can be rewarded with a view of the Badrinath and Kedarnath shrines, Gangetic plains, the Sutlej river and hills of Shimla and Chakrata. Atop the Churdhar summit lie the lingams of Shiva and Kali, where once goat and sheep were sacrificed. Devotees hoist flags and make offerings here.

RENUKA LAKE

Himachal Pradesh->Sirmour->Renuka Lake

Renuka lake is connected by road and lies in Sirmaur district. With a circumference of 3214 m, Renukaji is the largest natural lake in Himachal. Shaped like the profile of a reclining woman, this is regarded as the embodiment of the goddess Renuka. Near the lake's feet is another lake held sacred to her son, Parshurama. Both have temples built around them and the main temple to Renuka is regarded to have been built overnight in the eighteenth century. The lake rests in a long valley and the surrounding slopes are covered with a variety of vegetation and thick woods. Boating is available on the lake. Renuka has a mini zoo with spotted deer, nilgai, barking deer and Himalayan black bears - and a lion safari. Fishing is possible on the river Giri, at nearby Jataun.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Himachal Pradesh >>{Bilaspur , Chamba , Hamirpur , Kangra , Kinnaur , Kullu , Lahul&Spiti , Mandi , Shimla , Sirmaur , Solan , Una}

The earliest known inhabitants of the region were tribals called Dasas. Later, Aryans came and they assimilated in the tribes. In the later centuries, the hill chieftains accepted suzerainty of the Mauryan empire, the Kaushans, the Guptas and Kanuaj rulers. During the Mughal period, the Rajas of the hill states made some mutually agreed arrangements which governed their relations. In the 19th century, Ranjit Singh annexed/subjugated many of the states. When the British came, they defeated Gorkhas and entered into treaties with some Rajas and annexed the kingdoms of others. The situation more or less remained unchanged till 1947. After Independence, 30 princely states of the area were united and Himachal Pradesh was formed on 15th April, 1948. With the recognition of Punjab on 1st November, 1966, certain areas belonging to it were also included in Himachal Pradesh. On 25th January, 1971, Himachal Pradesh was made a full-fledged State.
The State is bordered by Jammu & Kashmir on North, Punjab on West and South-West, Haryana on South, Uttar Pradesh on South-East and China on the East.

DISTRICTS:

01.Bilaspur 02.Chamba 03.Hamirpur 04.Kangra 05.Kinnaur 06.Kullu 07.Lahul&Spiti 08.Mandi 09.Shimla 10.Sirmaur 11. Solan 12.Una