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Bharmour - Mani Mahesh Trail
| From Chamba traveling eastward by Jeep or bus, upstream
along the Ravi River, is the ancient capital of the Chamba Hill State.
Bharmour was the capital of the state from the 6th to the 10th century.
Raja Meru Verman was the 1st King of this Surajbansi Rajput clan.
He consolidated his power by subjugating the local Ranas and Thakurs,
who had small principalities. |
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| Ravi River near Bharmour, courtesy of Mohan
Gupta |
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Bharmour, courtesy of
Ashok Dilwali
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Bharmour is 69 km from Chamba and 112 km from Dalhousie
at an altitude of 6500 ft. It is the home base and center of the Gaddi
tribes. There are 84 temples - 4 of which are large and well-preserved.
They are dedicated to |
| On the way to Bharmour, is the village of Chatrari.
It has 2 temples dedicated to Shakti Devi and Lakhna Devi. These temples
are pent-roof syled. The sculpture of the idols here is of ancient
vintage and superb quality. |
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Shakti Devi, courtesy
of HPTDC
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 From
Bharmour starts the trek to Mani Mahesh Lake at the foothill of Chamba
Kailash - Mani Mahesh peak. It is 34 km from Bharmour and located at an
altitude of 14,000 ft. Annual pilgrimage to this holy place takes place
in the fall. The temple here is one of the most ancient in the hills of
Himachal. From Bharmour also starts the trek through Kugti pass to Lahul.
Kugi National Forest and Wildlife Sanctuary is located in this area. This
jremote sanctuary is home to black and brown bears and snow leopards and
rare pheasants.
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