Bharmour, Chamba Overview

Known to be a well kept secret of the state of Himachal Pradesh, Bharmour is a quaint little hilltown that boasts of lush green scenery and snow clad peaks. Formerly called Brahmpura, the hill hamlet is situated at a distance of 64 km from Chamba. Aside from the scintillating scenic beauty, the village is also known for its several ancient temples, some of which are believed to date back to the 10th century.

Flanked by the Ravi and Chenab valley and tucked in between the Dhauladhar mountain ranges and Pir Panjal, Bharmour is devoid of the frequent commercial crowds and it reverberates with tranquility, peace and calm. It is also sometimes called the “Land of Lord Shiva” as it is believed that Lord Shiva resided at the Kailash Parvat nearby. Sprawling with lush green meadows, Bharmous is a perfect escapade into the hills and ideal for you looking for a quiet hill vacation.

Chaurasi Temple Complex in Bharmour

Situated in the heart of Bharmour, Chaurasi Temple Complex is the highlight of the place. The huge complex houses as many as 84 small shrines in the premises dedicated to different gods and goddesses, hence the name - “Chaurasi”. Believed to have been built 1400 years ago, the Manimahesh occupies the centre which is built in the Shikhara style. Here’s the list of major temples in the complex.

Lakshana Devi Temple
Lakshana Devi Temple is the oldest temple in the complex and it still retains some of the features of the ancient times like the wooden architectural designs and intricately carved entrance. The temple is presided by Goddess Durga in the form of four-armed Mahishasuramardini and their are carvings from Shaivism and Vaishnavism.
Manimahesh Temple
Manimahesh Temple is situated in the centre of the Chaurasi Temple and is considered to be the most important temple. Enshrined by a large Shivalinga, the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Narsingh (Narasimha) Temple
This temple also dates back to the 7th century and is enshrined by Narasimha that is the half man half lion incarnation of God Vishnu.

Source
Lord Nandi Bull Temple
Lord Nandi Temple is situated right across the Manimahesh Temple and is presided by a life size metal sculpture of the bull Nandi. Nandi is worshipped extensively by the Hindus.
Dharmeshvar Maharaj (Dharamraj) Temple
Presided by Dharamraj, Dharmeshvar Maharaj temple is another one of the important temples in the complex. It is common belief among locals that the dead souls stand here to seek permission from Lord Dharamraj before departing on the final journey.
Ganpati Temple
Dedicated to God Ganesh, Ganpati Temple is built near the entrance of Chaurasi Temple. It is enshrined by a bronze statue of Lord Ganesh.

Trekking at Bharmour

Bharmour is a base point where a lot of treks start. There are a lot of adventure companies that organize several treks both for amateurs and professional, that you can undertake. The most ideal time for this treks is between the months of June and October. Here’s a list of popular treks from Bharmour.

Manimahesh Lake Trek

Source

Perched at an altitude of 13500 ft above the mean sea level, Manimahesh Lake Trek is more of a religious trek than anything. It is popularly called the Manimahesh Yatra which goes through Hadsar, Dancho and Gaurikund which takes approximately four days and three nights.
Bharmour Keylong Trek

Source

Bharmour Keylong Trek is a rather challenging one where the trekkers enter the Lahaul region through Kalicho Pass which is at a height of 16152 ft. The trekking trail passes through Bhadra, Bansar, Alyas and Trilokinath and takes a total of seven days and six nights approximately.
Bara Bhangal Trek
Bara Bhangal Trek starts from Bharmour and ends at Baijnath and it passes through Dhandar which is the highest point at 15305 ft. Passing through Dhardi, Lake Basecamp, Bara Bhangal and Khanar, the trek takes approximately eight days and seven nights.

Places to Visit at Bharmour

1. Temples

There are a lot of temples in Bharmour that you can visit, the most popular one being Chaurasi Temple. Among other temples that can be found here include Bhagwati Mata Temple, Shivashakti Devi Temple, Banni Mata Temple and more.

2. Wildlife Sanctuaries

Bharmour is home to two of the most prominent wildlife sanctuaries in the region- Kugti Wildlife Sanctuary and Tundah Wildlife Sanctuary. Kugti is one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in the Himachal region situated at a varying height of 2195 to 5040 m. Tundah wildlife sanctuary is also situated near the Kugti Wildlife Sanctuary and is linked to it through a forest corridor. Both of these have a flourishing wildlife.

3. Waterfalls

Bharmour is also home to several gorgeous waterfalls, some of which include Thala Waterfall, Ghared Waterfall, Hadsar Waterfall, Kaksen Bhagsen Waterfall and Sathali Waterfall etc. Boasting of a pleasant view and enchanting natural beauty, you can even take a dip at some of these waterfalls.

How to Reach

The nearest airport to Bharmour is Kangra Airport situated at a distance of 180 km. The nearest railway stations are Pathankot Railway station and Chakki Bank railway station which are both situated at 180 km each, from Bharmour. But the city is well connected to the neighbouring cities with regular public buses travelling to and fro.