HIDDEN TREASURES OF BHARMOUR

Bharmour is totally unexplored to whole world so full of hidden treasures like Holy places, hidden sanctuaries, wild life and medicinal plants etc. Many visitors come to Bharmour for meditation, traveling, trekking, researches of wild life, medicinal herbs, to study the tradition and custom of local peoples of Bharmour.

Manimahesh and Chaurasi temples are world famous destination in Bharmour, which is known for pilgrimage visit to Manimahesh Lake, Manimahesh Kailash and a complex of 84 ancient temples at Bharmour. Kugti, Chobia, Kalicho, Inderhar, Gujj and Thamsar passes are high altitude pass in the Himalayan range and attract the trekker toward themselves.

Kugti and Tundah sanctuaries are full of hidden Himalayan flora and fauna, and attract researcher for research. Followings are main hidden treasures of Bharmour. There are many people in the world those who come to hill station seeking seclusion to satisfy their hidden motives, many travelers come for sightseeing, to gain knowledge and to relax in natural environment and even for meditation. Such people often checkup web sites.

This website is to help those who want to dip in the nature and natural studies; we help them to plan their researches, journey and vacations. This part of this web site is specially made for the needs of conscious personalities and wants to dip in the natural researches. We help in their planning and provide comfortable environment for researches.

1. MANIMAHES KAILASH AND LAKE
2. CHAURASI TEMPLES
3. KUGTI SANCTUARY
4. TUNDHA SANCTUARY
5. FLORA AND FAUNA IN BHARMOUR

1. MANIMAHESH KAILASH AND LAKE

(BEST PERIOD - 15APRIL TO OCTOBER)

Manimahesh Lake is situated at 27 km from Bharmour at the foot of Manimahesh Kailash. Lord Shiva is believed to reside on this snow-covered mountain. The lake and peak are considered sacred and a fair called as Manimahesh fair (Manimahesh Yatra) is held at the lake each and every year in the month of August and September; the yatra held from Janamastmi to Radhastami each and every year. It is believed that on this occasion both Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati gets the bath in the Lake.

For this holy moment lacks of peoples comes from the country and abroad to take holy dip in the Manimahesh Lake. Providing a rare occasion to see and study the customs and rituals of the local people. And the glorious views of Manimahesh Kailash in the morning and at the time of sun rising touches the hearts of visitors. Regarding Manimahesh Kailash it is said that no one has been able to climb to the peak. Local legends clarifying that people point out rock projections, human-like in appearance, and say that one is of a hermit, the other is of a shepherd, frozen stiff during their futile effort to reach the top of Manimahesh Kailash. Many holy places come in the way to Manimahesh, at the distance of 6 km from Hadsar, a Dhancho famous for water fall and after 5km from Dhancho Gourikund come. Gauri is another name of Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva.

A dip in this lake is considered sacred because it is believed that Parvati used to bath in this lake and only ladies are allowed to take dip in the kund. About one kilometer ahead is the Shiva Kalotri spring-said to have its source in Lord Shiva's feet. Two kilometer from Shiva Kalotri Kamal kund is situated in the foot of Manimahesh Kailash. After a short run from Gauri kund reaches the Manimahesh Lake is shallow circular lake gives it an enchanting appearance. A roofless temple, conspicuous with many iron trinkets, is seen on the opposite side. For beginner trekkers Manimahesh trek is the best route for beginning as the gradient is good and also provide pilgrimage visit to Manimahesh Lake.

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2. ANCIENT CHAURASI TEMPLES

(BEST PERIOD – 12 MONTH)

Chaurasi was the level area on which these eighty four temples were standing and the name was attributed to the 84 Sidhas who are believed to have meditated in Bharmour over 100 years who supposed to come from Kurukshetra while visiting to Manimahesh Kailash. The Chaurasi Temple Complex offers you a delightful, clean and a scenic view. The complex is surrounded by numerous schools. The most extraordinary site of the complex is the tallest temple of Manimahesh, which is built in the Shikhara style of architecture. Another temple built in the same style is that of Lord Vishnu cast in his Nar Singh Avatar.

Bharmour once known as Brahmpura, was between the 6th and 10th centuries, the capital of the princely state of Chamba. It is renowned for its cluster of temples collectively known as the ‘Chaurasi’. Though of varying architectural design, these temples are noted for their fine workmanship. Legend has that in the 10th century, 84 Sidhas (holy men) visited Bharmour, they blessed the ruler Raja Sahil Varman with ten sons and a daughter Champavati whom the town of Chamba is said to be named. And while some shrines were already in existence, the Raja had the remainder built to commemorate their sojourn.

These include the Lakhna Devi Temple, the Ganesh Temple and the Nar Singh Temple. Installed in the sanctum of the Lakhna Devi Temple is an exquisite brass image of the goddess. The temple of Lord Dharamraj is also in Chaurasi complex which is only one in the world and it supposed to be that all souls come here after death and get the justice from Lord Dharamraj.

THE MAIN ATTRACTIONS OF CHAURASI ARE :

1. Ganesha temple (belongs to Lord Ganesh)
2. Manimahesh temple (belongs to Lord Shiva)
3. Nar Singh temple (belongs to Lord Vishnu)
4. Maa Lakhna Devi (belongs to Goddess Mahisasurvardni)
5. Maa Shitla temple (belongs to Goddess Shitla)
6. Maa Chamunda temple (belongs to Goddess Chamunda)
7. Hanuman temple (belongs to Lord Hanuman/ Bajrangbali)
8. Kartik Temple (belongs to Lord Kartik)
9. Dharameshwar Mahadev temple (belongs to Lord Dharamraj only one in the whole world)
10. Nandi temple (belongs to Lord Nandi)
11. Jai krishan Giriji temple (belongs to Saint Jai krishan Giriji Maharaj)
12. Trameshwar Mahadev, Bijleshwar Mahadev, Moniling Mahadev, Suryaling Mahadev, Gyarahrudhra Mahadev (all temples belongs to Lord Shiva)
13. Ard Ganga holy Pool (used for holy bath on the occasion of Janamastmi)

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3. THE KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

(BEST PERIOD - MAY TO OCTOBER)

Kugti wild life sanctuary is located at an altitude of 2250 meter and lies between Latitudinal range 32°22´ to 32°35´ N; Longitudinal range 76°44´ to 76°53´E; in Bharmour of Chamba District of Himachal Pradesh. This sanctuary has an area of 37,886.68 hectare (378.87 sq. km). It has also Pir Panjal Himalayan range. The topography of the area is mountainous having altitudinal range of 2000 meter to 5000 meters from sea level, and includes different zones like temperate (2000-2800m), upper temperate (2800-3300m), subalpine (3300-3600m) and alpine zone >3600m.

From December to March, temperature remains less than 10º C and comes down to 0º C because of heavy snowfall. The change over from winter to summer is gradual. During March and April, weather is cool and bright, and the temperature begins to rise rapidly after the middle of April and continue till end of the rainy season in July. The months of October and November are comparatively dry and cold weather usually starts by the middle of November. The annual rainfall in the Kugti wildlife sanctuary is recorded 1400mm.

As a whole, the climate is temperate with well-marked seasons. The south facing physical environment in the Kugti wildlife sanctuary can be described as rocky terrain with frequent outcrops of huge boulders, slate and rock faces while north facing part of sanctuary are having dense mixed forests, rich in high-altitude Himalayan wildlife, and is one of the last homes of Himalayan tahr in Himachal Pradesh. It is also well-known as a source of many medicinal plants, abundant water resources, many originating from glaciers and a diverse topography add to the attraction of the area. To the west it is connected with Tundah Sanctuary by a forest corridor. The main occupation is farming and they grow more than two crops in a year followed by crop rotation.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum), Maize (Zea mays), barley (Hordum vulgare), rajma (Phaseolus sativus), potato (Solanum tuberosum) etc are the main crops. The mammalian fauna comprised brown bear (Ursus arctos), Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), Leopard (Panthera pardus), Himalayan Tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus), Himalayan ibex (Capra ibex), Goral (Nemorhaedus goral), Common Langur (Presbytus entellus), porcupine (Hystrix indica) and the area also supports a small population of musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster)etc.

The best periods for visiting the sanctuary are May-October, when the weather is good. Kugti is snow bond area and bonded with snow for four to five months in year. Hence provide good time for researcher to research the snow habitats like Snow leopard, Goral, Himalayan Thar, Serow, Brown and black Bear, musk deer, birdlife, hidden flora and many more which are main habitats and vegetation of Kugti sanctuary. Forests are dense and mountains provides many medicinal plants and herbs like Aconitum heterophyllum (Potish), Podophylum hexandrum (Bankakudi), Angelica glauca (Chaora), Jurinea macrocephala (Dhoop), and Morchella esculenta (Guchhi) etc. are also extracted from the forest. There is an annual pilgrimage by lacks of people to the Mani Mahesh Lake; few people choose the path through the Kugti sanctuary. Kugti is famous for Kartik Temple and a way to Lauhal and Spiti through Kugti Pass. When Kugti pass is opened for local Gaddi shepherd to cross with their flocks to Lauhal valley, providing a rare occasion to see and study the customs and rituals of the local people.

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4. THE TUNDAH WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

(BEST PERIOD - APRIL TO OCTOBER)

A high altitude sanctuary in Bharmour of District Chamba (H.P.) at the Latitudinal range of 32°27´ to 32°40´ N; Longitudinal range of 76°27´ to 76°37´E; an area of 6422.08 hectare. (64.22sqkm). with good, though disturbed, habitat for Himalayan Thar, Ibex and pheasants. The area also supports a small population of Musk deer. It is connected to Kugti Sanctuary by a forest corridor to the east. Forest type includes Moist Deodar Forest Western Mixed Coniferous Forest and Alpine Pastures. Kail and Deodar were planted for commercial timber. A way goes through Tundah sanctuary to Lauhal valley over Kalicho Pass via Banni Mata. This sanctuary is almost same as Kugti sanctuary but differ by climate temperature and topography. The sanctuary is rich of birds, medicinal plant and herbs. Tundah sanctuary is easily approachable from road and can be visited through dense forest of sanctuary with experienced guide.

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5. FLORA AND FAUNA IN BHARMOUR

(BEST PERIOD - APRIL TO OCTOBER)

Bharmour is situated in the Pir Panjal ranges and Dhauladhar region of glorious Himalaya. Bharmour is snow bound area and bound for three to four months in the year. The area is mountainous and has dense forests which provide many types of great Himalayan flora and fauna. The territory of Bharmour is ideally suited for variety of wild animals and birds, since the forests are distributed from low elevation to the snow line and above. And the area is dwelt by a rich fauna. Bharmour is blessed with natural beauty, bearing beautiful resources with birds and animals which attract a multitude of enthusiastic tourists for sightseeing, sport and to rest in such surrounding. Thus bird watchers, photographers and biologists from country and abroad come to Bharmour for such studies. For researchers whom want to research, winter is the best season for the wild life and for flora like medicinal plant summer or autumn is best season in Bharmour.

Few of spices are given below (Resource Forest Department, Bharmour):

MEDICINAL HERBS IN BHARMOUR

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CLIMBERS IN BHARMOUR

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SHRUBS IN BHARMOUR

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TREES IN BHARMOUR

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WILD MAMMALS IN BHARMOUR

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BIRD IN BHARMOUR

Permitted Resource from : Forest Department, Bharmour

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