Description of how Chamba evolved as a town.

1. Chamba
Evolution of a Town
Abhimanyu Mittal | Dhruv Gupta | Saurabh Gupta

2. INTRODUCTION
Every settlement that exists today
have developed along either
a) Reserve of water, or a
b) Trade route
Reserve of water- Ravi and its tributary
Trade route to Tissa
Chamba - Today
But Chamba had both of these, thus
increasing its prospects of becoming a
progressive settlement.

3. Chamba is said to have an organic
order of development, which was
linear at first and later upon time,
developed into a cluster
Like any trade route town initially it grew
linear and later growth spread organically
Chamba- during british times
Only bridge during british times

4. SECTION THROUGH CHAMBA

5. STRATEGICAL LOCATION
Chamba is surrounded by various natural
barriers. As a result, it becomes militarily
inaccessible.
a) Ravi forms 300 ft. gorge on the west
b) The Sal tributary forms a gorge on the
north
c) The Shahmadar hill rises up
formidably in the east
The town acted as a self supporting fort
with its own Water supply and food
supplies from adjacent areas
It also lies in the wind shadow area due
to adjacent Chamunda hill protecting
the town from cold chilly winds from
Ravi valley
Map of Himachal Pradesh

6. THE LEGEND
According to legend, king Sahil Varman visited lower Ravi valley accompanied by queen,
his guru and daughter Champavati. On seeing the sight the daughter was awestruck and
urged her father to establish a town there and make it his capital. The king gave into her
wishes and shifted his capital from Bharmaur to ‘Chamba Valley’, so named after his
daughter

7. EVOLUTION PROCESS
The psychological factor in the case of Chamba were
various focuses in the form of temples. The town grew
rythemically and in harmony with these focuses.
Hence, one can understand the abundance of temples in
this region and why Himachal is called ‘Devbhoomi’ (Land
of Gods)
Laxmi Narain Temple
SCHEMATIC PRESENTATION OF POSSIBLE SETTING OF TOWN
•Road from Bharmaur enters town and turns
towards temple and palace complex
•Location of temple can be justified as
• Brahmin settlement already in that area
• Some deity already being worshipped
• Orientation towards east
• Higher and flatter site overlookin the town
•The location of palace comes in accordance
with proximity to the temple

8. EVOLUTION PROCESS
The Sui Mata temple and later on the Hari Rai
temple an the edge of the Chowgan
completed the axis known as ‘Rajpath’ or the
ceremonial axis.
The road from Bharmaur was part of a
major trade route linking Garhwal to
Jammu via Tissa. This was the
common man’s route and may be
called as ‘Janpath’, with the guarding
deity of Chamunda Devi at the
entrance of the town.
THE PROBABLE TRIANGUALR SETTLEMENT

9. ACTUAL EVOLUTION PROCESS
Later on. As the expanded as far as the bank of Ravi, another guarding deity of
Sheetla Devi was built.

10. THE SOCIETY
The Ist quadrant due to
the presence of the
palace developed as
the ‘kshatriya’
dominated area. This
formed the living
quarters of the king, his
wazirs, advisors, etc
The IVth quadrant
served as a vacant
zone, which was to be
later developed as
‘Chowgan’ byh the
british. Its function may
have been to hold
‘Minjar’, the local fair
and restin spot for
visitors and traders.
The IInd quadrant due
to the presence of
main Lakshmi Narain
Temple and presence
of brahmins, led to
being formed as the
main Brahmin area.
The ‘Shudras’ were
placed in the IIIrd
quadrant-they being
separated from the
others by a green
buffer.

11. THE SOCIETY
PROBABLE AREAS OF INITIAL SETTLEMENT ACCORDING TO THE CASTE SYSTEM
Hence, we see the development of town in a rigid caste setup owing to strong religious
beliefs. Even today, one can demarcate pockets in town on the basis of various castes as
Brahmins, Khatris, Mahajans, Chammars, etc.

12. EVOLUTION PROCESS
GROWTH OF TOWN GUIDED BY VARIOUS LANDMARKS
Triangular shape during the medieval period

13. EVOLUTION PROCESS
FINAL SHAPE OF TOWN
In the blue are the new areas of Dharog, Sultanpura, Julakri, Surara, Jansali & Hardaspur
Hatnala
Bangotu
Kashmiri Mohalla
Sapri
Chowgan
Dharog
Sultanpura
Julakri
Surara
Jansali
Hardaspur

14. MOHALLAS
JANSALI
• One of the oldest
sections of town, initial
settlement of Brahmins
• Houses are old and
dilipidated, pointing
towards weak economic
conditions of Brahmins
• Almost all inhabitants
are Hindus, and 4/5th of
them Brahmins.

15. MOHALLAS
HATNALA
• Main attraction Laxmi
Narayan temple
• Streets open and roads
well maintained
• 3 main business centres,
main one being Dogra
bazar.
• Houses are old but some
well maintained
• Khatris and Brahmins
constitute largest
communities, others being
Mahajans, Rajputs and
Aryas

16. MOHALLAS
CHOWGAN
• The main
commercial
sector.
• Around 250
temporary shops.
•Hari Rai temple,
Sheetla temple
and Gandhi Gate
are ancient
monuments
•Chowgan
grounds being the
most important
public placemof
the entire Chamba

17. MOHALLAS
SULTANPURA
• Added to south-west
of Chamba
• In a short time, large
no. of commercial
establishments sprung
up.
•Poor condition of
narrow roads and
streets.
•Most of the houses are
mud structures.
•Jogi and Batwal castes
are prevalent.

18. MOHALLAS
DHAROG
•Lacks motorable
roads. Streets are dirty.
•Houses of mud and
timber in neglected
state, single-storey
occupied by scheduled
castes.
•Ad-dharmis and
Batwals are trained in
manufacturing
Chamba Chappals,
famous for design,
durability and
craftsmanship.

19. MOHALLAS
JULAKRI
•Situated on the right
bank of Ravi.
•District Police Lines
are situated here.
•Private houses are
antiquated and
decayed
•Congestion is so
marked, in certain
cases 8-12 people
share single room.
•Muslims are
predominant in this
area

20. MOHALLAS
HARDASPURA
•Lies 2 k.m. from the
town
•Streets are clean,
wide, motorable and
eucalyptus trees are
planted on botgh sides
of Chamba-Bharmaur
road.
•Large govt. housing
colonies have come
up.

21. MOHALLAS
BANGOTU
•Comprises the heart of
the town
•Akhand Chandi Palace,
Champavati Temple,
Hanuman Temple are
located here
•Congested residential
area and substantial no. of
shops.
•Roads are sufficiently
wide and clean
•Khatris and Mahajans in
majority, the rest being
scheduled castes
concentrated in Dhobi
Mohallah.

22. MOHALLAS
KASHMIRI MOHALLAH
•Situated by the side of
Ravi and its tributary Sal.
•Lanes are filthy and
narrow.
•Houses small, old and
poorly maintained.
•Sham Singh Hospital and
Bhuri Singh museum are
important buildings.
•Kashmiri mohallah
inhabited by muslims.
•Pucca tala mohallah
occupied by Balmiki
community, scavengers
by profession.

23. MOHALLAS
SURARA
•Historic glory extruded
by Rang Mahal, the
treasury of the erstwhile
rulers.
•The 18th century palace
is built in typical Quila
style and now houses 2
public sector industries.
•Houses are spacious
and well-ventilated.
•Only 2 broad streets, all
other are conspicuously
narrow and poorly
maintained.
•Khatri is numerically
strongest followed by
Brahmins, then Rajputs
and Mahajans.

24. MOHALLAS
SAPRI
•D.C. office, Bhartiya
public school and the
club are important
buildings.
•Condition of roads is
slightly better than
other parts of the town.
•House type and house
patterns are more or
less same as the other
wards.
•Dominant caste is
Khatri followed by
Mahajans, dominant
business communities
of the town.

25. HIERARCHY OF STREETS, OPEN SPACES AND FOCUSES
Rajpath
Janpath
Palace L.N. Temple

26. HIERARCHY OF STREETS, OPEN SPACES AND FOCUSES
Every turn is
one of the
chercteristics of
an organic
settlement.

27. CHOWGAN EDGE

28. HIERARCHY OF STREETS, OPEN SPACES AND FOCUSES
The projection on top of th building is a
typical of Chamba houses, this structure
is called ‘BANGLA’ and used as a
viewing gallery for passing processions,
as well as a space for spending
evenings.
Bhuri singh museum is another
attraction especially for its excelent
designing and prominent Modern
architecture

29. HIERARCHY OF STREETS, OPEN SPACES AND FOCUSES
Over the years, nature of streets
changed drastically. The most important
being the shift of major axis from
Rajpath to Janpathdue to :-
1. Evolution of Janpath into central
commercial magnet for surrounding
catchment area. Being major
commercial spine i.e. Janpath
developed more than ceremonial
spine i.e. Rajpath
SECTION OF CHOWGAN BAZAAR BUILDING

30. Shops
Shops
To Bharmour Janpath
To Palace

31. 2. British developed the edge
along the Chowgan placing major
public buildings on Janpath. Even
the king had to use alternate
routes to visit court andd other
important buildings.
Notice British construction; double pillars, deep verandahs and green sheet roofing
HIERARCHY OF STREETS, OPEN SPACES AND FOCUSES

32. Circuit house at the
beginning of the janpath.
All major British officers
used to stay here

33. Gandhi gate (in red), entrance to
Rajpath.
The bus stand was built on the
south-east of the main chowgan.
This led to the shift of the town
entry from the Gandhi Gate side to
the south-east. This further
activated the Chowgan road
Gandhi gate
Bus Stand

34. VISUAL DISCIPLINE, HARMONY WITH NATURE AND ARCHITECTURAL BLEND.
These were some of the characteristics of the Chowgan edge which the British wanted to
achieve. In the centre adjacent to tree, the white buliding, built on a raised platform and
railing along the edge.
THE CHOWGAN EDGE

35. SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
BEFORE 6TH CENTURY A.D.
• No source of information about
original inhabitants, but it is believed
that they migrated from plains and
settled in upper Ravi valley, i.e.
Brahmapura (now, Bharmaur)
•The original inhabitants may have
been certain tribes, now forming low-
caste tribes consisting of one-fourth
population, called ‘Chandals’.
•Evidence of certain aryans migrating
from central asia to here via Kashmir.
•Brahmapura also called ‘Gadaran’
(meaning ‘the sheep country’.
•Some scriptures, like 7th century
image of Surya in Gum and 6th
century image of Kartikeya at
Chatrarhi.

36. SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
6TH CENTURY A.D. TO 10TH CENTURY A.D.
• Manimahes, Lakshna Devi, Ganesha and
Narsingh temples built by Meru Varman are
intersting remains of this period.
•Beginning of a society totally agrarian in nature,
having a strong religious base.
•Inter-settlement interactions very low,
only in case of a king’s conquest or visit
to a temple.
•Development took place due to trade
route from Garhwal to Kashmir, also
lying on Pilgrimage route to Manimahes
and Kailash parbat.
Manimahes temple
Narsingh temple

37. SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
10TH CENTURY A.D. TO 19TH CENTURY A.D.
• Sahil Varman shifted the capital from
Bharmaur to Chamba.
•Many legends trace their origin during this
time, specifically, Sui Devi, Champavati and
Lakshmi Narain Temple
Lakshmi Narain temple Lakshmi Narain temple
Chamba-Aerial View

38. Champavati Temple
Rang Mahal by Raja Umed Singh
Raja Bhuri Singh
10TH CENTURY A.D. TO 19TH CENTURY A.D.

39. Chamba Rumal-Depicting’Ras Lila’
10TH CENTURY A.D. TO 19TH CENTURY A.D.
•Around 12th century A.D. whole of India was
attacked by Mohammedans. But, Chamba
remained unaffected for first 400 years.
•Mughals were generous towards Hill rulers
and allowed them to rule as long as they paid
tribute.
Chamba Rumal-Depicting hunting scene
Mughals acceepting tribute

40. 10TH CENTURY A.D. TO 19TH CENTURY A.D.
•By the end of 17th century saw the rising
power of Jammu, and Chamba engulfed by
Dogra Supremacy.
•The Sikhs and Dogras were influential in
Chamba until the mid-1800s. When Chamba
saw wars with Kangra, Kulu, and Nurpur.
Raja Chatar SinghChamba at war with Kangra

41. 10TH CENTURY A.D. TO 19TH CENTURY A.D
•By the end of 17th century saw the rising
power of Jammu, and Chamba engulfed by
Dogra Supremacy.
•The Sikhs and Dogras were influential in
Chamba until the mid-1800s. When Chamba
saw wars with Kangra, Kulu, and Nurpur.
•After that Chamba was in British control.
•After Independence, it was a princely state.
•And later was merged with other princely
states and the state of HIMACHAL PRADESH
was formed.
Raja Chattar Singh (1664-1690)
Raja Bhuri Singh
(1664-1690)

42. PRESENT CONTEXT
•Chamba is the land of Gods. With
some 60 to 70 big and small temples of
historical value located at diferent parts
of the town.
•It is also a land of beauty located at a
picturesque site with Mangla plateau.
•Also famous for beautiful women and
melodious folk songs.
•It has also become a major tourist
attraction after disturbed conditions in
Kashmir valley.
•This town was formed as a district
headquarter after independence and
was divided into eleven mohallas or
wards.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

43. PRESENT CONTEXT

44. LAND USE PATTERN

45. LITERACY PATTERN

46. LITERACY PATTERN

47. SOME IMPORTANT TEMPLES
CHAMPAVATI TEMPLE
•It is devoted to the guardian deity
Chamba Devi.
•Behind(East) the police station and
treasury buildings facing main
chowgan.
•Erected by Sahil Varman, in memory
of his daughter Champavati.
•Situated in a large open space with
no flooring.
•Shikhara style temple, elaborate
stone carving and wooden chhatris.
•Priests reside in the temple, while
Mandapa is in a broken state and
resides cows.
CHAMPAVATI TEMPLE-NORTH SIDE VIEW

48. CHAMPAVATI TEMPLE PLAN

49. CHAMUNDA DEVI TEMPLE
•Under the protection of ASI.
•Located on the spur of a hill overlooking town to
its south-east. Closest to it is sapri mohallah,
flight of steps leading to it.
•One of the oldest in Chamba, behind main
temple is a small Shiva temple.
•Constructed on a raised platform, which in turns
stands on a chabuttara.
•Flight of steps from chabutra lead upto the
temple.
•Ridge of slate stones rests on deodar wood
planks and rafters.
•Load of roof transferred to carved solid wood
lintel which transfers to stone pillars.
•Clam and peace due to isolation.

51. HARI RAI TEMPLE
•Under the protection of ASI.
•North west corner of the main Chowgan.
•Devoted to Vishnu and made in 11th
century AD by Salavahana.
•Shikhar type temple built on a raised
platform.
•Shikhar of finely carved stone.

53. LAKSHMI NARAYAN TEMPLE
•This group comprises of some of the oldest as well as
some of the new ones. Protected by the ASI.
•Located at the same terrace as Akhand Chandi
Palace, to its north and east of the Chowgan.
•Lakshmi Narayan-chief temple. As old as 920 A.D.,
stands north of the group and opposite the entrance.
•Radha Krishna-erected in 1825 A.D.by Rani Sadha
queen of Raja Jeet Singh

55. PROBLEMS FACING CHAMBA TOWN
•Development after Independence has been ad-hoc at its best
•Overpopulation attributted to
•Migration into town
•Scarcity of land
•Breakup of joint family system
•Commercial sector puts load on residential sector
•Lack of education and environmental awareness

56. LACK OF VISUAL DISCIPLINE ON
CHOWGAN FAÇADE. ABSENCE OF
ORIENTATION ORDER AND GREENERY
A DENSE SETTLEMENT IN THE WARDS OF
SURARA, BANGOTU, HATNALA AND JANSALI.

57. OPEN DRAINS EMIT CONSTANT STENCH AND IN
CONGESTED AREAS IT BECOMES
UNBEARABLE ATMOSPHERE DURING
MONSOONS.
PARKING OF HEAVY GOODS VEHICLES ON
THE MAIN MARKET ROAD

58. UNCOMFORTABLE SCALE OF STREETS
DUE TO INCREASING VERTICAL
CONSTRUCTION AND UNPLANNED
SEWAGE LINES

59. AKHAND CHANDI PALACE
•Use of palace as a college building is
inappropriate andcontributes to
physical malice of the building, eg.
Toilets below staircases, classrooms
painted by students, shattered glass
panels, etc.
•Unsuitable for college- absolutely no
scope of expansion for playgrounds,
hostels, etc.
•Principal’s residence constructed on
earler green cover.
•Unaesthetic construction around the
palace.
•Because of the low-budget of college,
the authorities have not been able to
maintain the college

60. THE END