Chamba

Poised gracefully on a high mountain saddle at 1,676 metres in the Tehri Garhwal district, Chamba is one of Uttarakhand’s most serene and strategically placed hill towns. Overlooking deep valleys terraced with emerald fields and dense pine ridges, Chamba acts as the scenic junction connecting Mussoorie, Rishikesh, New Tehri, and the sacred shrines of the high Himalayas.

Unlike crowded commercial tourist hubs, Chamba retains the unhurried gentleness of old Garhwal. The town is enveloped in aromatic groves of deodar, chir pine, and oak trees, offering refreshing alpine air and breathtaking morning views of snow-dusted summits including Bandarpunch, Chaukhamba, and the Trishul range stretching across the northern skyline.

Just 16 km down the scenic winding highway lies the colossal Tehri Dam and Tehri Lake, one of Asia’s largest engineering marvels. The vast 42-square-kilometer emerald water body has transformed into India’s premier freshwater water sports destination, featuring high-speed jet skis, banana boat rides, paramotoring, kayaking, and luxurious floating eco-resorts.

Ascending southwest from Chamba leads to Kaddukhal and the revered Surkanda Devi Temple, situated atop an isolated mountain crown at 2,757 metres. Legend tells that Goddess Sati’s head fell here during Shiva’s cosmic tandava. Visitors can either trek up a scenic 2-kilometer stone trail or take a modern aerial ropeway for jaw-dropping 360-degree vistas of the entire Garhwal Himalaya.

History and valor run deep in Chamba’s veins. At the town center stands the historic Gabbar Singh Negi Memorial, honoring the legendary Garhwali soldier who was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry during World War I in 1915. Every spring, the town hosts a patriotic fair celebrating his heroism with military parades and traditional bagpipe music.

For agricultural and botanical enthusiasts, nearby Ranichauri houses the College of Forestry, surrounded by sprawling experimental apple orchards, herbal medicinal research plots, and tranquil woodland walking trails overlooking the snowcapped ranges.