Chamba

Chamba is a town on the Ravi, one of the five rivers of Punjab, hemmed in by the Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal ranges. It was ruled by a series of dynasties, the last being the Maru dynasty, then came under British suzerainty and joined the Indian Union in 1948. Having largely escaped outside invasion, it has kept much of its art, customs and heritage.

The town is the subject of the Himachali folk song 'Chamba Kitni Duur'. Between the Chaugan ground and the river runs a narrow promenade with Café Ravi View, an HPTDC café with outdoor tables. Local food includes rajma madra, kidney beans cooked in a yogurt curry with ghee and no onion or garlic, served as part of a dham.