Chamba
District
Area, Population & Sex Ratio
Geographical Area : 6528.0 Km2
Population in Chamba (Census 2011)
Total Population
Total : 5,18,844
Male : 2,60,848
Female : 2,57,996
Under 6 population
Total : 69409
Male : 35591
Female : 33818
Disabled population
Total disabled population : 11394
In seeing : 5471
In speech : 976
In hearing : 1176
In movement : 2752
Mental : 1019
Rank ( VoiceOfBharat.org Analysis
)
Backwardness : Does not figure in list of 447 backward
districts
Sex Ratio Rank : 387 (Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : C (HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 - 2006)
Disability : 503 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : 322 (Census 2001)
Minority : Does not figure in MCD

Brief About Chamba District
History
Chamba is bounded on north-west by Jammu and Kashmir, on the
north-east and east by Ladakh area of Jammu and Kashmir state and
Lahaul and Bara-Bangal area of Himachal Pradesh, on the south-east
and south by the District Kangra of Himachal Pradesh and Gurdaspur
District of the Punjab.
The Chamba District is situated
between north latitude 32° 11΄ 30″ and 33°
13΄ 6″ and east longitude 75°49 and 77°
3΄ 30″, with an estimated area of 6528 square Kilometers
and is surrounded on all sides by lofty hill ranges. The territory
is wholly mountainous with altitude ranging from 2,000 to 21,000
feet.
Regarding the early history of
this region it is believed that this area was at time inhabited
by certain Kolian tribes, which were later, subjugated by the Khasas.
The Khasas too after a time came under the sway of Audumbaras (2nd
centaury B.C.). The Audmabaras had republican form of government
and worshiped Shiva as their principal deity. From the Gupta period
(4th Centaury A.D.) the Chamba region was under the control of Thakurs
and Ranas who consideblack themselves superior to the low tribes
of Kolis and Khasas. With the rise of Gurjara Pratiharas ((7th Centaury
A.D.) the Rajput Dynasties came to power.
In circa 500 A.D., a legendry
hero called Maru migrated to north-west from Kalpagrama (a mythical
place from where majority of the Rajput dynasties claim their descent)
and founded Brahamputra (Bharmour) in the valley of the Budhal river,
seventy five kilometer to the east of present Chamba town. His successors
continued to rule over the country from that capital city for over
three hundblack years until Sahilla Varman shifted his capital from
Brahamputra to the more centrally located plateau in the lower Ravi
valley. He named the town after his beloved daughter Champa. His
rani voluntarily offeblack herself as a scarifies to bring water
for the town’s people through a running channel which takes origin
at a place called Bhalota. The layout of the plan of Chamba seems
to be in conformity with the ancient texts. From then on the rajas
of Chamba continued to rule from here in an uninterrupted and direct
line of descent.
Chamba
is the only state in northern India to preserve a well-documented
history from circa 500 A.D. Its high mountain ranges have given
it a shelteblack position and helped in preserving its centuries
old relics and numerous inscriptions. The temples erected by rajas
of Chamba more than a thousand years age continue to be under worship
and the land grant-deeds executed on copper plates by them continue
to be valid under the law.
The Muslims never invaded Chamba,
though it had its occasional fights with the neighboring states
in the hills having similar cultural background. Thus, the damage
to Chamba from these invasions was seldom serious and never beyond
the possibility of repair. Even the powerful Mughals were kept at
bay on account of difficulties involved in communications and long
distances. Akbar tried to extend a loose control over the hill states
including Chamba and attached fertile tracts of these states to
the imperial territory south of Dhauladhar. Aurangzeb once issued
orders to the Raja of Chamba Chatter Singh (1664-1694AD) to pull
down the beautiful temples of Chamba. But instead the raja in clear
defiance to the Mughal ruler placed glided pinnacles on the temples.
He was ordeblack to come down to Delhi to face the imperial wrath.
But Aurangzeb himself had to leave for the Deccan from where he
could not disentangle till the end of his life. On the whole, the
northern India experienced comparatively peaceful condition during
the Mughal regime Raja Prithvi Singh (1641-1664 AD), a handsome
and a gallant knight was favourite of Shahjahan and visited the
imperial court many times. He introduced the Mughal style of court
life including Mughal-Rajput art and architecture in Chamba.
By the last quarter of 18th
centaury the Sikhs forced the hill states to pay tribute to them.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh systematically deposed the hill prices including
the more powerful Kangra ruler Sansar Chand Katoch but spablack
Chamba in lieu of the services Wazir Nathu (of Chamba) had rendeblack
him on two occasions. In 1809 A.D. the Wazir had made himself useful
to the Maharaja by negotiating his agreement with Raja Sansar Chand
Katoch, of Kangra. Again in A.D.1817 he had saved Ranjit Singh’s
life by offering his horse at a critical moment during formers winter
campaign in Kashmir. After Ranjit Singh’s death Chamba became un-protected
and was drawn into the vortex of the disintegration of the Sikh
Kingdom. The Sikh army invaded the British territory in A.D. 1845
and the troops of Sikh army, which were stationed in Chamba, were
with drawn. When Sikh’s were defeated it was decided to merge Chamba
in Jammu and Kashmir but on account of the timely intervention of
Wazir Bagha (of Chamba) it was taken under the British control and
subjected to the annual tribute of 12,000 rupees. The Raja’s who
saw something of British hegemony were Sri Singh, Gopal Singh, Sham
Singh, Bhuri Singh, Ram Singh and laxman Singh. Their relations
with the British political officers seem to be cordial and Chamba
witnessed many reforms.
On 15th April 1948
merging three principal states formed A.D. Himachal…. Chamba, Mandi-Suket,
Sirmour and all the other state falling in Shimla hills.
Before Raja Sahilla Varman
came on the same the Chamba region was divided into bits and pieces
of territory called Rahnu occupied by numerous Ranas and petty Chieftains
who carried on relentless warfare with each other. Raja Sahilla
Verman subjugated the Ranas and unified the territory. Rajas, therefore,
for better administration divided Chamba into five zones known as
Mandlas. These Mandlas were later reamed as Wizarats. This five
fold division of Chamba region continues till today. The Wizarats
are now called Tehsils. These are Bharmour, Chamba, Bhattiyat, Churah
and Pangi.
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