Overview
Bharmour was the first capital of the Chamba kingdom, high in the Budhil valley under the snow peaks of the Manimahesh range. Its Chaurasi complex, named for the 84 shrines said to stand there, has stone and timber temples more than a thousand years old. This five-day trip goes in via Dalhousie and Chamba, the later capital on the Ravi, with two nights in Bharmour among the villages of the Gaddi, Himachal's semi-nomadic shepherds. It's far off the main tourist circuit, and the road beyond Chamba is narrow and spectacular.
Best for: Travellers interested in old temples, mountain villages and the Gaddi shepherd culture
- Bharmour's Chaurasi temples
- Gaddi shepherd villages
- Chamba's Lakshmi Narayan temples and museum
- The Chaugan and Chamba Rumal embroidery
- A night in Dalhousie
- The Ravi gorge road
Day by day
- Day1
Pathankot to Dalhousie
About 80 kmOvernight: Dalhousie
Pickup at Pathankot station or airport and the climb to Dalhousie through Nurpur and Banikhet, about two and a half to three hours. Afternoon walk around Gandhi Chowk and the Garam Sadak, with views of the Pir Panjal.
Road guide: Pathankot to Dalhousie → - Day2
Dalhousie to Chamba
About 55 kmOvernight: Chamba
Down through Khajjiar's meadow to Chamba on the Ravi. Visit the Lakshmi Narayan temple complex, the Bhuri Singh museum with its Pahari miniatures and the Chamunda Devi temple above town, and walk on the Chaugan, the town's grassy promenade.
Road guide: Dalhousie to Chamba → - Day3
Chamba to Bharmour
About 65 kmOvernight: Bharmour
Up the Ravi gorge on a narrow road cut into the cliffs to Bharmour, at about 2,100 m. Afternoon among the Chaurasi temples, including the Lakshana Devi temple with its carved wooden doorway, thought to date from the seventh or eighth century.
- Day4
Bharmour villages
About 30 kmOvernight: Bharmour
A day around Bharmour: the Bharmani Devi temple on the hill above town, reached by a steep walk or jeep track, and the Gaddi villages where shepherds bring their flocks down before winter. In August and September, pilgrims pass through on the Manimahesh yatra.
- Day5
Bharmour to Pathankot
About 185 km
The long drive back down the Ravi through Chamba to Pathankot, about six to seven hours, for your train or flight.
The old kingdom of Chamba
The Chamba kingdom was founded in the sixth century at Brahmpura, today's Bharmour, and moved its capital to Chamba on the Ravi in the tenth century. Because the region was isolated, its temples, metal statues and wooden carvings survived invasions that destroyed similar art elsewhere. Chamba remained a princely state until 1948.
Gaddi country
The Budhil valley around Bharmour is the heartland of the Gaddi, whose men wear long woollen coats tied with black rope and whose flocks of sheep and goats move up to high pastures each summer. Their villages have stone-and-timber houses with slate roofs and carved balconies.
A road for the patient
The road from Chamba to Bharmour follows the Ravi through a deep gorge. It's narrow and has stretches of loose rock, so the 65 km take about three hours. The views of the river and the snow peaks ahead make it worth every minute.
Who this suits
This is a trip for travellers who enjoy history and village life and don't mind simple hotels. It suits photographers, architecture lovers and anyone who has already seen the main hill stations and wants a place few tourists reach. Families with older children enjoy the temples and the shepherd country, but the long, winding road beyond Chamba isn't ideal for anyone prone to motion sickness.
Route and price at a glance
The Chamba and Bharmour trip covers about 415 km by road over 5 days, with overnight stops in Dalhousie, Chamba and Bharmour. The car is priced on the same basis as our private car tours: 1,250 billable km (the larger of the real distance and 250 km a day) at the vehicle's per-km rate, plus 4 nights of driver allowance, with fuel, tolls and parking included.
For two travellers on standard hotels, that comes to ₹10,000 for 4 hotel nights with breakfast and dinner, ₹30,350 for the car and driver and a ₹6,052 service fee: ₹46,402 in all, or ₹23,000 each. Larger groups share the car and pay less per person.
- Day 1: Pathankot to Dalhousie (about 80 km, overnight Dalhousie)
- Day 2: Dalhousie to Chamba (about 55 km, overnight Chamba)
- Day 3: Chamba to Bharmour (about 65 km, overnight Bharmour)
- Day 4: Bharmour villages (about 30 km, overnight Bharmour)
- Day 5: Bharmour to Pathankot (about 185 km)
Chamba and Bharmour price
Per person, by hotel tier and group size. Prices last calculated 21 October 2026 from current rate cards and hotel listings.
3-star hotels, standard camps and homestays
| Travellers | Per person | Group total | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | ₹23,000 ≈ US$270 | ₹46,000 | Sedan |
| 4 | ₹17,500 ≈ US$205 | ₹70,000 | Innova |
| 6 | ₹18,500 ≈ US$220 | ₹1,11,000 | Tempo Traveller |
Per person, twin sharing, all-inclusive of the items listed below. Dollar prices are approximate (₹85 = US$1). Your exact price is confirmed in writing before you book; it depends on dates, hotel availability and group size.
Where the money goes: 2 travellers, standard hotels
- Hotels and camps (breakfast and dinner)₹10,000
- Private car and driver for the whole trip₹30,350
- Our service fee (15% on hotels and transport)₹6,052
- Total for both₹46,402
Included
- 4 nights in Dalhousie, Chamba and Bharmour, twin sharing, with breakfast and dinner
- Private car with driver for all 5 days (sedan or Innova for two, Innova for four, Tempo Traveller for six), including fuel, tolls, parking, state taxes and the driver's allowances
- Pickup from Pathankot and drop at Pathankot
Not included
- ×Train, bus or flights to Pathankot
- ×Lunches, drinks and snacks
- ×Entry fees, ropeways, activities and snow gear hire
- ×GST on the package, travel insurance and tips
Good to know: roads, permits and safety
- No permits are needed. Hotels in Bharmour are simple; the comfort tier gets the best rooms available.
- The Chamba–Bharmour road is narrow, with rockfall in places; we only drive it in daylight.
- Temples ask visitors to remove shoes and leather items before entering.
When to go
- • April to June and September to November are the best months.
- • The Manimahesh yatra in August and September brings crowds to Bharmour; book early.
- • Monsoon rain often causes landslides on the Chamba–Bharmour road; avoid July and August unless you're on pilgrimage.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Chamba and Bharmour package cost?+
About ₹18,500 per person for six travellers on standard hotels, or ₹23,000 per person for a couple, for all 5 days. Comfort hotels cost more; the price table shows every option.
What is the Chaurasi temple complex?+
A group of stone and timber temples in Bharmour, traditionally said to number 84, some dating to the seventh or eighth century.
Can we do the Manimahesh trek?+
It's a pilgrimage trek of about 13 km each way from Hadsar near Bharmour, usually in August and September. We can extend the trip for it.
Is Bharmour cold?+
Cool in summer and cold in winter, at about 2,100 m. Snow falls from December to February.
Who are the Gaddi?+
A semi-nomadic community of shepherds who move flocks between high summer pastures and the lower valleys in winter.
Which car do we get on the Chamba and Bharmour trip?+
A sedan for two travellers, an Innova for up to four and a Tempo Traveller for six, with the same driver for the whole trip.
Plan the rest of your trip
Price and route sources: Wikipedia: Bharmour · Wikipedia: Chamba, Himachal Pradesh · Wikipedia: Gaddi people · TravelTriangle: Himachal tour packages and prices
