Chaurasi Temple Complex, Bharmour

Bharmour, once 'Brahmpura', was the capital of the Chamba kingdom before it moved to Chamba town in the 10th century. At its centre is the Chaurasi complex — a stone-flagged courtyard with 84 (chaurasi) shrines of many sizes around the main Manimahesh (Shiva) temple, a tall Shikhara tower. The nearby Lakshana Devi temple keeps intricately carved wooden doorways and a brass image dated by tradition to the 7th century. Bharmour is the country of the Gaddi shepherds and the road-head for the Manimahesh Yatra to the sacred lake above.

1. Drive or take a bus from Chamba to Bharmour (~65 km, 2.5–3 hours on a mountain road).
2. The complex is in the middle of Bharmour, a short walk from the bus stand.
3. During the Manimahesh Yatra (Aug–Sep) transport from Chamba is frequent.

May to October. The Manimahesh Yatra around Janmashtami / Radhashtami is the peak season; winter is cold and can bring snow.

• Walk clockwise around the courtyard; remove footwear before the shrines.
• The Lakshana Devi wood carvings are the oldest and most important thing to see here.
• Bharmour is high — take it easy if you have come straight up from Chamba, especially before the Manimahesh trek.

Individual pages for these are added as they are reviewed.