HISTORY OF BHARMOUR :-
King Meru Varman is the father of the prince Jaystambh in the Chamba state was the first to settle in Bharmour. He belonged to the ruling family of Ayodhya.Meru found access to the upper mountain region through the Ravi valley. In the middle of 6th century he wins the many wars from Ranas holding their territory and founded the town Brahmpura and he made it the capital of a new state.
According to one legend, the name Brahmpura was in use at a still earlier period for the more old kingdom of Bharmour which become in the territories of Garhwal and Kamaun, and that Meru Varman gave the same name of Brahmpura to the state that he founded with present Bharmour as his capital. After Meru, several Rajas ruled in succession until Sahil Varman. After about four hundred years Sahil Varman who win the lower Ravi valley and transferred the capital from Brahmpura to the new capital that he founded at Chamba.
According to a another local legend, the Brahmpura place was older than Meru’s time and as per common faith this is used to be the guardian of goddess Brahmani who used to reside Brahmani Davy was having a son who was very favorite of his pet chakor (birds). One day the chakor was killed by a farmer and the son was shocked to death by this loose, Grief-stricken Brahmani Devi also sacrificed by burying herself alive. The spirits of these trios dead souls started haunting the people awfully who raised Brahmani Devi to the status of deity and built her a temple. The public trust that the place was called Brahmpura after Brahmani Devi.
WELCOME TO BHARMOUR :-
Fly round on the edge of a seemingly bottomless valley, the beautiful mountain village of Bharmour is reached by a mountain road as cynical as it is hazardous, winding 65km east of Chamba. This ancient slate-roofed settlement was the capital of the gradual state of Chamba until AD 920, and there are delightful temples and treks to surrounding mountain passes. In fact, you can trek from here all the way to McLeod Ganj. The villages around Bharmour are home to the seminomadic Gaddis,pastoralists who move their flocks up to alpine pastures during the summer season, and descend to Kangra, Mandi and Bilaspur in winter.
Bharmour, formally known as Brahmpura, situated at a height of 7000 feet in the Budhil valley and Ravi valley between North latitude 32° 15′ 36? And 32.26° and East longitude 76° 19′ 12? And 76.32° at altitude of 2195 meters from sea level that is forty miles far to the southeast of Chamba. The country around Bharmour is considered as related to Lord Shiva and is sometimes known as Shiva-Bhumi, dwelling of Lord Shiva. Being the home of migrant shepherds Gooddies it is also called ‘Gadderan’.Bharmour is also famous for its delicious apples and local blankets. Life in Bharmour centers around the Chaurasia – a temple square which owes its name to the data 84 temples built within its ring.With different type of architectural designs these temples were built between the seventh and tenth century. The elevated shikara of Mani Mahesh temple govern a square and a life size bull idol of Nandi, in polished brass the entrance guards. The Lakshna Devi temple’s sanctum sanctorum houses the meter high goddess idol cast in excellent brews. This is a small village around 60 km from Chamba and is known for its scenic beauty and ancient temples. Bharmour was once the ancient capital of Chamba and is dominated by Gaddi tribes.While in Bharmour, tourists should not miss purchasing fruits and blankets.
TREKKING
From Bharmour, treks can be decorated through the Himalayan Travelling Agence,by the HP State slot Bank in the bazaar, and the Directorate of Mountaineering & associated Sports (%225036), on the track above the jeep stand. It is expected to pay nearly Rs.1500 a day, for food, tents,guides and porters. The trekking season may be lasts from May to late October.
Trekking destinations include Keylong and Udaipur in Lahaul, Baijnath and McLeodGanj in the Kangra Valley, and the famous trek to the sacred lake at Manimahesh, it takes a three-days to go, 35km journey above Bharmour. In August/September, the travelers can take a freezing dip in Manimahesh Lake as part of the Manimahesh Yatra in honor of Lord Shiva. The main attractions here are the temple of archaeological remains dating back over 1,000 years. The most famous temples here are Lakshna Devi and Ganesh, these temples known for its architectural samples. Tourists are suggested to enjoy an easy walk of 4 km in the Chaurasi temple hill and enjoy the impressive views. Most of the Pilgrims come here to bathe in the waters of the adorable Manimahesh Lake (35 km trek uphill from Bharmour) during the Manimahesh Yatra place between August and September.
MAA BRAHMANI KA BHARMOUR :-
There is only one legend regarding Chaurasi temples.In an antiquated time when this pretty place Brahmpura presents in Bharmour was used to reside by goddess Brahmani Devi one shrine three kilometers on the top from Brahmpura with a scenic garden present Chaurasi. One day when goddess Brahmani Devi went to somewhere then Lord Shiva came there by 84 Sidhas while visiting to Manimahesh Kailash. God Shiva wants to leave 84 Sidhas, probably they choose this place to leave them. When in evening Goddess Brahmani Devi, the presiding goddess of the place seen the smoke of fires lit by the Sidhas, she felt very angry at this trespass. She came down to the garden and ordered Shiva and the Sidhas to get out of the place.Shiva insists in all his delicacy for allowing them to spend a night in their beautiful garden as they are tired, and promised to leave early in the morning.
After that Goddess Brahmani posit to their wishes and went away to Dughashaar (a place on the ridge) because she didn’t want to see the flame of the fires lit from the Sidhas. In the next morning God Shiva left to sleep 84 Sidhas and went to Manimahesh Kailash, but the 84 Sidhas converted themselves into 84 Shillings because they did not want to go anywhere and they want to settle down there. After that the Lord Shiva granted a boon to goddess Brahmani Devi that all persons willing to go on pilgrimage to Manimahesh must have a dip in their holy pool. Failing this, their pilgrimage would not be acceptable to Lord Shiva. That’s why every visitor firstly takes bath in Brahmani’s holy pond before Manimahesh Lake.
Brahmani holy and pure water pool is about 20 square meters below the Brahmani’s cave. Goddess Brahmani had stolen this holy water from Lord Sandhola Naag which is another side of the top. An interesting story on this event is that one day when the Goddess Brahmani Devi and Goddess Jhakani Devy both went to stole water from Sandhola Nag’s water. Both the Goddess stole the water in their vessels and ran away from that place at the same time Sandhola Nag saw them quickly he took the bow arrow and ran after them. But the shrine of Goddess Brahmani Devy was another side of the ridge, so she threw their pot loaded with water from the top of the ridge toward their shrine which reached at their cave. But the knee of goddess Jhakani Devy was hurt by shaft, so goddess Jhakani Devi could not arrive up to their target and the water fell at village Badie and kardouta so a shrine was executed at their. From the bottom of the cave seven water streams are coming down which are presently serving water supply facility to Bharmour and running many flour mills.