Akhand Chandi Palace

Himachal Pradesh


Lording it over the town is the unmissable if relatively unexotic Akhand Chandi Palace, the whitewashed former home of the Chamba raja. Built in the mid-18th century, it now houses a postgraduate college; if you ask politely you might be allowed to peep inside the main courtyard from the north-side entrance during school hours.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Himachal Pradesh attractions

1. Bansi Gopal Temple

0.04 MILES

Built in the 16th century and dedicated to Krishna, this temple has a small collection of carved panels from other area temples in its courtyard.

2. Lakshmi Narayan Temple Complex

0.05 MILES

Far and away Chamba's top historical attraction, this temple compound crowning Dogra Bazaar contains a line of six beautifully sculpted stone sikharas …

3. Champavati Temple

0.1 MILES

This ancient sikhara-type temple was built in the 10th century by Raja Sahil Varman in honour of his daughter Champavati, who is worshipped locally as an…

4. Sitaram Temple

0.12 MILES

Tucked into a mostly residential area, this photogenic little 17th-century sikhara temple is dedicated to Rama.

5. Gandhi Gate

0.16 MILES

This unsophisticated red-painted arch makes a useful landmark, spanning the street at the northern end of the Chowgan.

6. Harirai Mandir

0.16 MILES

This 11th-century temple sacred to Vishnu stands right beside Gandhi Gate just off the north end of the Chowgan.

7. Rang Mahal

0.18 MILES

Up on the hillside above the Chowgan, the rusty-coloured 18th-century Rang Mahal looks like a Victorian prison but was originally the royal granary and…

8. Bhuri Singh Museum

0.21 MILES

This museum's rich collection is strongest on Pahari (Hill Country) miniature paintings from the Chamba and other schools, but also intriguing are copper…