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Bilaspur,
Himachal Pradesh |
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General Information about Bilaspur
Area: 1167 sq. km
Population: 3.40 Lakh
Clothing: Cotton clothes in Summer and light
woolens in winter.
Language: Hindi, Punjabi, English
Information about Bilaspur
Bilaspur formerly the seat of the ruler of the State is
now submerged in the Gobind Sagar, it was situated on
the south east side of the Satluj. Bilaspur Township is
situated just above the old town of Bilaspur at an
height of 670 meters above sea level. The new Bilaspur
Township can be truly |
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described as
the first planned hill town of the country. The pleasure of a
visit will be enhanced manifold when a motor launch is
preferred as the means of travel, gliding through cool and
enchanting waters of the lake. The Nalwari or annual cattle
fair is held at Bilaspur for four or five days in March or
April, the occasion is marked by wrestling and other
amusements. Cattle are brought from Nalagarh and neighboring
parts of Punjab.
Tourist Attractions in Bilaspur
The main tourist attractions in Bilaspur are Bahadurpur Fort,
Naina Devi Temple, Sariun Fort, Tiun Fort, Vyas Cave, Swarghat,
Bhakra Dam and Markandeya.
Bahadurpur Fort
Bahadurpur Hill is the highest point in the district near
Tepra Village in Paragana Bahadurpur, about 40 km. from
Bilaspur. On the top of a hill is the Bahadurpur Fort. The
hills are covered by a beautiful wood of deodar and ban trees.
From its top, the Ratanpur Fort, Swarghat, the Fatehpur Fort,
the Naina Devi hill, plains near Ropar and the mountains of
Shimla can be seen. This fort was built prior to 1835, but is
in ruins now. |
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Naina Devi Temple
A notable place of worship in the district is the temple
of Shri Naina Devi Ji, situated on the hill top which
rises some 915 meters above the sacred town of Anandpur
Sahib in Ropar. The temple stands on the very summit of
the hill above a small bazaar and is reached by a long
flight of stone steps or by a cable car.
Sariun Fort
Sariun Fort is situated to the eastern side of the Tiun
range, on the lofty range. It is about 58 kms. from
Bilaspur. Tradition holds that the fort was originally
built by same Raja of the erstwhile Suket State and was
subsequently wrested by the ruler of Bilaspur, the local
people entertain a superstition according to which the
stones once forming part of the Fort are not used in any
residential building. |
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Tiun Fort
The relics of the Tiun fort on the top of a hill known as Tiun
range, about 55 kms. from Bilaspur, on the Ali Khad crossing
Ghumarwin - Ladraur motorable road, reminds of the ancient
times when wars in this area were perhaps a routine feature.
Vyas Cave
The name of sage Vyas is well known in these parts. The Vyas
Cave is situated at the foot of the new township, the belief
is that Vyas Rishi meditated in this cave. The origin of the
town, Vyaspur is believed to have been derived from this cave.
The Vyas Rishi of Mahabharata fame philosophy of life in
meditation in this cave, which lies on the left bank of river
Satluj. It is a place of pilgrimage.
Swarghat
Swarghat is ideally situated about 40 km. off Bilaspur on the
Bilaspur - Chandigarh road. Naina Devi temple and Bhakra Dam,
are also approachable from here. There is a temple dedicated
to Lakshmi Narain. |
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Bhakra Dam
Situated at Bhakra village of Bilaspur, about 13 km
upstream from Nangal township, Bhakra Dam is one of the
highest straight gravity dams in the world. The lake is
about 90 km long covering an area of about 168 sq km of
which 90 percent is in Bilaspur and 10 percent in Una
district. The dam was dedicated to nation by late Pt.
Jawahar Lal Nehru on 20th November, 1963. The view of
vast dam and green jungles around is fascinating.
Markandeya
Markandeya is a famous shrine about 20 km from Bilaspur,
in tehsil Sadar named after renowned 'rishi' Markandeya
who lived |
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and worshiped
there. According to a legend a tunnel connected Markand and
Vyas cave and the two 'rishis', Vyas and Markandeya used to
visit each other through this sub-terrain path. In addition to
a shrine there is also a water spring where a night fair is
held annually on 'Baisakhi' day.
How to reach Bilaspur
By Rail
The nearest broad gauge railway station is at Kiratpur Sahib
and nearest narrow gauge railway station is at Shimla.
By Road
Bilaspur is approachable by road from Shimla and Chandigarh. |
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