Bilaspur Travel Guide
Bilaspur is
a place where the echoes of the past mingle with the tomorrow. The new
town, on the bank of the Gobindsagar Lake of the Bhakra Dam is 64-km
from Kiratpur on the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway No-21. In the
dim past, many centuries ago, Rishi Vyas came to the bank of the Satluj
river to do penance in the verdant and fertile district abounding in low
hills, forests, grazing ands, rivulets and streams. In the Vyas Gufa,
which draws a continuous host of tourists and pilgrims, the Rishi who
penned the Mahabharata, lived as he prepared himself for the arduous
task, which he was about to perform latter in another Gufa in the
Uttrakhand way up in the celestial heights of the mighty Himalayas.
Getting There:
Air :
Shimla, Chandigarh and Bhuntar are the nearest airports, located at
85-km, 135-km and 131-km from Bilaspur
Rail :
The nearest broad gauge railway station is at Kiratpur Sahib and
nearest narrow gauge railway station is at Shimla, located at 65-km and
85-km from Bilaspur which are connected by regular bus services.
Road :
Bilaspur is approachable by road from Shimla and Chandigarh.
Tourist Attractions:
Shri Naina Devi Ji:
A notable place of worship in the district is the temple of Shri Naina
Devi Ji, situated on the hill top which rises some 9,15m above the
sacred town of Anandpur Sahib in Ropar. The temple stands on the very
summit of the hill above a small bazar and is reached by a long flight
of stone steps or by a cable car. Sariun Fort: To the eastern side of
the Tiun range, on the lifty range and peak of Sariun like this
stronghold at an elevation of about 1,500m above M.S.L and is about
58-km.from Bilaspur. Tradition holds that the fort was originally built
by the 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.
Swarghat :
Swarghat is ideally situated about 40 km. off Bilaspur on the
Bilaspur-Chandigarh road. Perched at an elevation of about 1220 mt. from
sea level. Naina Devi temple and Bhakra Dam, are also approachable from
here. There is a temple dedicated to Lakshmi Narain. An ideal spot for a
quiet overnight's stay for the tourists. HPTDC, has recently constructed
a 8 room Hotel here.
Bhakra Dam:
Situated at Bhakra village of Bilaspur, about 13-km upstream from
Nangal township, it 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% is in Bilaspur and 10% in Una district. The dam was
dedicated to nation by late Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru on November 20th,
1963. The view of vast dam and green jungles around is fascinating
indeed.
Bahadurpur Fort:
On the top of a hill known as Bahadurpur the highest point (1,980m) in
the district near Tepra Village in Paragana Bahadurpur, after covering a
distance of about 40-km from Bilaspur. The beautiful woods of deodar and
ban trees embellish this range. It is just 6-km above Namhol, from this
high place 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 now is in its ruins.
Tiun Fort:
Relics of this fort is situated on the top of a hill known as the Tiun
range, at distance of about 55-Km.from Bilaspur, on the Ali Khad
crossing Ghumarwin-Ladraur motorable road and about 10-km from
Ghumarwin. Vyas Cave: The name of sage Vyas is well known in this part.
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. Lying on the left bank of river
Satluj, this place is famous as a pilgrimage too.
