Chamba at Glance
Lakes
Intervening Valleys
Wild Life Sanctuaries
River System
Wild Animals in Chamba
Endangered Species in Chamba
Birds with there altitudinal distribution
Destination
Dalhousie
The Ravi and the Chenab or Chandrabhaga constitute the framework of the river system in Chamba district.
The
Ravi is the main river of Chamba district and is the heart and soul of the
Chambyals. With its tributaries, it drains the whole of Chamba valley proper
between Dhauladhar and Pangi range and thus commands the largest and most
important part of the district. Its ancient name is Iravati as is found in
Sanskrit literature. There is belief that the Parusni of the Rigveda is this
very river. Alexander's historians called it the Hydriotes. The name Ravi is
however most commonly used in common parlance.
The river originates from Bara
Bangahal area of Dhauladhar. The length of its course through the district
is estimated to be about seventy five to eighty miles out of its estimated
total length of about 450 miles. Exact measurements of width on record are
116 feet near Bharmaur by Cunningham and about 120 yards (360 feet) at
Bashohli, a little beyond the border of Chamba district.
Tributaries
of the Ravi
The Budhil takes its rise on the
slopes of the mid-Himalaya near Kugti pass and at Harsar; it receives on its
left bank, the small stream from the sacred lake of Manimahesh situated
beneath the peak of Mountain Kailash commonly known as Manimahesh Kailash.
Ten miles lower, it passes Bharmaur proper and soon afterwards, mingles with
the Ravi near Ulans. The confluance of the Ravi and the Budhil commonly
known as Kharamukh is held to be sacred, as the father of Meru Varman, the
famous ruler of Bharmaur is said to have meditated and practised asceticism
here. The Budhil is about 40 miles in length.
The Tundah rises at the Kalichho
pass, in the mid-Himalaya and flowing through the Tundah valley joins the
Ravi a little lower down than the Budhil. It too is about 40 miles of
length.
This stream joins the Ravi a
little above Churi.
The Sal
It originates from Saho range and
mingles with the Ravi at Chamba proper after a course of about fifteen
miles.
The Siul is the largest tributary
of the Ravi, rising on top of Padri pass, which makes the boundary with
Jammu. It flows down through a narrow ravine to join the Ravi at Taleru near
Bhalei about fourteen miles below Chamba town.
The Siowa
This is the last tributary of the Ravi on the right bank in Chamba district. This tributary forms the natural boundary between Chamba and Jammu.
The
river Chenab or Chandrabhaga rises from the mountains of Baralacha pass by
two heads, the stream with its source on south-eastern side of the pass
being called the Chandra and the other one which rises from north-western
side is called the Bhaga. After the confluance of these two sister streams
at Tandi, the river is generally known as Chenab. The name Chenab is
supposed to have been given to the river out of ancient belief that the
source of river lay in China. Chenab literally means Chin-ab (the water of
China). The vedic name of this river is Askini.