Bilaspur is a district of Himachal Pradesh state, India. It contains the manmade Govind Sagar Lake on the Sutlej River which acts as the reservoir for the Bhakra and Nangal Dam project. The road bridge on this lake at Kandraur is highest of its kind in Asia. Its headquarters are in the town of Bilaspur. The district has an area of 1,167 km2, and a population of 382,056 (2011 census). As of 2011 it is the third least populous district of Himachal Pradesh (out of 12), after Lahul and Spiti and Kinnaur.

 

 

Geography

 

Bilaspur has a hilly terrain.Whole district is situated in shivalik range of lower himalayas. It is surrounded by hills on all sides.In south and west,it is bordered by Punjab.Summers are hot and winters are cold, with fog along banks of river satluj. Rainy season lasts from early July to mid september. Summer are hottest in month of May and June.

 

 

 

Demographics

 

According to the 2011 census Bilaspur district, Himachal Pradesh has a population of 382,056,roughly equal to the nation of Maldives. This gives it a ranking of 562nd in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 327 inhabitants per square kilometre (850 /sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 12.08%. Bilaspur has a sex ratio of 981 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 85.67%. Rajputs and Gujjars are dominates community of bilaspur . Bilaspuri is primary language spoken by people. Hindi is also widely understood. Bilaspuri also Known as Kahluri belongs to Western Pahari languages and mostly unintelligible for non-Pahari speaker. Bilaspuri is 95% mutually intelligible with Mandyali and mostly 80% or more with other members of Western Pahadi.

 

 

 

Bilaspur :: Fairs in Bilaspur

 

Nalwari Fair:

This fair is held in the month of march every year. The idea of this fair was conceived by W. Goldstein. He was the Superintendent of Shimla Hill States in 1889. The idea was motivated by a shortage of the good breed cattle, especiaaly bullocks. Now this fair has become more a business opportunity event. It is a state fair.

 

Gugga Fair: 

It begins from Gugga Navami (August / September). To commemorate Gugga, a Hindu Rajput young prince who overcame his enemies heroically. It is generally believed that the worships of Gugga saves from the danger from the snakes. Group of singers praise the heroic deeds of Gugga.

 

Baisakhi Fair:

This fair is held at various places in the state. People carry village deity with music procession from one place to another. In upper hills, people perform 'Mala Dance' by joining hands to form a large circle. During day time, some games like archery and wrestling are also played. In Bilaspur, it is held at Markand Jukhala. There is a natural spring at this place and married couples come to have a bath in sacred water which is believed to cure certain infant diseases and sterility is changed into fertility.

 

Shahtlai Fair:

It is held at Shahtlai, Jhandutta. It begins in the month of June. Worship of Baba Balak Nath Ji last for one month. Fair are held through out the month. It is a famous fair and attracts a lot of crowd.

 

 

 

 

Bilaspur:: Famous Temples in Bilaspur

 

Shri 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 mt. 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.

 

Shahtalai ( Baba Balak Nath Ji ) Temple : Talai named region is situated about 55 kms. ahead from Bilaspur on Bhager- Badser road. This place is only 4 km to Deotsidh temple. Ancient name of this place was Changer Talai. Baba Balak nath’s worship and grazing maa ratno’s cattles, later returning her mattress of chach-it got famous by the name of chahtalai which later turned to Shahtalai. Existing ancient remnants like banyan tree and dhunnah under it and gurna shrubs on the one side of talai bazaar are almost 500 years old. Every year in Chaitra (March-April) fairs are held through out the month. Devotees come from far-off places to offer rot as prasad.

 

Vyas Gufa Temple : The oldest and the most famous religious place is the Vyas Gufa which lies on the left bank of river Satluj. It is about 610 Mt. height from sea level. It is situated between the old and new Bilaspur Township. There is a common belief that Vyas Rishi of Mahabharta fame lived in this Gufa in penance. The name of the present Bilaspur town traces its origin to Rishi Vyas which was originally known as Vyaspur. It is a place of pilgrimage. It is about 0.5 Km. distance from district head quarters.

 

Laxami Narayan Temple : Old Bilaspur town was known as town of temples. There were many temples having various styles of paintings. But due to construction of Bhakhara Dam the town is now submerged in the Gobind Sagar Lake. After the new town came into existence the Laxami Narayan Temple was built near the bus stand. This temple is of Top Style (Shikhar Shailly). The Shiva Linga of Shankeshwar (Lord Shiva) brought from the old town has been established here. This temple has idols of Laxami Narayan, Lord Shiva, Rangnath, Maa Durga and Baba Bangali. The idol of Rangnath has also been brought from the old town. Special functions are organized on Janmashtmi and Shivaratri in this temple.

 

 

Tourists Famous Places Bilaspur

 

Bilaspur :: Tourist Famous Places in Bilaspur

 

Located in the Sutlej valley of Himachal Pradesh, Bilaspur is a small district that boasts of scenic natural surroundings. Bilaspur covers an area of 1167 square kilometers. Bilaspur is divided into two parts by River Sutlej that passes right through its center. This little district has many tourist attractions and is the ideal place to go on sightseeing tours. People who come to Bilaspur on tours always return back with wonderful memories of the place. To experience the same magic yourself, plan a tour to Bilaspur of Himachal Pradesh.

 

Fort of Kotkahlur

Raja Bir Chand built fort of Kotkahlur as a fort-palace. It is a double-storied building with each story about 15 m high. The fort is square in shape, each side measuring 30 meters. It is made up of stones and each of its walls is about 2 meters thick. On the upper storey, there is a small temple with the stone idol of Naina Devi. The floor of the second storey is supported on stone pillars and it has windows about 12 meters high to aim the guns at any possible external attackers.

 

Fort of Bachhretu

Bachhretu is a town in Bilaspur district situated on the western slope of Kotdhar hill at an altitude of 3000 ft. The small ancient fort provides excellent views of Gobind Sagar Lake and the panoramic hills. Raja Ratan Chand of Bilaspur built the fort about 600 years ago. This rectangular shaped edifice has one-meter thick walls tapering to the top and about fifteen rooms or compartments that can still be traced out. It is also believed to have a tank once. The fort also houses a small temple of Goddess Asht Bhuja and some other deities.

 

Laxmi Narayan Mandir

This temple near the bus stand in the present Bilaspur town was built to compensate for the temple in old Bilaspur town, which was submerged in the Gobind Sagar Lake. It was built in Shikhar style and houses the Linga of Shankeshwar (Lord Shiva) and idols of deities such as Lord Laxmi Narayan, Lord Rangnath, Goddess Durga and Baba Bengali.

 

Shivalaya Bachhretu

3 kilometers from Shahtalai and 3000 ft above sea level, Shivalaya Bachhretu is situated on the western slope of Kotdhar. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and the huge statue of ox in the courtyard is of Nandi, the sacred vehicle of the Lord.

 

Vyas Gufa

The most famous and oldest pilgrimage place in Bilaspur, Vyas Gufa is a cave situated on the left bank of River Sutlej, at an altitude of 610 meters above sea level. It is believed to be the cave where Maharshi Vyas, who wrote Mahabharata, performed his meditation and penance. It lies between the old and new Bilaspur Township. According to the folklore, Bilaspur was once known as Vyaspur, after the Rishi's name.

 

Baba Nahar Singh Temple

Baba Nahar Singh Temple is situated at Dholra, which falls under the Bilaspur district. Baba Nahar Singh is believed to be an incarnation of God and is also known by the names of Bajia, Peepal Wala amd Dalian Wala.

 

Badol Devi Temple

Badol Devi Temple is situated in Badol village of Bilaspur. There is a very interesting legend attached to this temple. It is said that one day, an old villager named Bhura noticed that his cow had shed her milk on a particular place.

 

Mandir Jalapa Mai

Mandir Jalapa Mai is situated in Sangirathi Village, on the on Bilaspur-Shimla Road. It is situated at a distance of approximately 14 km from the Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh.

 

Markandeya Ji

Markandeya Ji Temple is situated in a beautiful place known as Markanday, situated 20 km from Bilaspur. Named after the famous sage Rishi Markanday, this temple holds much significance, especially amongst childless couples.

 

Naina Devi Temple

Naina Devi temple, one of the most important Shakti Peeths of India, is situated in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh. Raja Bir Chand got this temple constructed in the 8th century.

 

Naras Devi Temple

Naras Devi temple is situated on a hilltop at Baroha, 2 km from Naras village that falls under the Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh. The temple is more than 400 years old and is believed to have been constructed by King Kalyan Chand.

 

Sheetla Mandir

Sheetla Mata Temple is situated in a village named Jangla, at a distance of approximately 1.5 km from Gehrwin city of Himachal Pradesh. Like the Golden Temple of Amritsar, this temple is also built in the middle of a tank.

 

Deoli Fish Farm

Deoli Fish Farm, which comes under the Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh, came into existence in the year 1962. It is spread over an area of 4.4 hectares and has 14 nursery ponds and 2 big brood stock tanks.

 

 

 

Bilspur :: Tourism in Bilaspur

 

Bilaspur formerly the seat of the ruler of the State is now submerged in the Gabind 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 670m. above in sea level. The new Bilaspur Township can be truely 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 / April, the occasion is marked by wrestling and other amusements. Cattle are brought from Nalagarh and neighboring parts of Punjab. Bilaspur is one of the hottest places in Himachal Pradesh. But because of lake, evening become very soothingly pleasant.

 

Bahadurpur Fort : On the top of a hill known as Bahadurpur the highest (1980 mt.) point in the district near Tepra Village in Paragana Bahadurpur, distance about 40 km. from Bilaspur. The range is embellished by a beautiful wood of deodar and ban trees. 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 is in ruins now.

 

Shri 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 mt. 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 1500 mt. above MSL. It is about 58 Km. 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.

 

Tiun Fort : Relics of a fort on the top of a hill known as Tiun range, at distance of about 55 Km. from Bilaspur, on the Ali Khad crossing Ghumarwin - Ladraur motorable road and about 10 Km. of Ghumarwin proper still serves to remind of the ancient turbulent times when wars in this area were perhaps a routine feature.

 

Vyas Cave : The name of sage Vyas is well known in these parts. It 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. 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 percent is in Bilaspur and 10 percent in Una district. The dam was dedicated to nation by late Pt. Jwahar Lal Nehru on November 20th, 1963. The view of vast dam and green jungles around is fascinating indeed.