Chamba is a town in the Chamba district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. According to the 2001 Indian census, Chamba has a population of 20,312 people. Located at an altitude of 1,006 metres above mean sea level, the town is situated on the banks of the Ravi River, at its confluence with th chamba was established in 920 AD by Raja Sahil Varman as the capital of his kingdom. He named it Champavati after his beloved daughter; but later the name was corrupted to become Chamba.

May be because of the geographical position of the city, Chamba has not witnessed any major invasion during its one thousand years’ of history.  Even when Maharaja Ranjit Singh ji took control over neighboring Kangra Chamba was left intact. Situation changed when the Sikhs were defeated by the British. In 1862, Chamba had to accept suzerainty under the British against an annuity of twelve thousand rupees. Finally on 15th April 1948, the state merged into independent India along with other princely states of the area to form the state of Himachal Pradeshe Sal River.