Emphasising the glorious history and rich traditional folk art and culture of Chamba district, Chamba MLA Neeraj Nayar on Saturday said they play a crucial role in tourism development. He was speaking as the chief guest at the Chamba Day-2025 event held at Bhuri Singh Museum.
The day commemorates the princely state of Chamba joining Dominion of India on this day in 1948 and thus paving the way for formation of Himachal Pradesh. The event was jointly organised by the Tourism Development, Language and Culture Department, Not On Map and Bhuri Singh Museum.
Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Repaswal attended the event as the guest of honour. Extending his greetings for Chamba Day-2025 and International Women’s Day, Nayar encouraged the local community to embrace their heritage and turn challenges into opportunities by engaging in the tourism sector to strengthen their economy.
In his address, Neeraj Naiyar highlighted Chamba’s rich legacy, recalling that Chamba Day commemorates the merger of the Chamba princely state into India on March 8, 1948, which significantly contributed to shaping Himachal Pradesh. He underscored that the main purpose of celebrating Chamba Day is to educate people about the district’s golden history and vibrant cultural heritage.
To further this goal, a special awareness campaign will be launched, he said. The MLA also said that the state government was prioritising infrastructure development in the district, including the expansion of road networks to boost connectivity. Additionally, he noted that efforts are being made to develop Kangra-Chamba as the tourism capital of the region.
He also presented awards to the winners of the ‘Chamba-Achamba Photo Contest-2024,’ organised by the tourism department. Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Repaswal, in his address as the guest of honour, acknowledged Chamba’s historical significance and the abundance of natural resources that make it an ideal tourism hub. He stressed on coordinated efforts among tourism-related organisations to yield positive results. He also assured the installation of signboards at all major tourist locations.
Environmental expert and historian Dr Kulbhushan Upmanyu participated virtually, sharing insights into Chamba’s illustrious past. Not On Map co-founder Manuj Sharma conducted the event. He said the objective of the programme was to educated people of the district about the illustrious past of Chamba and its significance.
Cultural performances were presented by renowned artists Kaku Ram Thakur and Gulshan Pal. An exhibition featuring traditional artworks crafted by women artists from Chamba was also organized, showcasing the region’s artistic excellence.
Several dignitaries, including Assistant Commissioner PP Singh, District Tourism Development Officer Rajiv Mishra, District Language Officer Tukesh Sharma, Assistant Engineer Teju Ram Thakur, Bhuri Singh Museum Curator Surinder Thakur, President of Khabbi Dhar Tourism Development Organisation Rajinder Thakur and Italian researcher.
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