What’s so special about Himachal’s Bilaspur?

If you look for the old Bilaspur town, you won’t find it, as it now stands submerged in the Govind Sagar Lake. The historical town that was founded in 1663 may be long gone, but now, in its place, right above where the old town once stood, is the New Bilaspur Town.

As per the district administration, the new planned township Bilaspur has been designed and created from scratch and deserves to be regarded as the country’s first planned hill town. Bilaspur is a historical town located in the Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh, India, and is known for its significance in the Hindu mythology and its scenic beauty. Speaking of Hindu mythology, did you know that Bilaspur is also home to the Naina Devi temple? The temple is one of the 51 Shaktipeethas and one of the most revered temples in the country.

It is also believed that Bilaspur was founded by Rishi Ved Vyas, who is believed to have written the Mahabharata. There is a cave called the Vyas Cave, located on a hilltop and is believed to be the place where sage Vyas meditated and wrote the Mahabharata.

The new planned township is located approximately 64 km from Kiratpur on the Manali National Highway 21. The first thing you will notice upon entering the new township is the Govind Sagar Lake, a popular destination for water sports like boating, kayaking, and water skiing.

Believe it or not, this little town is a treasure trove of unique attractions. Apart from the aforementioned tourist attractions, the town is also home to Gobind Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Markandeya Ji Temple, Ratanpur Fort and Sariun Fort. It is also believed that the folk dance form Nati originated from Bilaspur.

With so many popular (and bigger) attractions in Himachal Pradesh, it’s easy to let a place like Bilaspur slide. This town may be offbeat but with so many unique qualities, it surely deserves a place in your Himachal itinerary.