The city of Chamba, the district seat of the Chamba district is located in the western Himalayas. The city is located on a plateau on the right bank of the Ravi River valley between Dhauladhar and Zanskar goes south of the interior Himalayan ridge. This city was founded by Raja Sahil Varman when he conquered the valley of the Rani under the small chiefs called Ranas and Thakurs at the beginning of the 10th century. It seems that the original name of the city was Champa as mentioned in the Kalhan Rajtarangani. In the bansauli or genealogical rolls of the Chamba Rajas a place reference was produced which was adorned with very fragrant Champaka trees and guarded by the goddess Champavati or more popularly known as Chameshni. The temple was built by Sahil Varman in honor of his daughter Champavati who is worshiped as a goddess in Chamba. Champavati temple became the temple of the family of the ruling family.
The best tourist season to visit Chamba is around the year. Adventure tourists may like to do winter hiking, from November to March, when the high parts of the region are snowed and access to most of the villages is on foot.