Introduction

The village of Kamru lies at a height above the valley floor and is a kilometer or so from Sangla village. Here stands its famous tower-like fort. This wood and stone structure was the original seat of the rulers of the erstwhile princely state of Bushair - they later moved to Sarahan and then to Rampur which lie downstream of the Satluj. With a population of about a thousand people, Kamru is a dense cluster of houses and is surrounded by fields and orchards - and incidentally, some of the finest apples of Himachal Pradesh come from here. The main gate of Kamru has an image of the Buddha - whose blessings are sought before entering the confines of the village. Local belief has it that this is there as a safe guard against thieves and to prevent the smuggling-in of ghosts and demons. A series of low gates through the hamlet leads to the tower.

Placed over a packing of dressed stone that acts as the pedestal for an exalted piece of art, the tower-like fort of Kamru rises five stories high. It serves as an excellent example of an architectural genre that is unique to this part of the world. A series of thick sleepers of deodar wood have been horizontally placed to create a mesh which has an infill of finely dressed stone. An elegant wooden balcony provides ingress to the tower and the upper two floors expand laterally and are of elaborate woodwork. The stronghold has an image of the Hindu deity, Kamakhya (Kamakshi) Devi installed in the upper storey. This is said to have been brought here several centuries ago from the eastern Indian state of Assam.

The village also has a fifteenth century temple of the Hindu deity, Badrinath - and once every three years, amidst great fanfare, the image is carried to Gangotri, near the source of the sacred river Ganga in the adjoining state of Uttarakhand.

Special Attributes

Historic and architecturally fascinating village.

Nuisance

The site is very peaceful and free of irritants.

Dressing restrictions

Conservative and comfortable attire is recommended. Since these are remote areas, it is best to avoid shorts and the like. Always factor in local sensibilities.

Connectivity

Walking

Enjoyed by

People interested in architecture, religion and observing local life.

Exposure

None indoors, but high outside. Appropriate precautions like headgear and sunscreen lotion are suggested

Avoidable Season

Open through the year

Facilities

Basic, plan accordingly

Things Not Allowed

No leather or shoes inside the temples

Tip

Carry a good camera along, there are also superb views.

Type of site

Village