Located northwest of the Chaugan, Hari Rai temple was built in the 11th century by Salabhana. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the form of Chaturmurti. This stone temple built in the Shikara style stands on a stone platform and has beautiful carvings.
The 3 headed figure statue of Lord Vishnu at the temple is made out of 8 different materials. At the support of the temple there is a gorgeous statue of Lord Vishnu astride on 6 horses. The temple is also the dwelling of other deities like Lord Shiva, Surya and Aruna.
There are structures like the Gandhi Gate and the Fire Station Building right in front of the temple, blocking and hiding much of the temples request from the outside. However the Gandhi Gate built in 1900 to welcome Lord Curzon is the easiest attraction to find in Chamba because of its saffron color.
About Hari Rai Temple
Museum
This is a veritable store house of exquisite paintings of the famous Kangra and Basholi schools, as well as mass epigraphical material on the history of Chamba. the museum also has in it, wood carving, ancient manuscripts and Murals from Rang Mahal.
Lakshmi Narayana Temple History
Laxmi Narayan Temple, which is the main temple of Chamba town was built by Sahil Verman in the 10th century A.D. The temple has been built in the Shikhara style.
The temple consist of Bimana i.e. Garbhgriha and Shikhara with a small antralya. Laxmi Narayan Temple has a Mandapa like structure also. The wooden Chhattries, the wheel roof, atop the temple were in response to the local climatic conditions as a protection against snow-fall.
The temple of Lakshmi Narayana continued to be embellished by the Rajas who succeeded to the throne of Chamba. Raja Balabhadra Verma perched the metallic image of Garuda on a high pillar at the main gate of the temple. Raja chhatra Singh placed gilded pinnacles on the temple tops in 1678 as a reaction against the orders of Aurangzeb to demolish the temple. Later Rajas also added a shrine or two thus enriching the complex.
