Hamirpur district is one of the 12 districts of the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. An artificial lake is constructed on the river Sutlej, which functions as the Bhakra and Nanga Dam Projects water storage area. Govind Sagar Lake is the name of this artificial lake. Out of all the road bridge built over a lake, the road ridge, which is constructed over this lake at Kandraur, is the highest one. The town of Bilasur is the administrative headquarters of the district. Bilaspur held the third position in the list of the districts having the lowest inhabitants, after Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur in the year 2011.

Lying adjacent to the plains of Punjab, the district of Bilaspur is located in then Sub-mountain and low hills subtropical zone of Himachal Pradesh, that in the Himalaya Ranges outer hills. A portion of the river basin is created by the district. Across the basin, the river Sutlej drifts for about 90 kilometers. Mandi and Hamirpur Districts lie on the north side of Bilaspur, again Hamirpur and also Una district lie on the west side and Solan District lies on the south boundary, while to the east and north-east rest the Solan and Mandi Districts. 51 kilometers is the maximum lengthwise direction, covered by the district from east direction to west and 43 kilometers is the maximum breadth covered form south to north of the district. Mostly hills and undulating lands dominate the terrain of the region. 290 meters is the altitude of the lowest point, whereas 1980 meters is the altitude of the highest point of Bilaspur.

Bilaspur History 

On 15th April, 1948 the thirty Punjab and Shimla Hill State namely the states of Baghat, Bhajji, Baghal, Beja, Balson, Koti, Kumarsain, Kunihar, Kuthar, Mandi, Bushahr, Chamba, Darkoti, Delath, Dhadi, Dhami, Ghund, Jubbal, Khaneti, Keonthl, Madhan, Mahlog, Mangal, Ratesh, Rawringarh, Sangri, Sirmaur, Suket, Tharoach and Theog were accede into the Indian Union. As the outcome to this amalgamation, Himachal Pradesh became a part C state of the Indian Union. No more than four districts, namely Chamba, Mahasu, Mandi and Sirmaur were part of the state. 2,716,850 hectares of land was covered by the state. On 12th October, 1948 the Central administration took under itself the control of the state. Till 1st July, 1954, the state of 31st state of Bilaspur was a distinct unit under the charge of the Chief Commissioner. However it was incorporated into the state of Himachal Pradesh upon passing of an act of the Parliament. In doing so, an extra addition of another district was made to the state, thus adding another 106,848 hectares to the total area of the state.

Only two tehsils, Ghumarwin and Bilaspur Sadar tehsils, constituted the district in the beginning. A different sub-tehsil named Naina Devi was constructed out of Bilaspur Sadar Tehsil, in January, 1980 by the state government. Swarghat was made the headquarters of this sub-tehsil. By taking out some portions from Ghumarwin tehsil, another sub-tehsil called Jhandutta was constructed in 1984. In January, 1998, the sub-tehsil of Jhandutta received the status of a full tehsil. 2 sub-divisions, 3 tehsils, 1 sub-tehsil, 3 community development blocks, 136 panchayats, 2 municipal committees and 2 notified area committees are the total divisions, which the district of Bilaspur is separated into from the administrative point of view.

In the Census of 1891 and then 1901, Bilaspur was categorized as a town, but however in the year 1911 it was re-categorized. Again it was labeled as a town in the Census of 1931 and thus thereafter it had stayed in that category. In 1953, for the first time, the significant religious location of Naina Devi was announced to be a town. It the year 1961, the little town committee, which was created for the administration purposes of the town in 1960, was re-confirmed as the municipal committee. Categorization of yet another place named Shah Talai as a notified area committee was been done after the Census of the year 1981.

Bilaspur Climate

The climatic conditions of the district of Bilaspur would be a matter of fascination for people visiting this district. The weather of the district ranges from being moderate to sub-tropical. The weather remains consistently hot in the summer months. The mercury level touches the 42 degree Celsius mark at some of the places. Shortly after the monsoon months, the temperature drops down to 30 degree Celsius. The Sutlej is enveloped by a dense fog in the winter, for about roughly three months. The beginning of the winter season is around the month of October. The cold becomes maximum in the months of December-January. The temperature can drop down to the zero degree Celsius mark.

1121.9-1798.4 mm of rainfall per year was received by the district, for the past ten years. The average rainfall during this period was around 1478.8 mm. The months from June-August gets the maximum amount of rainfall. The precipitation during this period constitutes 70 percent of the total. The relative humidity in the district becomes maximum in the months of July and August. Because of this increase in humidity, growth of insect, pests and diseases in crops increases to a great extent. The months from September to December are the most excellent time to make a trip to this place.

Bilaspur Tourism

Places of tourist interests in Bilaspur are furnished below:-

Tourist places in Bilaspur
Fort of Kotkahlur
Fort of Bahadurpur
Fort of Sariun
Fort of Tiun
Fort of Bacchretu
Thakurdwara of Sunhani
Thakurdwara of Auhar
Bhakra Dam
Gobind Sagar Lake
New Bilaspur Town
Kandrour Bridge
Deoli Fish Farm
Namhol
Kol Dam
Swarghat
Sri Naina Devi Ji
Baba Balak Nath Ji (Shahtalai)
Badol Devi
Baba Basandi
Baba Bangali
Guru Ka Lahore
Gugga Gehrwin
Hari Devi
Laxmi Narayan Mandir
Markandeya Ji
Mandir Jalapa Mai Sangirathi
Nahar Singh Dhaulra
Naras Devi
Shivalaya Bachhretu
Shitla Mandir Jangla (Gehrwin)
Vyas Gufa