How to reach Bilaspur, Himachal — distances and drive times
How to reach Bilaspur in Himachal by road from Chandigarh, Delhi, Mandi and Shimla, the nearest airport, and the drive on to Naina Devi, all measured.
ArticleVerified 2026-10-23
Things to do in Bilaspur, Himachal — Naina Devi, the drowned town and the lake
Things to do in Bilaspur, Himachal: Naina Devi, the drowned temples of the old town, water sports on the lake, Vyas Gufa, Kandrour bridge and Anandpur Sahib.
A town on top of a town
Bilaspur was the capital of the hill state of Kahlur, ruled by Chandel Rajputs from the 7th century; the town itself was founded in 1663. When the Bhakra Dam filled Gobind Sagar, the old town went under the water and a new one was built upslope. Most of what there is to do here comes from that: the lake, what lies under it, and the temples around it.
Photos: Devyansh.sharma09 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Ambuj Mishra (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
1. Darshan at Shri Naina Devi Ji
The Shakti Peeth on its hilltop, where the right eye of Mata Sati fell, 48 km and 81 min away. The road climbs round the hill; steps or a cable car take you to the top, with Gobind Sagar below. See Shri Naina Devi Ji.
2. The drowned temples of old Bilaspur
When the lake is low, the spires of the Ranganatha temples stand out of the water, 3 min below the new town. When it is full, in October and November, they are gone. See Gobind Sagar and the drowned temples.
3. Get on the water
From August to January the state's water sports complex at Luhnu Ground runs kayaking, rowing, canoeing, swimming and water-skiing, with courses at three levels. In October and November regattas are held on the lake.
4. Vyas Gufa
A cave on the left bank of the Sutlej at about 610 m, about 0.5 km from the centre, between the old town and the new. Here Rishi Vyas sat in penance, and the town was first called Vyaspur after him.
5. The Lakshmi Narayan temple
The temple of Lakshmi Narayan in the new town, a minute from the centre: the quiet stop of the day.
6. Kandrour Bridge
About 8 km from town on NH 154, a bridge over the Sutlej built between 1959 and 1965. Its span is about 280 m and it stands about 80 m above the lowest point of the river bed, on hollow pillars.
7. Anandpur Sahib and Kiratpur Sahib
Just over the border in Punjab: Anandpur Sahib, 58 min away, where Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa Panth in 1699, and Kiratpur Sahib, 49 min, on the Sutlej. See the two-day plan.
8. Bhakra Dam
The dam that made the lake, 226 m high, finished in 1962, about 79 km and 94 min away. Ask locally about access before you drive there; we have no verified visiting rules.
More to read
When to go, how to reach Bilaspur, and the five Shakti Peeths in three days.
Plans that include this
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One day in Bilaspur — Shri Naina Devi Ji and the drowned temples of Gobind Sagar
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Best Jan–Apr · Oct–Dec
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Two days from Bilaspur — Gobind Sagar, Naina Devi, Anandpur Sahib and Kiratpur Sahib
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Best Jan–Apr · Oct–Dec
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Best Jan–Apr · Sep–Dec
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Questions people ask
What is there to do in Bilaspur, Himachal?
Go up to Shri Naina Devi Ji, 81 min away, see the drowned temples of the old town when the lake is low, and take to the water at Luhnu Ground from August to January. In town there is Vyas Gufa and the Lakshmi Narayan temple; Anandpur Sahib is 58 min away.
Is Bilaspur worth a stop on the way to Manali?
Yes, for half a day. It is the first big town in Himachal on the highway, 110 km from Chandigarh. An afternoon covers the new town, its temple and the shore above the old town; add the morning before or after for Naina Devi, about 81 min away by road.
What is Vyas Gufa in Bilaspur?
A cave on the left bank of the Sutlej, about 0.5 km from the town centre at about 610 m, between the old and new towns. Here Rishi Vyas of the Mahabharata sat in penance, and the town takes its name from him: it was first called Vyaspur.