Geography of Bilaspur

• HQ- BILASPUR
• ALTITUDE 610 METERS
• Total Area - 1,167 sq.km 
• Languages spoken: BILASPURI (KAHLURI), HINDI, PUNJABI ETC.

• The Bilaspur district lies in the outer hills of the Himalayas. 

• It is bounded on the North by 'Mandi' and Hamirpur districts, on the West by Hamirpur' and 'Una districts', on its South lies 'Nalagarh' area of Solan district.

•  It is encircled on the East and South East by 'Solan' and 'Mandi districts.

•  It lies on both the banks of river Satluj which forms the boundary between Mandi and Bilaspur districts upto the centre of the Eastern boundary. 

• The maximum length of the district from East to West is about 51 Km and maximum width from North to South is about 43 Km. 

• Bilaspur stands divided into two natural parts formed by the Satluj river.  

• The river flows from East to West with a large bend midway and divides the district into two approximately equal parts. 

• On its extreme West is Dhar Kathar' and further to the East is the Naina Devi range". 

• The district is mostly hilly but has no mountains of higher altitude from the mean sea level. 

• The elevation of the lowest point is about 290 meters and that of the highest is about 1,980 meters. 

SEVEN HILLS OF KEHLUR - BILASPUR

• There are seven main ranges of hills. 

• These are- Naina Devi, Kot, Jhanjiar, Tiun, Bandla, Bahadurpurand Ratanpur. 

• These have been so prominent that the erstwhile princely state at times used to be called 'Sat-dhar-Kahlur" meaning Kahlur of the seven hills.

1. Naina Devi Hills: 

• 30 Km in length. 
• On this hill lies a celebrated temple dedicated to Naina Devi'.
• Pargana of Kot Kahlur' and Fatehpur' lie on this range. 
• Some of the important forts such as the 'Kot Kahlur fort' and 'Fatehpur fort' (where seven small forts have been constructed) are located on this range.

2. Kot Hill 

• 30 Km in length. 
• Parganas Baseh and Bachhretu are within the fold of this hill.
•  The well known forts of Bachhretu, Basiah, Naun or Shiwala Bachhretu Kot and Dagoga Malhot are located on this hill. 
• The highest peak, 'Kakrer'.

3. Jhanjiar Hill: 

• The Seer Khad divides this range into two parts; Southern part known as Badol, and Northern as Jhanjiar. 
• The Jhanjiar is the highest peak in this range.
• There are famous temples of 'Devi Badoli' and 'Guga Gherwin' located in the Southern range. 

4. Tiun Hill: 

• 10 Km in length. 
• The highest point is the 'Sariun peak".
• The forts of Sariun, Naurangarh and Tiun fort'  temple of 'Peer Bhiyanu', 'Haramba Devi, and Sidh Gurunath are located on this hill.

 

5. Bandla Hill: 

• 17 Km in length. 
• Its highest peak has an altitude of 1,375 meters from the mean sea level. 

6. Bahadurpur Hill: 

• The 'Ali Khad' divides this hill into two parts, Northern known as Tatoh and Southern as Bahadurpur.
• Bahadurpur fort is situated on this hill and it was the summer abode of Raja Bijai Chand. 

7. Ratanapur Hill: 

• 11 Km in length. 
• It was from this fort that General Ochterlony inflicted defeat on Amar Singh Thapa, the Gurkha leader. 

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