Old Bilaspur Town: Submerged History Under Gobind Sagar

Old Bilaspur town including the royal palace of the Kahlur kingdom, ancient temples, and the historic town were submerged in 1954 when the Bhakra dam reservoir filled. Like Old Tehri in Uttarakhand, the submergence of Bilaspur represents a traumatic disruption of cultural continuity. Before submergence, photographic documentation and material culture preservation attempted to record the architectural and cultural heritage. The displaced Bilaspur community rebuilt social institutions and festivals in New Bilaspur maintaining cultural continuity despite physical displacement. Oral traditions preserve memory of temples, ghats, and market areas of the old town. During drought years when lake levels drop, remnants of old structures re-emerge creating poignant encounters with the submerged past.