GADDI'S OF BHARMOUR:-

The word Gaddi means ‘seat’ and since Bharmour was the seat of the emperor of Chamba, all the people of the Gadheran called themselves Gaddies. The "Gaddi" are a tribe living mainly in the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu Kashmir. The Gaddies are Hindus and belong to several castes including Brahmin, Rajputs, Dhangar, Khatri, Rana and Thakur. Gaddies are widely respected for their honesty, friendliness and peaceful lifestyle. They have great faith in Gods and Goddesses especially Lord Shiva. The language spoken within the tribe is Gaddi.
 Old people used the Taakri script. Crime is almost unknown in Gaddi villages. Gaddi is a generic term used for all of the indigenous population of the Bharmour area of Chamba district and some regions of Jammu and Kashmir. The Gaddis include the Savarnas such as Brahman, Rajputs, Khatri, Thakur Rathi and the non–Savarnas like Hali, Rihare and Dom. Although all are categorized as scheduled tribe by virtue of their living in a scheduled area, the non-Savarnas are also included separately as scheduled caste.
Traditionally domiciled on both sides of the Dhauladhar Range in Himachal Pradesh. They reside mostly in the Bharmour region of Chamba District, in the upper reaches of the Ravi River and the valleys of the Budhil River. They are also found in the Kangra district, particularly in the villages like Palampur, Draman, Nurpur, Shahpur and Dharmashala. The Gaddis are not fully nomadic, since they have homes in villages; Gaddies are shepherd and generally travel with their flocks to higher reaches in the summer and lower areas in winter. Mainly they travel Lauhal & Spiti in summer, Kangra and other lower district of Himachal even in Punjab in winter with their folks. Over a period of time they have settled down and practice agriculture. Horticulture in the area has been quite successful in the recent years. Red Royal Apple, golden apple and Chestnut grown in the area is one of the best varieties in the world.