9 must visit temples in Himachal Pradesh with images
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Himachal Pradesh is one of the most scenic states in India, surrounded by the majestic Himalayas. This hilly state is known as Devbhoomi or the Land of the Gods. This place is not only famous for its tourism but also attracts devotees from all over the country to its temples. Himachal Pradesh has a rich mythological history, narrated through some of the most interesting temples in India. Said to be home to Lord Shiva, Parvati and other celestial beings, Himachal Pradesh is a sacred place for all Hindus. From one of the largest Hanuman statues to Sakthipeetam, the temples of Himachal Pradesh have long been a favorite religious destination for Hindus. In this article, we have covered some of the most popular temples in Himachal Pradesh that will captivate you.
Famous temples in Himachal Pradesh:
Here is a list of the 9 best temples in Himachal Pradesh that you must visit:
1. Jwalamukhi Devi Temple in Kangra District:
Located in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, Jwalamukhi Devi Temple is dedicated to Goddess Jwalamukhi, the god of the mouth of fire. The god is worshipped in the form of flames emerging from cracks in the rock. The sacred fire in the pit is generally dedicated to milk and water, and to the god bhog or rabri. Havan and aarti are performed daily and parts of Durga Saptasati are recited. It was identified as one of the 52 Shakti Peethas and an important one.
2. Hidimba Temple in Manali:
Hidimba Devi Temple or Hadimba Temple is located in the beautiful hill station Manali. It is dedicated to a figure named Hidimba Devi in ​​the Indian epic Mahabharata, who is Hidimba’s sister and is an ancient cave temple. It was built in 1553 and is surrounded by cedar forests at the foot of the Himalayas. Inside the temple there is a goddess’s footprint carved on a piece of enshrined stone.
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3. Chhinnamastika Devi Temple:
Chhinnamastika Devi Temple in Chinthpurni is a major pilgrimage center as it is one of India’s Shakti Peethas. It is surrounded by the western Himalayas in the north and east of the smaller Shivalik Mountains. This temple is dedicated to Chhinnamastika or Chinnamastika Devi and is one of the 7 main and 51 Shakti Peethas. It is believed that part of Sati’s forehead fell on this spot, so Chhinnamasta is called the heavy-headed man or the foreheaded man. Bazaars during Navaratri and Chaitra are popular here.
4. Mahakali Banni Mata Temple, Chamba District:
Mahakali Banni Mata Temple in Chamba district is a Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Kali Devi. It is located at 8,500 feet above sea level, right at the base of the PirRanjai Mountains, surrounded by dense forests at the foot of the Himalayas. This is a very important temple mainly used by people from the Balmur area. Here, it is believed that the goddess Kali will make wishes and bear children for infertile couples. Kali puja is widely celebrated here.
5. Shri Bhima Kali Temple in Sarahan:
Shri Bhima Kali Temple in Sarahan is dedicated to Mother Goddess Bhimakali, who is also the main deity of the temple. This temple is also one of the 51 Shakti Peethas. It is believed that Sadie’s ear fell on this spot, and the icon of the Eternal Goddess presided over the top floor of the building. Goddess Parvati is also worshipped as the divine consort of Lord Shiva.
6. Himani Chamunda Temple in Kangra Valley:
Located in the Kangra Valley of the Himalayas, Himani Chamunda Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Devi Chamnunda. It was built around 1660. Devi Chamunda or Chamundi is the divine mother in Hinduism and one of the seven mother goddesses. The goddesses were worshipped by offering animal sacrifices and wine. It takes 7.4 kilometers to travel all the way from Jia Village to reach the temple.
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7. Trilokinath Temple in Tunde:
Sri Trilokinath Temple is located in Tunde, 6 km south of the left bank of the Chenab River. This temple is considered sacred by Tibetan Buddhists and Hindus. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, another name for him is Trilokinath, which means “Lord of the Three Worlds”. Although locals believe it was originally a Buddhist shrine or monastery. The temple has a large granite lingam and Nandi or bull representing Lord Shiva as well as Buddhist prayer wheels. Both Hindus and Buddhists celebrate the three-day Palari festival in August.
8. Jakhoo Temple in Shimla:
Jakhoo Temple is an ancient temple in Shimla dedicated to Lord Hanumana. A 108-foot-tall giant statue of Lord Hanumana or the monkey god is located in the temple, which is considered to be the largest statue in the world. A big festival during the Dussehra period was celebrated at the temple.
9. Masroor Rock Cut Temple by Masroor:
Masroor Rock Cut Temple is located in Masroor in the Kangra Valley area. It is the Temple of Vishnu, a monolithic rock temple complex built between the 6th and 8th centuries. The temple has idols of Ram, Lakshman and Sita, and there are 15 pagoda temples. There are also statues of gods and goddesses such as Shiva, Parvati, Lakshmi and Saraswati.
List of districts with famous temples in Himachal Pradesh:
Check out the famous temples in each district of Himachal Pradesh to help you prepare your bucket list:
1. Bilaspur:
- Baba Nahar Singh Ji Temple
- Laxmi Narayan Mandir
- Baba Nahar Singh Temple
- Rishi Markandeya Temple
- Mata Vishnu Temple
2. Chamba:
- Chamun Damatha Temple
- Suima Pagoda
- Laxmi Narayana Temple
- Shri Hari Rai Temple
- Vishnu Mata Temple
3. Hamilpur:
- Shiva Temple
- Mahadev Temple of Ghasota
- Jai MaaSindhuri, Hamilpur
- Barbara Knut
- Hanuman Temple
4. Kangra:
- Mata Shri Bajreshwari Devi Mandir
- Shiva Temple
- Guput Ganges Temple
- Jainism
- Sada Shiv Mandir
5. Kinnar:
- Mati Temple
- Chandika Devi Temple
- Maheshwar Temple
- Parkashankres Temple Powari
- Chandika Devi Killa
6. Kuru:
- Sheetla Mata Mandir
- Temple of Butna
- Ragunath Temple
- Hanuman Temple Tapu
- Shani Temple
7. Rahal and Spiti:
- Temple of Trilochner
- taboo monastery
- Mahadev mail de la
- Mahadev temple post
- Shree Buhari Temple
8. Mandy:
- Bimakali Temple
- Butnat Mandir
- Temple of Trilochner
- Tarna Temple
- Shamakali Temple
9. Shimla:
- Jakku Temple
- Kalibari Temple, Shimla
- Ram Mandir
- Temple of Kamna
- Vishnu Goddess Temple
10. Sylmore:
- Lalita Goddess
- Mahabangani Temple
- MaaBala Sundari Temple
- Shirgul Maharaj Temple
- Mata Renuka Temple
11. Solan:
- Shaolini Temple
- Temple of Cattle
- Kali Mata Mandir
- Panch Parmeshwar Temple
- Chamonda Mandir Kaiser
12. Una:
- Sheetla Mata Mandir Una
- Shiv Mandir
- Perbaba Temple
- Hanuman Temple
- Mandir Baba Bal Ji Maharaj
[See Also: Best Churches in Himachal Pradesh]
Himachal Pradesh is one of the top destinations for Indian tourists, mainly because of its snow-capped mountains and picture-perfect scenery. However, few people know that this is also the most visited pilgrimage destination for Hindu devotees. The state has some beautiful temples, some hundreds of years old. Each of these temples has a history associated with it to excite visitors. Since this is a snowy place, these temples are mostly made of wood, similar to pagoda-style buildings. We hope this article helped you to list the best temples you should visit during your stay in Himachal Pradesh.