Holy
Pilgrimage – Temples in Himachal Pradesh
State
Hidimba Devi Temple, Himachal Pradesh
Hidimdi Devi Temple, also known as the Hadimdi Temple which identified the female as di in Dimasa Kachari word,Hidimdi Devi is related to Dimasa Kachari living in North East India, who was a son of the soil of Assam,is located in Manāli,a hill station in the State of Himāchal Pradesh in north India.It is an ancient cave temple dedicated to Hidimdi Devi, sister of Hidimba,who was a character in the Indian epic, Mahābhārata.The temple is surrounded by a cedar forest at the foot of the Himālayas. The sanctuary is built over a huge rock cutting out of the ground, which was worshiped as an image of the deity. The structure was built in 1553
Design
The Hidimdi Devi Temple has intricately carved wooden doors and a 24 meters tall wooden "shikhar" or tower above the sanctuary. The tower consists of three square roofs covered with timber tiles and a fourth brass cone-shaped roof at the top. The earth goddess Durga forms the theme of the main door carvings The temple base is made out of whitewashed, mud-covered stonework. An enormous rock occupies the inside of the temple, only a 7.5 cm (3 inch) tall brass image representing goddess Hidimdi Devi. A rope hangs down in front of the rock,and according to a legend,in bygone days religious zealots would tie the hands of "sinners" by the rope and then swing them against the rockAbout 70 metres away from the temple,there is a shrine dedicated to Goddess Hidimdi's son, Ghatotkachawho was born after she married Bhima.
THE LEGEND OF HADIMBA TEMPLE
Hadimba, a 'Rakshashi' in the Mahabharat has been deified and is worshipped in
this area. According to Mahabharat 'Hadimb Rakshash' ruled some of the
sub-mountainous tracts of the Himalayas. His
sister was Hadimba or Hidimba.
In their
wanderings the Pandavas, along with their mother, after escaping from the wax
house unhurt came to the territory
of Hadimb Rakshash. Bhima
fell in love with Hadimba, the sister of the ruler. Bhima could marry her only
after killing the brother. The pair-lived in the valley for about a year after
which Bhima joined his brothers and mother. Hadimba gave birth to a son who was
named 'Ghototkachh'. Till Ghototkachh was a minor, Hadimba looked after her
country. She retired to the inner hills, for meditation, when her son
Ghototkachh, a great warrior took over the country. Ghototkachh was a good
administrator. Dhungri was the place near Manali where Hadimba had resorted for
meditation. A temple
of Hadimba in 'pagoda'
style was raised and she became Devi Hadimba. Hadimba had supernatural powers
owing to 'tapashya' and was kind to her people. Hadimba became the patron-deity
of the Rajas of Kullu . The Tilak ceremony
of every Raja of Kulu has to be done with the permission of the goddess and
after worshipping her a, buffalo is sacrificed.
Certain ceremonials where the patron deity is closely associated have to be
performed in the Dussehra festival of Kulu. The Dussehra festival is held at
Dhalpur Maidan and as mentioned the idol of Raghunathji is taken there. From
his temple the goddess Hadimba blesses the ceremonial horse. The ceremony is
called as 'Ghor Pooja'.
The pagoda type wooden temple of the goddess at Dhungri is according to Hira
Nand Shastri, the antiquarian about 500 years old. No idol is enshrined and
only a foot-print on a stone is kept within.Raja Bahadur Singh who built the
temple is commemorated by a fair held on the first of Savan annually named as
'Bahadur Singh Re Jatar.' This Mela is also called as Saroohni, which is
symbolic of the completion of the transplanting of paddy.
Hadimba goddess has been humanized by the people and made their own. On the
first of 'Jaith', or 14th of May, another Mela is held to celebrate birthday of
the goddess Hadimba. This Mela is held in the Dhungri forest. It lasts for
three days. Thousands of men, women and children participate in the Mela.
Rice-bear (Lungri) flows among both men and women who make themselves merry in
music and dance.
There is another indigenous ceremony. The deities, Kartikswami of Simsa,
Chhandal Rishi of Parsha, shrishti Narayan of Aleo, Shriganh of Jagatsukh,
Vishnu of Shajla, Maladevi of Sial and Sankh Narayan of Nasogi, are brought in
processions with proper music by their followers to Dhungri. On the 4th day,
the fair shifts to the temple
of Manu in the village
Manali . The Dhungri forest provides a grand setting to the assemblage of hill
women in their colorful clothes.
Jakhoo Temple, HP
Jakhoo Temple is an ancient temple in Shimla, dedicated to Hindu deity, Hanuman.[1]It is situated on Jakhoo Hill, 2.5 km /1.3 miles east from the Ridge, Shimla at a height of 2,455 m (8,000 feet) above sea level. Shimla's highest peak offers a panoramic view of the Shivalik Ranges and the town of Sanjauli.
An ancient "Lord Hanuman" temple is there and every year a big festival is held on Dushera . You can go to the temple by foot (a steep climb) from Ridge (path behind the church) or can hire a pony/horse. Taxis are available too.
The legend
One legend goes that Lord Hanuman stopped there to rest while he was searching for the Sanjivni Booti to revive Lakshman in the Epic Ramayana. On arrival at the temple signs advise visitors to secure all personal belongings and beware of the monkeys, which are everywhere. This is appropriate as the temple is in honour of the Monkey Lord. Visitors must remove shoes (and leave them in the "shoe house") before entering the temple.There are several eateries at the temple site. Local visitors ring the bell for good luck before making the descent back into Shimla.
In media
9 Jakhoo Hill, is a play set in a home in 1950's Jakhoo Hill, directed by Sunit Tandon. World's tallest statue of Lord Hanuman was unveiled to public by Abhishek Bachchan on November 5th 2010The Ridge, Shimla
The Ridge road is a large open space, located in the heart of Shimla, the capital city of Himachal Pradesh, India. It runs east to west alongside the Mall Road, and joins it at the Scandal Point on the west side. On the east side, The Ridge road leads to Lakkar Bazaar, a wooden crafts market. The Ridge houses a large water reservoir which acts as the main supply of Shimla town].The Ridge road is also the venue for Summer festival, government functions and local celebrations during New Year's Eve. Prominent landmarks on The Ridge.
Shimla
Shimla / (Hindi: शिमला formerly known as Simla, is the capital city of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, located in northern India. It is bounded by Mandi and Kullu in the north, Kinnaur in the east, the state of Uttaranchal in the south-east, and Solan and Sirmaur to the south. The elevation of the city ranges from 300 to 6000 metres.[clarification needed] Shimla is well known as a hub for India's tourism sector. It is among the top 10 preferred entrepreneurial locations in India.In 1864, Shimla was declared as the summer capital of British India, succeeding Murree, northeast of Rawalpindi. After independence, the city became the capital of Punjab and was later named the capital of Himachal Pradesh. Shimla came into existence from 1st Sept,1972 on the reorganisation of the districts of the state. After the reorganisation, the erstwhile Mahasu district and its major portion was merged with Shimla. Its name has been derived from the goddess Shyamala Devi, an incarnation of the Hindu goddess Kali. As of 2011 Shimla comprises 19 erstwhile hill states mainly Balson, Bushahr, Bhaji and Koti, Darkoti, Tharoch & Dhadi, Kumharsain, Khaneti & Delath, Dhami, Jubbal, Keothal, Madhan, Rawingarh, Ratesh, and Sangri.
As a large and growing city, Shimla is home to many well-recognized colleges and research institutions in India. The city has a large number of temples and palaces. Shimla is also well noted for its buildings styled in Tudorbethan and neo-Gothic architecture dating from the colonial era.
History
The history of the area that now constitutes Shimla dates back to the time when the Indus valley civilisation flourished between 2250 and 1750 BCE.[2] Tribes such as the Koilis, Halis, Dagis, Dhaugris, Dasa, Khasas, Kinnars and Kirats inhabited the region from pre-historic era. During the Vedic period, several small republics known as "Janapada" existed which were later conquered by the Gupta Empire.[3] After a brief period of supremacy by King Harshavardhana, the region was once again divided into several local powers headed by chieftains, including some Rajput principalities. These kingdoms that enjoyed a large degree of independence and were invaded by Delhi Sultanate a number of times.[2] Mahmud Ghaznavi conquered Kangra at the beginning of the 10th century. Timur and Sikander Lodi also marched through the lower hills of the state and captured a number of forts and fought many battles.[2] Several hill states acknowledged Mughal suzerainty and paid regular tribute to the MughalsThe Gurkhas, came to power in Nepal in the year 1768.[2] They consolidated their military power and began to expand their territory.[2] Gradually the Gorkhas annexed Sirmour and Shimla. With the leadership of Amar Singh Thapa, Gorkhas laid siege to Kangra. They managed to defeat Sansar Chand Katoch, the ruler of Kangra, in 1806 with the help of many provincial chiefs. However Gorkhas could not capture Kangra fort which came under Maharaja Ranjeet Singh in 1809. After the defeat the Gorkhas began to expand towards the south of the state. However, Raja Ram Singh, Raja of Siba State managed to capture the fort of Siba from the remnants of Lahore Darbar in Samvat 1846,[2] during the First Anglo-Sikh War. They came into direct conflict with the British along the tarai belt after which the British expelled them from the provinces of the Satluj.[2] Thus the British gradually emerged as the paramount powers.[2] The revolt of 1857 or first Indian war of independence resulted due to the building up of political, social, economic, religious and military grievances against the British government.[2] People of the hill states were not as politically active as the people in other parts of the country.[2] They remained more or less inactive and so did their rulers, with the exception of Bushahr.[2] Some of them even rendered help to the British government during the revolt. Among them were the rulers of Chamba, Bilaspur, Bhagal and Dhami. The rulers of Bushars rather acted in a manner hostile to the interests of British.[2]
The British territories in the hill came under the British Crown after Queen Victoria's proclamation of 1858. The states of Chamba, Mandi and Bilaspur made good progress in many fields during the British rule.[2] During World War I, virtually all rulers of the hill states remained loyal and contributed to the British war effort, both in the form of men and materials. Among these were the states of Kangra, Jaswan, Datarpur, Guler, Nurpur, Chamba, Suket, Mandi and Bilaspur.[2]
Not long after gaining possession of Shimla, the British began to develop the area. The Scottish civil servant Charles Pratt Kennedy built the first British summer home in the town in 1822. Lord Amherst, the Governor-General of Bengal from 1823 to 1828, set up a summer camp here in 1827, when there was only one cottage in the town, and only 'half a dozen' when he left that year. There were more than a hundred cottages within ten years.[5] Shimla soon caught the eye of Lord William Bentinck, the next Governor-General of Bengal from 1828 (later of India, when the title was created in 1833) to 1835. In a letter to Colonel Churchill in 1832, he wrote[6]
Simla is only four days march from Loodianah (Ludhiana),
is easy of access, and proves a very agreeable refuge from the burning plains
of Hindoostaun (Hindustan)
One of his
successors, Sir John Lawrence (Viceroy of India
1864–1869), decided to take the trouble of moving the administration twice a
year between Calcutta
and this separate centre over 1,000 miles away, despite the fact that it was
difficult to reach.[5]
Lord Lytton (Viceroy of India
1876–1880) made efforts to plan the town from 1876, when he first stayed in a
rented house, but began plans for a Viceregal Lodge,
later built on Observatory Hill. A fire cleared much of the area where the
native Indian population lived (the "Upper Bazaar"), and the planning
of the eastern end to become the centre of the European town forced these to
live in the Middle and Lower Bazaars on the lower terraces descending the steep
slopes from the Ridge. The Upper Bazaar was cleared for a Town Hall, with many
facilities such as library and theatre, as well as offices—for police and
military volunteers as well as municipal administration.During the "Hot Weather", Simla was also the Headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief, India, the head of the Indian Army, and many Departments of the Government. The summer capital of the regional Government of the Punjab moved from Murree, in modern-day Pakistan, to Shimla in 1876. They were joined by many of the British wives and daughters of the men who remained on the plains. Together these formed Simla Society, which, according to Charles Allen,[7] "was as close as British India ever came to having an upper crust." This may have been helped by the fact that it was very expensive, having an ideal climate and thus being desirable, as well as having limited accommodation. British soldiers, merchants, and civil servants moved here each year to escape from the heat during summer in the Indo-Gangetic plain. The presence of many bachelors and unattached men, as well as the many women passing the hot weather there, gave Simla a reputation for adultery, and at least gossip about adultery: as Rudyard Kipling said in a letter cited by Allen, it had a reputation for "frivolity, gossip and intrigue".
The Kalka-Shimla railway line, constructed in 1906, added to Shimla's accessibility and popularity. The railway route from Kalka to Shimla, with more than 806 bridges and 103 tunnels, was touted as an engineering feat and came to be known as the "British Jewel of the Orient".[8] In 2008, it became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mountain railways of India.[9] Not only that, there was a significant Muslim population in the region before the partition of British India. In addition, Shimla was the capital of the undivided state of Punjab in 1871, and remained so until the construction of the new city of Chandigarh (the present-day capital of Punjab)[dubious ] Upon the formation of the state of Himachal Pradesh in 1971, Shimla was named its capital
Geography
Shimla lies in the north-western ranges of the Himalayas. It is located at 31.61°N 77.10°E with an average altitude of 2397.59 meters (7866.10 ft) above mean sea level, the city is spread on a ridge and its seven spurs. The city stretches nearly 9.2 km from east to west.[12] The highest point in Shimla, at 2454 meters (8051 ft), is the Jakhoo hill. Shimla is a Zone IV (High Damage Risk Zone) per the Earthquake hazard zoning of India. Weak construction techniques and increasing population pose a serious threat to the already earthquake prone region.[13][14] There are no bodies of water near the main city and the closest river, Sutlej, is about 21 km (13 mi) away.[15] Other rivers that flow through the Shimla district, although further from the city, are Giri, and Pabbar (both are tributaries of Yamuna). The green belt in Shimla planning area is spread over 414 hectares (1023 acres).[8] The main forests in and around the city are that of pine, deodar, oak and rhododendron.[16] Environmental degradation due to the increasing number of tourists every year without the infrastructure to support them has resulted in Shimla losing its popular appeal as an ecotourism spot.[17] Another rising concern in the region are the frequent number of landslides that often take place after heavy rains.[13][18]Climate
Shimla features a subtropical highland climate under the Köppen climate classification. The climate in Shimla is predominantly cool during winters, and moderately warm during summer. Temperatures typically range from −4 °C (25 °F) to 31 °C (88 °F) over the course of a year.[19] The average temperature during summer is between 19 °C (66 °F) and 28 °C (82 °F), and between −1 °C (30 °F) and 10 °C (50 °F) in winter. Monthly precipitation varies between 15 millimetres (0.59 in) in November to 434 millimetres (17.1 in) in August. It is typically around 45 millimetres (1.8 in) per month during winter and spring and around 175 millimetres (6.9 in) in June as the monsoon approaches. The average total annual precipitation is 1,575 millimetres (62 in), which is much less than most other hill stations but still much heavier than on the plains. Snowfall in the region, which historically has taken place in the month of December, has lately (over the last fifteen years) been happening in January or early February every yearCulture
The people of Shimla are informally called Shimlaites. With largely cosmopolitan crowds, a variety of festivals are celebrated here. The Shimla Summer Festival, held every year during peak tourist season,[37] and lasting 3–4 days, is celebrated on the ridge. The highlights of this event include performances by popular singers from all over the country.[38] Shimla has a number of places to visit. Local hangouts like The Mall and The Ridge are in the heart of the city. Most of the heritage buildings in the city are preserved in their original 'Tudorbethan' architecture. The former Viceregal Lodge, which now houses the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, and Wildflower Hall, now a luxury hotel, are some of the famous ones. A collection of paintings, jewellery and textiles of the region can be found at the State Museum (built in 1974). Further out from the city is the Naldehra nine-hole golf course, the oldest of its kind in India.[39] Kufri is a ski resort (winter only) located 19 kilometres (11.8 mi) from the main city. Lakkar Bazaar, a market extending off The Ridge, is famous for souvenirs and crafts made of wood. Tatta Pani, 55 kilometres (34.2 mi) from the main city, is the name of hot sulphur springs that are believed to have medicinal value located on the banks of river Satluj. Shimla is also home to South Asia's only natural ice skating rink.[40] State and national level competitions are often held at this venue. The Shimla Ice Skating Club, which manages the rink, hosts a carnival every year in January, which includes a fancy dress competition and figure skating events. Due to effects of global warming and increasing urban development in and around Shimla, the number of sessions on ice every winter have been decreasing in the past few years.
Shimla has many temples and is often visited by devotees from nearby towns and cities. The Kali Bari temple, dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali is near the mall. Jakhoo Temple, for the Hindu god Hanuman is located at the highest point in Shimla.[41] Sankat Mochan, another Hanuman temple, is famous for the numerous monkeys that are always found in its vicinity. It is located on Shimla-Kalka Highway about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the city. The nearby temple of Tara Devi is a place for performing rituals and festivals.
The Shimla arts and crafts are highly in demand by the tourists. They range from excellent pieces of jewelry, embroidered shawls and garments to leather made articles and sculptures. Shimla is full of Pine and Deodar trees. The wood has been extensively used in building the temples and palaces of Shimla. The various kinds of arts and crafts of Shimla made out of wood includes small boxes, jeweleries, fruit bowls and other image carvings.The paintings in Shimla bear the deep artistic insight of the people there. The Shimla art bears the testimony of the rich culture and tradition of Shimla.
The flamboyancy of the carpets and rugs of Shimla is a great attraction for the tourists. Different floral and other motifs make these carpets look really very beautiful. The wool from the sheep is used to make blankets and rugs.
The embroidered stuffs are very popular that includes handkerchiefs, hand fans, gloves, caps, etc. The arts and crafts of Shimla have that traditional touch in it. Among others, the shawls of Shimla are very well known for their fine quality. The leather craft of Shimla is also a demanded thing. Beautiful stuffs of leather comprises shoes, slippers and belts.
The other arts and crafts of Shimla includes a huge collection of amazing beaded and metal jeweleries. These intricately designed jeweleries bears the hallmark of the artistic craftsmanship of the Shimla designers.
The temples of Shimla shows the excellent stonework of the architects there. The sculptors have proved their mettle in upholding the art of Shimla
Places of interest
The Mall: The Mall is the main shopping street of Shimla. It also has many restaurants, clubs, banks, bars, Post Offices and tourist offices. The Gaiety Theatre is also situated there. People walk up and down The Mall slowly, stopping to gossip, as it is the main meeting place for everyone. The Ridge and Scandal Point are the two main meeting points at The Mall. The Mall is dotted with many eating places.
Jakhu Hill: 2 km from Shimla, at a height of 8000 ft,
Jakhu Hill is the highest peak and offers a beautiful view of the town and of
the snow-covered Himalayas. At the top of the
Hill, is an old temple
of Lord Hanuman, which is
also the home of countless playful monkeys waiting to be fed by all visitors. A
108 feet (33 metre) statue of Lord Hanuman,
a Hindu deity,
at 8,500 feet (2,591 metres) above sea level, is single statue to stand at the
highest altitude among several other master pieces in the world, overtaking the
Christ Redeemer
in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil.[43]
Jutogh: Located just 8 km
away from the city centre, this army cantonment is near Totu, an important
suburb of Shimla city.
Shimla State
Museum: The Museum, which
was opened in 1974, has tried to protect hill-out and the cultural wealth of
the state. There is a collection of miniature Pahari paintings, sculptures,
bronzes wood-carvings and also costumes, textiles and jewellery of the region.
Summer Hill: Situated at a distance of
5 km from The Ridge is the lovely township of Summer Hill, at a height of
6,500 ft on the Shimla-Kalka railway line. Mahatma Gandhi lived in these
quiet surroundings during his visits to Shimla. Himachal Pradesh
University is situated
here.
Annandale:
Developed as the playground of Shimla, Annandale
is 2–4 km from The Ridge at a height of 6,117 ft. It is a favourite
spot for cricket, picnics and polo.
Tara Devi: 11 km from
the Shimla bus-stand. Tara Devi hill has a temple dedicated to the goddess of
stars on top of the hill. There is a military Dairy Town
here as well as the headquarters of Bharat Scouts and Guides.
Sankat Mochan: A very
famous Lord Hanuman temple is located here.
Junga: Junga is near
Tehsi, 26 km from Shimla. Its original name (with diacritics) is Jūnga
and is a former royal retreat of the princely state of Keonthal.
It is also known as the Keonthal Estate.
Anand Vilas: Midway
between Shimla and Junga. "Sarva Dharma Mandir", Temple of all Faiths, is a spiritual group
dedicated to Mother Nature. Thousands of visitors and devotees come here every
year. There is an "Art is Values" school with students from all over India. Classes
are provided free of cost.
Mashobra:
13 km from Shimla, site of the annual Sipi fair in June.
Kufri:
16 km from Shimla at a height of 8,600 ft, Kufri is the local winter
sports centre, and it also has a small zoo.
Chharabra:
13 km from Shimla on route to Kufri.
Naldehra: 22 km from
Shimla, with a nine-hole Naldehra Golf Club. The annual Sipi fair in
June is held in Naldehra.
Chail: Chail was the summer capital of the Maharaja of Patiala before Independence, known for its cricket pitch,
the highest in the world.
Arki:
(46 km) is the site of an 18th century fort built when Arki was the
capital of the erstwhile hill state of Baghal
Tattapani: Location of
sulphur springs which are found near the Tatapani mandir(holy temple)
Sanjauli: The main suburb of Shimla.
Transport
Local transport in Shimla is by bus or private vehicles. Buses ply frequently on the circular road surrounding the city centre. Heavy local transport can be seen between major suburbs which include Sanjauli, Kasumpti, Summer Hill, Totu, and New Shimla. Tourist taxis are also an option for out of town trips. Locals typically traverse the city on foot. Private vehicles are prohibited on the mall, ridge, and nearby markets. Due to narrow roads and steep slopes, the auto rickshaws common in other Indian cities are largely absent.Shimla is well-connected by road and rail. The National Highway 22 (NH 22) connects Shimla to the nearest big city of Chandigarh. Shimla is connected by road to all the major towns. Distance between the major towns and Shimla:
Kalka:
90 km
Chandigarh: 119 km
Ambala:
152 km
Patiala:
172 km
Amritsar:
342 km
Delhi:
380 km
Jammu:
482 km
Agra:
568 km
Jaipur:
629 km
Srinagar:
787 km
Kolkata:
1460 km
Mumbai:
1742 km
The scenic Kalka Shimla Railway, a narrow gauge track, is listed in the Guinness Book of Records for the steepest
rise in altitude in a distance of 96 km.[44] Kalka, the plains rail terminus, has daily departures to
major Indian cities. Flights from Shimla Airport
at Jubbarhatti (23 km away)[45] connect
Shimla to Delhi.How To Reach Shimla
Shimla by Air:
Shimla has its own airport that offers connections for Delhi and Kullu. The Jubbarhatti airport is 23-km from Shimla and major domestic airlines cater their services from here to Shimla. One can catch direct flights from Delhi. Chandigarh also well connected with Delhi by many domestic flights, and is the gateway to Shimla.
Shimla by Rail:
Reaching Shimla by rail is also very convenient as Kalka is the nearest major railhead which is connected with Shimla on the narrow gauge. The city boasts of three railway stations with Shimla, being the main station with other two located at Summer Hill and Totu (Jutogh) respectively.
Shimla by Road:
Access to Shimla by road is made possible by the well-maintained and efficient network of roadways and National Highway 22 that links the town with Chandigarh. The transport system within the town is also good and bus or private vehicles can be used to travel from one part of the town to another
Notable people born in Shimla
Shahid Javed Burki, Pakistani economist, born
in Shimla under British rule
Horatio Boileau Goad, British policeman who was
secretary of the municipal corporation of Simla
Anupam Kher, noted Bollywood actor
Priety Zinta, noted Bollywood actress
Rahat Kazmi, famous Pakistani television actor
Salmaan Taseer, renowned Pakistani businessman
Guy Penrose Gibson, WW2
RAF VC
Ram Kumar (artist), renowned Indian painter
Nirmal Verma, noted Hindi writer
Notable people educated in Shimla
Hamid Karzai, president of Afghanistan
Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, ex-president of Pakistan
Mohammad Hamid Ansari, current Vice President
Of India
Meera Nair, noted filmmaker
Amrish Puri, noted Bollywood actor
Prem Chopra, noted Bollywood actor
Anupam Kher, noted Bollywood actor
Neetu Kapoor, noted Bollywood actress
Priety Zinta, noted Bollywood actress
Naina Lal Kidwai, noted businesswoman
Baba Baroh, Himachal Pradesh
Baba Baroh is a tehsil in Kangra district, India known for a temple made of white marble to Radha Krishan and the Goddess Durga. This temple is famous for the largest amount of white marble used for any temple in Himachal Pradesh. Baba Baroh is located 23 km from Kangra. In this temple there is an idol of Goddess Durga made of metal
Visitor's attractions
Kangra valley is one of the most picturesque, green and luxuriant valleys of lower Himalyas sheltered by the sublime Dhauladhar range. Many ancient temples like the Jawalaji Temple, Vajreshwari Devi temple, Chamunda Devi temple, chintapurni temple Baba Baroh, Masroor Temple built by Pandvas and Baijnath temple are found here. One can also pay a visit to Gopalpur Nature Park in Gopalpur village and can also see tea gardens there. Kangra Fort is also a popular tourist attraction. Mcleodganj near Dharamshala is the home-in-exile to the Dalai Lama.[7] "Bhagsunag temple" is there. Cricket ground of Dharamshala is also a major attraction because of its location and good quality pitch for players. Maharaja Sansar Chandra Museum adjoins the Kangra Fort. Available at the Museum are Audio guides for the Kangra Fort and the Museum.Transport
Kangra town is reached by Gaggal Airport (IATA airport code DHM) about 10 km to the town's north. The town is also reached by Kangra Valley Railway line from Pathankot 94 km away.Bhalei Mata Temple, Himachal Pradesh
Bhalei Mata Temple The temple of Bhader kali popularly known as Sri Bhalei Mata is located on a beautiful spur of 3800 feet height at a place called Bhalei which is now a Sub-Tehsil headquarter. It is about 25 km from Salooni Tehsil headquarter. The temple can be approached either from Chamba or from Dalhousie and is at a distance of 40 kilometers from Chamba and 35 kilometers from Dalhousie. The deity is in the front of an image of black stone of two feet height and is enshrined in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. Bhadar Kali draw a large number of pilgrims from far and wide. A big havan ceremony is performed during navratras of Ashwin and Chait months. Mythology has it that the temple of Bhadar Kali was built originally by Raja Pratap Singh during his reign. He was a religiously disposed king and has to his credit construction, repair and renovation of many temples in the district. The legend is that the deity appeared to Raja Partap Singh in dream and told him that she was lying hidden in a place called Bhran about three kilometers from the present site of temple. The deity asked the Raja to bring her from there and erect a suitable temple for her. The Raja with his officials went to the site and discovered the image. The Raja and his team were very happy they had already decided to construct a temple for the deity in Chamba town. So they started their journey back. On way back they stopped for rest at Bhalei and when they resumed their journey, the bearers could not lift the palanquin of the deity in which she was being taken to Chamba. A Brahman from Kilod village was invited to interpret this peculiar incident. The Brahaman interpreted that the deity did not want to go to Chamba, rather she desired her temple to be erected at the site. According to another belief, the people of this area were not happy over the idea of the deity being taken to Chamba, so they requested the Raja to construct the temple at Bhalei. Whatever be the reason, the temple was built at Bhalei by Raja Partap Singh and later renovated by Raja Sri Singh. Recently a lot of renovation work has been carried out. Statue of Bhader Kali was unfortunately stolen in the year 1973 by antique thieves but happily recovered at Chohra near the present dam site. It is believed that the image of the deity seems to be perspiring since that event.
Salooni is the tehsil headquarters and Sub-Division in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, India. It contains a combined office building,SDM office, government senior secondary school, degree college, community health centre and all other important government offices. Salooni falls under Dalhousie as its legislature constituency and Kangra as its parliamentary constituency. It has a population of about 1500 and lies at a height of 1764 meters. The main entrance to the village contains a series of shops and the small grounds of the ancient temple of Kali Mata, which has been reconstructedA tehsil or tahsil/tahasil (Urdu: تحصیل, Punjabi: ਤਹਿਸੀਲ, Hindi: तहसील), also known as taluk (or taluq/taluka) or mandal, is an administrative division of some countries of South Asia.
Generally, a tehsil consists of a city or town that serves as its headquarters, possibly additional towns, and a number of villages. As an entity of local government, it exercises certain fiscal and administrative power over the villages and municipalities within its jurisdiction. It is the ultimate executive agency for land records and related administrative matters. Its chief official is called the tehsildar or less officially the talukdar or taluka muktiarkar.
Getting to Chamba
By
Air
The nearest
airport is at Gaggal (Kangra) 180 km from Chamba and 140 km from Dalhousie.
By
Rail
Chamba town
is 122 km from Pathankot, the nearest broad gauge rail head which is linked by
direct trains to Amritsar, Delhi,
Bombay and Calcutta.
By
Road
Chamba is 52
km away from Dalhousie. Bus run Chamba to Pathankot, Delhi, Dharamsala, Shimla,
Chandigarh, Jammu and most of the Punjab cities along the national highway. Transport to Salooni
Salooni is well connected to Chamba by road. It also has a helipadMaa Bhangayani Temple, Haripurdhar (HP)
Maa Bhangayani is a God sister of Shirgul Maharaj.Maa Bhangayani is a most powerful Devi in Sirmour
Accessibility
The Maa Bhangayani Temple is about 140km from Shimla via Solan, Rajgarh it takes about 7 hours from this route. The road is narrow and not good during rainy season. Another route to reach this temple about 220km form Shimla via Chaupal, it takes 12 hours from this route. The temple is also connected to Nahan via Sangrah.Distance of Haripurdhar from major cities.
|
City
|
Distance(k.m)
|
|
Chandigarh
|
175
|
|
Dehradun
|
165
|
|
Delhi
|
361
|
|
Nahan
|
88
|
|
Paonta Sahib
|
124
|
|
Renuka ji
|
52
|
|
Solan
|
100
|
Accommodation
The rooms are provided in the temple's premises with good facilities. People can also stay in a government rest house as well as a private hotel at Haripurdhar. If someone wishes to enjoy snowfall, then November to January is a good time to visitSurroundings of Bhangayni Devi
Visitors are having
alternate options to visit as there are some eyecatching places near the
temple to visit which includes ‘Haripur fort’ built by the Maharaja of Sirmour,
Hariprakash for protecting sirmour border from rivals and ‘Luthkadhi fort’
which was built by the Maharaja of Jubbal, and Mata Gudiyali and Maa Bijai
temples.
Devotees can also get
the blessings of Maa Brijeshwari Devi who is considered as the sister of Maa
Gudiyali, Maa Bijai and shirgul Maharaj.This temple is located at the foothill
of Maa Bhangayni temple which is about 15 km from Haripurdhar.For conducting
Mata’s ‘Jagran’ in ancient time Brijeshwari Mata’s palki was carried by the
devotees in whole town along with people of ‘Thundu’ cast who for the
protection of palki carried swords.This has been changed into a tradition and
still being followed by the peoples.Peoples used to cover the distance on their
foot from Maa Bhangayni temple to these temples. The view from the newly
constructed Helipad leaves the visitor completely amazed.
Festivals at Bhangayni Devi Haripurdhar
This spiritual abode, Maa Bahngayni mandir is regularly visited by
millions of devotees out of which many covered the distance on their foot for
their well being and prosperity.Devotees are blessed by Bhangayni devi and will
never comes back without getting if having true faith and devotion.
In festive season temple and the village Haripurdhar are crowded
by number of devotees who shows their faith in god by different ways. The
temple is crowded by thousand of devotees in Navratris, Sankrantis and on
weekends, moreover fair is organised during Navratras,
and on 3-4-5 May of
each year which as a whole fascinated the devotees. Responsibility to organise
this event in a better way is vested to Maa Bhangayni Devi seva samiti who put
their efforts to provide best facilities to visitors who visit the temple
Season
Round the year.
Om Tat Sat
(Continued...)
(My
humble salutations to the great devotees
, wikisources and Pilgrimage tourist guide for the
collection )
1 comments:
It is very much enjoyable and very interesting to go through the beautiful and the most informative lines which you have given here. This place is the best place for the newly married couples to celebrate the honeymoon in the best possible and most romantic way. I too have visited this place along with my family. The trip to this place is very much enjoyable one for the tourists.
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