The world is full of beautiful places to visit. Temples are among the most fascinating and rewarding destinations on the globe. Ancient structures of stone and wood, the temples of the world carry the weight of history, the stories of the people who have been there and the services offered to the Gods and Deities.
Himachal is known as ‘Dev Bhoomi’ for a reason. People here are strong believers of Devtas and myths told by the legends. Here every village has its own Deity to which they are purely dedicated and the colourful stories behind them are always waiting to unfold. Nevertheless, the state is full of magnificent temples, of which some of which belong to the local ‘Devtas’. Perched on the mountains with their pristine beauty, temples in Himachal Pradesh boast rich cultural history. It is no wonder that even God loves this place.
Apart from the majestic Dhauladhars, Dharamshala is home to some ancient shrines and temples. It has an age-old and intimate connection with spirituality. People looking for miracles and spiritual awakening visit these temples. Amidst the numerous temples of various religions in and around Dharamshala, diverse religious beliefs and cultural diversity can be found peacefully coexisting. Let’s explore the various temples in Dharamshala. Come on, Read us!
11 Temples in Dharamshala
1. Dalai Lama’s Temple, Mcleodganj
2. Aghanjar Mahadev Temple
3. Indru Nag Temple
4. Guna Mata Temple
5. Shri Kunal Pathri Devi Temple
6. BhagsuNag Temple
7. Masroor Rock Cut Temple
8. Chamunda Temple
9. Brijeshwari Temple
10. Jwala Ji Temple
11. Baijnath Temple
1. Dalai Lama’s Temple, Mcleodganj
It is said that every religion has its own unique place of worship. The same is true for the Buddhist religion. Located conveniently on the bustling streets of Mcleodganj is the glorious Dalai Lama Temple offering solitude and serenity. The main attraction of the temple is the idol of Buddha placed on an elevated pedestal. It is a unique place of worship for Buddhists, which is visited by people of all religions. From the subliminal chanting of mantras and the constant rotating prayer wheels to the luminosity of butter lamps, everything here is so peaceful. You can even catch the glimpse of His Holiness Dalai Lama if he is in Mcleodganj. So, if it’s your first time in Dharamshala make sure you pay a visit here.
2. Aghanjar Mahadev Temple
Located at a 9 km distance from Dharamshala Aghanjar Mahadev temple is peacefully situated in the Khaniyara Valley at the foothills of Dhauladhars. This temple is believed to be five hundred years old. Looking back to history, once Arjuna, one of the Pandavas from the Mahabharata, was on his way to the Kailash Mountains, Lord Shiva showed up at this spot and revered him with the boon of victory over the Kauravas. Inside the temple, there are several idols of Lord Shiva and Lord Hanuman. Also, there is a small cave with Shivlinga near the temple. The temple has a waterfall running behind it and of course surrounded by forests and mountains. So, take blessings, relax and enjoy the surreal beauty around!
3. Indru Nag Temple
Photo By – Pawan Walia
A temple dedicated to the Snake King! Indru Nag is situated on a hilltop, 4 km from Dharamshala and was built by the local villagers. It is believed that individuals offer prayers to the Indru Nag, trusting that God will spare them from the awful events, such as substantial downpours. As the temple is situated at the top of the slopes, one can enjoy the view of Dharamshala and Dhauladhar ranges from there. Do not miss the opportunity to capture some joyous moments with your loved ones while you are experiencing mother nature doing wonders.
4. Guna Mata Temple
Photo By – inthelapofmountains & Mudhit
This temple is dedicated to Goddess Kali and is an important pilgrimage site for Gaddi Shepherds, a semi-nomadic tribe of northern Himachal Pradesh. One can hike to Sri Guna Devi Temple from Naddi village, located above Dal Lake, 4 kilometres from McLeod Ganj. Now, after crossing a bridge over a small stream, a 2-kilometre walk will take you to Baal village. The hike to Guna Devi Temple from Baal village is 2 km further and takes 2 hours one way. It’s a day hike but for those who wish to spend the night at the temple, there are sleeping facilities with mattresses and blankets.
5. Shri Kunal Pathri Devi Temple
Shri Kunal Pathri Devi Temple is a small temple complex surrounded by the pretty, pretty Tea gardens making it an ideal place for worshippers looking for inner peace. Well, there is an interesting story behind this temple. The temple has this stone that always remains wet, when it dries it starts raining. Amazing isn’t it? That’s just not all. It is believed that Goddess Sati’s skull fell on this spot. With the widespread of such intriguing stories, thousands of devotees visit this place. Make sure you don’t miss out on this temple.
6. BhagsuNag Temple
You might’ve heard of Bhagsu waterfall? We’re sure you did. But have you heard of Bhagsu Nag temple? It is one of the oldest ancient temples in Dharamshala, well to be accurate in Mcleodganj. Surrounded by the lush greenery and lovely pools this temple is situated on the way to the famous Bhagsu waterfall. It is said that the Snake God got into a fight with King Bhagsu because he stole water from the sacred lake called the Nag Dal Lake. Later, the King was defeated by the Snake God and forgiven eventually. The site, from then on, was known as Bhagsu Nag.
7. Masroor Rock Cut Temple
Kangra might not appeal to you as a city but if we were to mention that it has some of the most beautiful places to visit like this one ‘Masroor Rock Cut Temple’, you’re surely going to fall for this place. This temple is dedicated to Lord Rama and is a cluster of 15 rock temples carved out of a single rock. The central shrine was cut from the inside whereas the other 14 were cut from the outside. Really! A marvel of construction. It is believed that the Pandavas built it around the 8th and 9th centuries. Before entering the temple you may need to submit your identification and an entry fee. Do visit, click some Instagram worthy pictures, after all, it’s the trending media. Anyway, have a good time here!
Did you know Kangra has Three Shaktipeeths?. Shaktipeeth is the string of temples that are devoted to Goddess Shakti. According to folklore, Shakti gave herself up to the sacrificial fire. Her body was carried by Shiva to the mountains. Her body was cut into 51 pieces and every body part was buried in 51 different places. This trail of 51 temples is known as the Shaktipeeth. There are temples built in these 51 locations dedicated to the various forms of Goddess Shakti.
8. Chamunda Temple
Located at a 15 km distance from Dharamshala, this temple is dedicated to Goddess Chamunda, one of the forms of the divine maa Durga and one of the seven Matrikas. It is said that Goddess’ name is derived from the monsters Chanda and Munda, two monsters who she killed from the very same mountain the Chamunda Devi temple is built on. The temple is not only devoted to the Goddess, but also to Lord Shiva, whose Lingam is situated in a cave under the main temple.
The temple is visited by thousands of devotees each year. The temple has an idol of the Goddess surrounded by an idol of Lord Bhairav and Lord Hanuman. Legends believe that reciting Shat Chandi Mantras here will bring good luck and prosperity to the individuals. The temple has very beautiful surroundings tho, with Dhauladhar mountains as a backdrop and a river flowing beside it. It really enjoys a seat in nature!
9. Brijeshwari Temple
Brijeshwari Temple is situated behind the crowded market of Kangra. It is believed that this temple was originally built by Pandavas and underwent many attacks. Also, legends say that after Lord Vishnu’s Sudarshan Chakra cut Sati’s corpse into pieces, her left breast fell right here. It will be best if you make it to the temple during aarti. The atmosphere’s incredible, filling the air with spirituality. Speaking of the best time to visit– it’s in January during Makar Sankranti celebrations and obviously in October during Navratas.
10. Jwala Ji Temple
This ancient temple is located in the small town of Kangra, Jwalamukhi 40 km from Dharamshala. The main attraction of this temple is the eternal flames which the main flames keep burning constantly. It is believed that Goddess Sati’s tongue fell on this very spot. The temple has a four-cornered sanctum- sanctorum with a small dome and a square central pit where the sacred stone is found. If you ever plan to visit this beautiful temple, offering coconut is a popular practice. In the temple complex, you’ll see the Golden Chatra offered by the Mughal emperor Akbar.
As per the legends, once Akbar tried to douse the flames with a stream of water but failed. Acknowledging the power of the Goddess he decided to give a golden Chatra(umbrella) to the goddess. He almost did, but the goddess declined his offering which led to the turning of the gold into copper. From then on, Akbar became a devotee of the Goddess. At present, the stream of water drips into a tank within the temple premises.
11. Baijnath Temple
A temple that holds highly religious importance! Situated at Baijnath 51 km from Dharamshala this temple is a highly popular temple as it houses one of the 12 holy Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva in the country. The Baijnath temple was built in 1207 AD and it is believed that the water emerging from the temple is holy and is used to heal people from illness. What makes it a must-visit- you ask? It’s the architecture of the temple. The exotic carving and sculptures depicting the incidents of Hindu mythology are more than just beautiful. The temple is surrounded by the lush green gardens overlooking the snow-clad mountains which definitely will take your breath away. Truly, it’s a raw sojourn amidst the mountains! Do not forget to pay a visit.
The world has a variety of different places of worship. Some are quiet, peaceful places where people can go to reflect, others are lively, vibrant spaces where hundreds of people can gather together to worship. Temples often combine both of these elements. When you step inside a temple, you feel a sense of calm and serenity wash over you. It is quite challenging to choose which is the best temple in Dharamshala, temples are best because of the reason that they are famous.
Soak in the spirituality and stay blessed!
