Himachal Pradesh Temples
Famous Himachal Pradesh Temples include Naina Devi Temple of Nainital, Chamunda Devi Temple of Chamba and Shitla Mandir of Jangla.Naina Devi Temple-Naina Devi temple, one of the most important Shakti Peeths of India, is situated in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh. Raja Bir Chand got this temple constructed in the 8th century. Shivalaya Bachhretu -Located three km from Shahtalai and 3000 ft above sea level, Shivalaya Bachhretu lies on the western slope of Kotdhar. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva houses a huge statue of Nandi, the mount of Lord Shiva, in the courtyard. Shivalaya Bachhretu was named after a brave calf, known as Bachhretu.Naras Devi Temple-Naras Devi temple is situated on a hilltop at Baroha, 2 km from Naras village that falls under the Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh. The temple is more than 400 years old and is believed to have been constructed by King Kalyan Chand, while establishing Sunhani as the capital of his kingdom. Sheetla Mandir-Sheetla Mata Temple is situated in a village named Jangla, at a distance of approximately 1.5 km from Gehrwin city of Himachal Pradesh. Like the Golden Temple of Amritsar, this temple is also built in the middle of a tank. Markandeya Ji -Markandeya Ji Temple is situated in a beautiful place known as Markanday, situated 20 km from Bilaspur. Named after the famous sage Rishi Markanday, this temple holds much significance, especially amongst childless couples.
Naina devi
Naina Devi Yatra( Himachal Pradesh Temples )- Lord Shiva’s consort Sati once burnt herself alive in Yagna to avenge an insult to Lord Shiva. The distraught Shiva picked her corpse and gyrated his horrified dance. Then Lord Vishnu unleashed his Chakra and cut the Sati’s body into fifty one pieces to save the earth from Shiva’s wrath. All the fifty one places - where parts of Sati's body fell, became known as Shakti Peeths.
Jawalmukhi
Jawalmukhi ( Himachal Pradesh Temples) Jwalaji (flame) or Jwala Mukhi (flame mouth) is probably the most ancient temple discussed here besides Vaishno Devi. It is mentioned in the Mahabharata and other scriptures. There is a natural cave where eternal flames continue to burn. Some say there are seven or nine flames for the seven divine sisters or the nine Durgas. It is here that Sati's tongue fell which can now be seen in the form of the flame.
Mata Chintpurni Devi
Mata Chintpurni and Chamunda Devi( Himachal Pradesh Temples ) The temple dedicated to Mata Chintpurni Devi is located in a village of the same name in District Una, Himachal Pradesh. Devotees have been visiting this Shaktipeeth for centuries to pray at the lotus feet of Mata Shri Chhinnamastika Devi and Mata Shri Chintpurni Devi. They bring with them their worldly concerns and seek blessings from the Devi. It is believed that if you ask something from the Devi with a true heart, your wish will be granted.
Brajeshwari Devi Temple ..
The Brajeshwari Devi Himachal Pradesh Temples located in the old Kangra township, is said to have been built over the charred breasts of Sati. Once renowned for it's great wealth, over the ages it has been plundered relentlessly. The first of the plunderers was Mahmud of Ghazni, who looted it in 1009. A mosque was built on the ruins and a garrison was left behind. 35 years later, the local king regained its possession. The shrine was repaired and a replica of the idol was enshrined. The temple was filled with gold, silver and diamonds only to be ransacked again in 1360 by Firoz Tughlaq. Later Emperor Akbar visited the shrine with his dewan, Todar Mal and restored it to its former grandeur. The temple was razed to the ground by an earthquake in 1905, but a new one came up the very same year, thanks to the Kangra Restoration Committee.
Chamunda Devi Temple
The famous Himachal Pradesh Temples of Ma Chamunda is in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is around 10 km west of Palampur, on the Baner river. Around 400 years ago the king and a Brahmin priest prayed to Devi for permission to move the temple to some easily accessible location. Devi appeared to the priest in a dream giving her consent. She directed him to dig in a certain spot and an ancient idol would be found and that idol should be installed in the temple and worshipped as Her form.The king sent out men to bring the idol. Although they were able to locate it but were not able to lift it. Again Devi appeared to the priest in a dream. She explained that the men could not lift the holy relic because they considered it an ordinary stone. She instructed him to get up early in the morning, take a bath, wear fresh clothes and go to the place in a respectful manner. He did as he was told and found that he could easily lift what a large group of men could not. He told the people that it was the power of the Goddess that brought the idol to the temple.The temple now depicts scenes from the Devi Mahatmya, Ramayan and Mahabharata. The Devi's image is flanked by the images of Hanuman and Bhairo on either side.
BABA Baroh Temple
52 kms from Dharamshala is the temple at Baroh named as "Baba Baroh Temple". This temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and his consort Radha. This is a wonderful temple newly constructed by a religious local devotee Mr. B.R. Sharma. In this temple the idol of Goddess Durga is of metal. The entire temple is made of white marble. There is no other huge marble temple in Himachal Pradesh. There is also an ancient temple of Kali Nath Bhole Shankar near to the temple.
Baijnath & Laxmi Narayan Temple
Baijnath & Laxmi Narayan Himachal Pradesh Temples : built in 804 A.D. and dedicated to Shiva Vaidyanatha. Its tall shikhara carved in stone is framed by the imposing snow capped peaks of Dhauladhars. The linga enshrined in its sanctum is one of the 12 jyotirlingas in the country. Every year during the Shivratri fair, thousands of pilgrims descend on Baijnath for the colourful fair and festivities. It is 16-km from Palampur and 56-km from Dharamsala.
BABa Balaknath ji
Baba Balak Nath : A cave temple of Baba Balak Nath is located in Deothsidh , in the Dhaulagiri Hills of Hamirpur, is a noted place of pilgrimage. Pepole come here to seek the blessings of Baba Balak Nath all the year round. It is situated on the border of Bilaspur (70 Kms), Hamirpur (30 Kms) and is well connected by roads from all sides.
Bijli Mahadev -Hadimba Temple
Bijli Mahadev Temple
Located at an altitude of 2460 m, this fascinating temple rests on a spur, that offers some splendid views. The remarkable feature of the shrine, is a high pole or staff that periodically draws lightning, which shatters the `Shivlinga' and scorches the building. Butter is, then, used as an adhesive by the priest to put the `linga' together again.
Renukaji Temple
Renukaji Temple : It is believed that Rishi Jamdagni, displeased by his wife Renuka, instructed his son Parshuram to behead her. The son obeyed his father's wishes. Pleased at Parshuram's loyalty, the Rishi granted his son a wish, and Parshuram asked for the restoration of his mother to life.
Bhootnath Temple
Bhootnath Temple
Practically synonymous with Mandi and located in its very heart, this temple is as old as the town itself, dating back to the 1520's. It has a Nandi or god Shiva's bull facing the ornamental double arch to the sanctuary. The modern shrines nearby are brightly painted. In the month of March, the festival of Shivratri is a major event and Bhootnath Temple is its focus.
Syamakall Temple
Also known as the Tarna Devi Temple, this temple is situated on the Tarna Hill, which rises above the town. Raja Syama Sen built the temple in the 17th century after a particularly trying time when the goddess gave him success.
Raghunath Temple
Raghunath Temple: In the 17th century, Raja Jagat Singh of Kulu is said to have committed a great wrong, to atone for which, he sent a courtier to Ayodhya for a statue of Lord Raghunath - Lord Rama. He built this temple to house the image, and the shrine went on to be a popular site of worship.
Parashurama Tal and Renuka Temple
Parashurama Tal and Renuka Himachal Pradesh Temples: Located at the base of the Renuka Lake is the Parashurama Tal, a massive pool embodying, it is believed, Parashurama, who desired to spend eternity at his mother's feet. Mother and son are reunited every year at the great Renuka Fair, held on banks of the lake, in the month of November.The original temple of Renukaji, is said to have been built overnight by a contingent of Gurkhas in the early 19th century. Renuka LakeLegend has it that when the evil Sahasarjuna killed the sage Jamadagini and tried to abduct his wife Renuka, She flung herself into the water. The gods restored her to life and this like is regarded to be her embodiment. There is a row of temples along its banks, and a track encircles the waters.
Triloknath Shiva Temple
It is built in the Nagari style with a tiled roof. The temple at the centre of a group of sculpted stones shrines, overlooks the river and offers good views. Inside the temple, Lord Shiva has been depicted as the lord of the three worlds, at the Panchvakhra he has five faces, expressing his five aspects.
Bhima Kali mata temple
Bhima Kali mata Himachal Pradesh Temples highway and very near to Beas Sadan. Kali Mata is the aspect of Durga Mata and is so widely worshiped in north eastern parts of India.
Bhima kali temple is near to main Mandi Town or Mandi Bus stand and is within 1 km area from bus stand. Autos are easily available from bus stand and from town.
If you want to reach by RAIL? The nearest railway stations for Mandi District are Joginder Nagar and Shimla, Chandigarh and Kalka which are connected by regular bus services.
Himachal Pradesh Temples The family deity of the erstwhile Bushahar rulers, Bhima Kali Temple is located on the banks of the Beas River. Dedicated to goddess Bhimakali, this temple presents an architectural marvel. This beautiful temple also houses a large museum. Mythology says that this was the place where lord Krishna fought a terrific war with Banasura, the demon King. The myth further says that the head of the routed king Banasur was buried in the earth.
The land was then ruled over by the descendants of the Yadava clan and they had constructed here a magnificient temple complex in which Bhima Kali adorns the main sanctum. So many other shrines dedicated to various gods and goddess are also found their place in this complex. Apart from its serenity and structural elegance, this shrine also commands the stunning scenery of the majestic Shrikhand mountain peak.
The Golden Temple
The Harmandir Sahib (or Hari Mandir) in Amritsar, Punjab, is the holiest shrine in Sikhism. Previously (and still more commonly) known as the Golden Temple, it was officially renamed Harmandir Sahib in March 2005. The temple (or gurdwara) is a major pilgrimage destination for Sikhs from all over the world, as well as an increasingly popular tourist attraction.
Unlike many historical sacred sites, the Golden Temple of Amritsar is still fully alive with religious fervor and sacredness, and visitors are welcomed to join in the experience. Although the building itself has great historical and architectural interest, it is the Golden Temple's great spiritual meaning for Sikh believers (and others) that is most memorable to visitors. In a country that is exceptionally rich with vibrant devotion, Frommer's rates the Golden Temple "the most tangibly spiritual place in the country."
History
Construction of the Golden Temple began in 1574 on land donated by the Mughal emperor Akbar. The building project was overseen by the fourth and fifth Sikh Gurus. The temple was completed in 1601, but restoration and embellishment continued over the years. The temple had to be substantially rebuilt after it was sacked in the 1760s.
In the early 19th century, 100 kg of gold were applied to the inverted lotus-shaped dome and decorative marble was added. All this gold and marble work took place under the patronage of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The legendary warrior king was a major donor of money and materials for the shrine and is remembered with much affection by the Sikh community and Punjabi people.
In June 1984, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ordered an attack on armed Sikh militants holed up in the Golden Temple. Over 500 people were killed in the ensuing firefight, and Sikhs around the world were outraged at the desecration of their holiest site. Four months after the attack, Gandhi was assassinated by her two Sikh bodyguards, leading to a massacre followed in which thousands of Sikhs lost their lives.
The Sikh community refused to allow the central government to repair the damage to the temple, instead undertaking the work themselves. Although most of the damaged been repaired, the incident has not been forgotten. Many people in Amritsar are still anxious to explain the Sikh side of the story to visitors.
