The state of Himachal Pradesh in the northern India is a tourist hotspot. With its wide range of locations for sightseeing, trekking, mountaineering, fishing, river rafting, skiing, paragliding and ice skating, the temples of Himachal Pradesh also form an important aspect of the state. Nicknamed as the "Abode of Gods", the state has numerous temples that attracts tourists and facilitates tourism. Discussed elaborately below are some of the most important and popular temples of Himachal Pradesh:
Narvadeshwar Temple
Narvadeshwar Temple is located in Tira Sujanpur in the district of Hamirpur. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati. It was established in the year 1802 by Rani Prasanna Devi, the wife of Maharaja Sansar Chand. The noteworthy aspects of this temple are the Bhitti style of architecture, paintings and murals.
Chamunda Devi Temple
Chamunda Devi Temple is situated about 10 km from Palampur in Kangra District. This temple is dedicated to Chamunda Devi, who is the mother goddess of the people of Himachal Pradesh. Within the temple complex is a cave shrine that shelters a Shiva Lingam under a boulder. The temple is believed to be more than 400 years old and besides a water pool, overflowing with the stream water, are statues of Lord Shiva and Goddess Saraswati.
Bil Kaleshwar Temple
Bil Kaleshwar Temple is located on Nadaun- Sujanpur road at the confluence of River Beas and Kunah Khad. This temple is almost 400 years old and is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is represented in the temple in the form of Shiva Lingam.
Jhaku Temple
Jhaku Temple is located in Shimla at a height of about 8500 ft. This temple serves as a home to an elephantine statue of Lord Hanuman. More specifically, this figure has a height of about 108 ft and is a major attraction in Shimla.
Hidimba Temple
Hidimba Temple is situated in Manali and is dedicated to Hidimba Devi, who is recognized as the wife of Pandava, Bhima. This temple was constructed around a cave amidst a thick forest. It is considered to be one of the most famous temples of Manali and is a popular tourist attraction.
Bhimkali Temple
Bhimkali Temple is located in Sarahan which is at distance of about 180 km from Shimla. This wooden temple, which presents a unique combination of the Buddhist and Hindu temples, is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas of India. The intricate wood carvings of this temple draw the attention of tourists.
Panch Vakreta Temple
Panch Vakreta Temple is situated in Mandi at the confluence of Beas and Suketi Rivers. It has a five faced image of Lord Shiva. This temple is a fine representation of the Shikhara style of architecture. The Archeological Survey of India has named it a national heritage monument.
Baba Balaknath Temple
Another of the popular temples of Himachal Pradesh, the Baba Balaknath temple is a cave temple situated in the Chakmoh district. This cave temple is carved out of a rock and dedicated to Baba Balaknath, who was a great devotee of the Hindu deity Lord Shiva. Tourists throng to this temple, especially during the time of Navratri, which is celebrated with much enthusiasm.
Jwalamukhi Temple
Also known as Jwalaji, the Jwalamukhi Temple is situated to the south of the Kangra Valley and is dedicated to the Hindu Goddess, Jwalamukhi, deity with a blazing mouth. One of the noted attractions of the place is a copper pipe, out of which flames emerge. There are nine similar flames in the chamber of the temple, named after different goddesses including Mahakali, Unpurna, Chandi, Hinglaj, Bindhya Basni, Maha Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ambika and Anji Devi.
Other than these, some of the other popular temples of Himachal Pradesh are the Chintpurni Temple, Maa Sharvari Temple, Vashisht Temple etc.
