Naina Devi Temple

Aptly called the Abode of the Gods or the Dev Bhoomi, Himachal Pradesh is home to a number of ancient temples. The Hindu shrines here draw both domestic and international tourists during the festivals. Naina Devi Temple is one such Hindu shrine in the state situated in the Bilaspur district. It is located on a hilltop that offers views of scenic landscape as well. The nearby Gobind Sagar Lake is another popular place of visit for the tourists apart from this temple.

Background of Naina Devi Temple

A Gurjar shepherd built the Naina Devi Temple that is one among the 51 Shakti Peeths in the country. According to Hindu mythology, Sati killed herself after her father insulted her husband, Lord Shiva. Enraged, Shiva performed Tandav (dance of wrath) and Lord Vishnu dismembered her body that fell at different places across India. This temple site in Bilaspur is said to be the place where the eyes of the devi fell.

Pilgrims gather here for the annual festivals of Navratri and Savana to seek blessing of goddess Durga, a manifestation of Sati. It is open to devotees on other days from 4:30am to 9:30pm. Over the years, it emerged as an important pilgrimage center and a sacred site.

Architecture of Naina Devi Temple

Naina Devi temple reflects the north Indian style of temple architecture in Himachal Pradesh. The entrance has idols of Lord Hanuman and Lord Ganesha flanked on the right side. The main shrine houses idols of three deities - goddess Kali, Naina Devi and Lord Ganesha. A huge peepal tree, believed to be centuries old, is a prominent part of this temple's complex.

How to Reach Naina Devi Temple

This temple is situated on the Shivalik ranges and pilgrims need to walk up to the hilltop covering a distance of 2 km on foot. By road, it is well connected with the National Highway 21. The nearest airport is at Chandigarh, around 100 km from here. There are regular flight services from Delhi and other major cities of India. Distance from the Kiratpur Sahib to this temple is around 30 km. There are state transport buses plying from Punjab.

From the Naina Devi bus stand, tourists and pilgrims can choose between two ways of getting to the shrine. They can avail of a ropeway or board palkis that are carried by men.

For more information on temples of Himachal Pradesh, browse through indianholiday.com