12 Best Pilgrimage sites in Himachal Pradesh

At a distance of 42 km from Kullu, 61 km from Naggar and 80 km from Manali, Manikaran is located in Parvati Valley between the rivers Beas and Parvati in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. It lies at an altitude of 1760 m. Manikaran is famous for hot water springs, Ramchandra Temple and a Gurudwara. It is a top pilgrimage site and among the best Kullu & Manali tourist places.

According to legend, Manikaran is associated with Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Once while roaming through the valley, Shiva and Parvati came across the place called Manikaran and they decided to stay for some time. During their stay here, Goddess Parvati lost her Mani (precious stones) in the waters of a stream. Upset over the loss, she asked Shiva to retrieve it. Lord Shiva commanded his attendant to find the Mani for Parvati. However, when they failed he was extremely angry. He opened his third eye. An appeal was made before the serpent god, Sheshnag, to pacify Lord Shiva. Sheshnag hissed thereby giving rise to a flow of boiling water. The water spread over the entire area resulting in the emergence of precious stones of the type Goddess Parvati had lost. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were happy at the outcome. The water of hot springs here is considered auspicious.

Manikaran is also a pilgrimage centre for Sikhs. The Guru Nanak Devji Gurudwara also known as Manikaran ...

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At a distance of 26 km from Kullu, and 60 km from Manali, Bijli Mahadev is a Hindu temple situated at Chansari village near Kullu. It is one of the sacred temples in Himachal, and among the top religious places to visit in Kullu.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Bijli Mahadev temple is situated on Mathan Hill at an altitude of about 2,460 m and is surrounded by Parvati, Garsa, Bhuntar, and Kullu hills. The temple is renowned for its 60 feet high flagpole that sparkles like a silver needle in the sunlight. This high structure draws divine blessings in the form of lightening and it is said that with every flash of lightening, the Shiva Linga is shattered to pieces. The broken pieces of the Shiva Linga were bound together by the temple priest using butter and Sattoo (a paste of roasted gram and wheat powder). This activity repeats itself once every year. It is due to this legend that the temple is named Bijli (lightening) Mahadev.

The Temple was built in Pahari style. There is an impressively carved image of Nandi at the entrance of Bijli Mahadev temple. The temple doors are also beautifully carved with sculptures. Some puja articles are available inside the temple without any additional cost. The surroundings of the temple are quite scenic as the temple is situated on top of the Mathan hill. The site offers a panoramic view of the Kullu and Parvati ...

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At a distance of 41 km from Kullu, 30 km from Mandi and 80 km from Manali, Hanogi Mata Temple is a well known religious centre of Kullu that lies on the Mandi-Manali National Highway 3.

The temple is dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Hango Mata. The location of this temple is quite picturesque as it is positioned on the top of a small peak; green mountains serve as a backdrop for the temple and a stream flowing below makes this temple a stunning attraction.

Not only religious belief allures the tourists to this place but its great location is also one of the reasons for catching the attention of visitors. The view from temple is really very scenic and marvelous.

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At a distance of 60 km from Kullu, 65 km from Mandi and 6.5 km from Banjar, Shringa Rishi Temple is situated at Baggi village in Banjar valley.

The Shringa Rishi Temple (or Shringi Rishi Temple) is an important religious center for the locals. The temple of Shringi Rishi is considered very sacred by locals and they believe that this deity is one which protects them. Shringi Rishi is one among the eighteen chief deities of Kullu valley.

This temple is dedicated to sage Rishyasringa, who was the legendary saint of Kashyapa's lineage. Shringi Rishi was great saint of the Ramayana era and his father was saint Vibhandak Rishi. Shringi Rishi performed Putrakameshti Yagna for King Dashrath of Ayodhya, after that Lord Rama and his three brothers were born. Shringi Rishi is the ruling deity of Banjar valley. Here Rishi is popularly known as Skirni Deo. This temple has been reconstructed in 2008.

Once a year, in the month of May, thousands of pilgrims come here every year to pay homage to Lord Shringa. During rest of the year the place remains inaccessible due to thickly covered snow.

This place needs a short walk for 10 minutes from the main road.

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At a distance of 165 km from Shimla, Bhimakali Temple is a Hindu temple located at Sarahan in Himachal Pradesh. It is one of the popular places of pilgrimage in Himachal Pradesh, and among the must-include places in Shimla Trip.

Bhimakali Temple in Sarahan is 800 years old and it is regarded as one of the 51 sacred Shakti peethas. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga known locally as Bhimakali. This is one of the popular pilgrimage sites near Chandigarh. The present Bhimakali Temple is a new one, built-in 1927. The old temple nearby has a fascinating story to it. It got tilted slightly in the 1905 earthquake and then miraculously straightened back with a subsequent tremor. It is said that the foundations of this temple are very deep and that there is a disused tunnel that connects this to the village of Ranwin, a kilometer away. Priests would enter and leave the temple through this secret passage.

According to one legend, during Daksha Yagna, the Ear of Sati Devi fell here when Lord Vishnu cut the pieces of her body carried by heartbroken Lord Shiva. Other legend states that this area was under the rule of a Demon called Banasura, the great-grandson of king Prahlad an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. Due to the Usha-Anirudh affair, Lord Krishna fought here with him, and in this battle, Lord ...

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At a distance of 91 km from Mandi, Shikari Devi Temple is a Hindu shrine located near Janjehli in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. It is one of the popular places of pilgrimage in Himachal and among the must-visit Mandi tourist places.

Situated at an elevation of 3359 m, the Shikari Devi temple is located atop Sikhari Devi Peak, the highest peak in the Mandi district. It is believed that the temple has been existing since the time of Mahabharata. The temple is dedicated to Shikari Devi, the Goddess of hunters. In the archaic days, the hunters or shikaris of the region would worship the Goddess in the temple to seek blessings for a successful hunt. Hence, the temple got its name, Shikari Devi. Besides, the temple also has a great significance in the holy book Markandeya Purana as sage Markandeya is believed to have meditated in this beautiful temple. This is one of the prominent pilgrimage sites near Delhi.

The temple is on a flat cemented square platform and the goddess is idolized in the form of a stone image. The most interesting fact about Shikari Devi Temple is that this temple does not have a roof as no one has ever been able to build a roof over the top of this temple. It has been observed that even though the temple has no roof, no snow is spotted inside the temple during winters when the entire region around this ...

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At a distance of 12 km from Joginder Nagar, 66 km from Dharamshala, and 68 km from Mandi, Bir is a village located in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. It is rightfully considered the heaven for Paragliding and among the must-visit places for adventure enthusiasts as part of Mandi holiday packages.

Bir Billing is famous as the Paragliding capital of the world and attracts paraglider pilots from all over the world. The first Paragliding World Cup of India was hosted in Bir Billing in the year 2015. Since then, the village continues to host periodic international competitions and events. The paragliding launch site is in the meadow at Billing (14 km north of Bir), at an elevation of 2400 m, while the landing site and most tourist accommodations are in the village of Chowgan on the southern edge of Bir. The flying season is from September to October, with some flying also done in November. It is one of the best adventurous places near Delhi, and Chandigarh as well.

One of the major places of sightseeng in Mandi, Bir Billing is also famed for its soulful Tibetian monasteries set amidst scenic and peaceful settings. There is a sizable community of Tibetan refugees in the village, especially at the Bir Tibetan Colony. And among all the monasteries between Mandi and Kangra, ...

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At a distance of 7 km from Rohanda, and 46 km from Mandi, Kamru Nag Lake is a sacred lake located in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. Situated at the top of the mountain ridge of Kamru valley, it is one of the popular places of pilgrimage in Himachal and among the best places to visit in Mandi.

Situated at an average height of 3,334 m, Kamrunag is known for the oval-shaped lake built by Bhima, the Pandava brother, in honor of the King of Yakshas who finds a mention in the Mahabharata. There is a temple dedicated to Dev Kamrunag, the rain god, near the lake. Due to its closeness to the Kamrunag Temple, the ancient lake has been named after it.

There is a tradition of offering gold, silver, and coins of other metals in the lake by devotees on the fulfillment of their wishes by Dev Kamrunag. Over a period of time, uncountable wealth has gathered inside the lake. Just like no one knows what lies inside the mysterious Vault B of Padmanabhaswamy Temple of Trivandrum, no one dares to ascertain the exact wealth lying at the lake bed. There have been attempts by thieves to rob off the lake of its underlying wealth, but the efforts have gone in vain, by the ire of the guardian deities, as believed by the locals.

Amidst the beautiful Balh Valley and Dhauladhar Range, the Kamrunag Lake is an oasis for a spiritually-parched soul. For nature lovers, the sights surrounding this lake are like a treat to the sore eyes. Every year a three day fair is held at this place in ...

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At a distance of 22 km from Barot, 20 km from Joginder Nagar, and 70 km from Mandi Bus Station, Dehnasar Lake is a high-altitude freshwater lake located in Himachal Pradesh. Situated in Barot valley, it is one of the sacred lakes in Himachal Pradesh and among the popular places of trekking as part of Mandi Tour Packages.

Lies at an altitude of 4,280 m (14,040 ft), Dehnasar Lake, or Dansar Lake is one of the highest lakes in the Dhauladhar range of Himalayas. The lake is situated on the foothills of Ghora Lotnu Peak and derives its water from melted snow. Surrounded by big rocks from all the sides, the lake has a circumference of about 800 m and lies frozen under a thick coat of snow during winters.

Like other lakes of Himalayas, it holds religious importance to people. According to the myth, goddess Parvati said to visit the lake to take a holy bath in the lake in the Bhadrapada month of the Hindu calendar, which generally falls in August or September. It is also believed that whoever preaches sun god while standing in the water gets their wishes fulfilled, so many pilgrims come to this high altitude lake just in the hope that their wishes will be fulfilled.

The trek to this holy lake starts from Luhardi or Lohardi which is about 8 km from Barot. One can reach Lohardi by his own vehicle or public transport too. This moderately difficult, 14 km, uphill trek via Polling opens after June and closes after September. It is the most commonly used and shortest route ...

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At a distance of 97 km from Shimla & 84 km from Kufri, Hatkoti Temples are located in Hatkoti village of Jubbal. The Hatkoti temples are a group of temples located on the scenic banks of River Jabbar. Hatkoti is one of the popular pilgrimage places in Himachal Pradesh.

The Hatkoti Temple is an abode of goddess Mahishasurmardini, an incarnation of Goddess Durga. The statue of the goddess is 1.2 m in height and made of eight precious metals. The idol depicts the goddess with ten arms, riding a lion, carrying weapons and slaying the demon Mahishasura. There is an inscription on both sides of the idol that no one has been able to decode so far.

The complex also has a separate temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temples also boast of five idols, which ideally represent the five Pandava brothers of the Mahabharata period. These idols are arranged in accordance to their size with the first one being the largest.

According to the history, Hatkoti temples date back to the period between the sixth to the ninth century, the Gupta period in Indian history. The temples reflect the beautiful architecture of that era. The architecture and design of Hatkoti Temple was originally in the classical Shikhara or tower style. The Shikhara style represents ancient structures that are conical or narrow at the top and have a wide base at the bottom. The walls of the temples are carved with ornate sculptures and speak volumes of the architectural ...

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