Tara Devi Temple, Shimla - Timings, History, Best Time to Visit
#7 of 54 Places to Visit in Shimla
Distance (From Shimla Railway Station): 17 Kms
Trip Duration (Including Travel): 2 Hours
Place Location: Near Shogi On Shimla - Kalka Highway
Transportation Options: Cab / Auto
Travel Tips: If you would like to experience Toy Train while visiting Tara Devi Temple, you an catch the train from Shimla to Shogi (13 km), take auto/bus to Tara Devi Temple (4 km) and return back to Shimla by bus/cab.
Kalka to Shimla Train Timings - 4 AM, 5.10 AM, 5.30 AM, 6 AM & 12.10 PM (Duration to Shogi is around 1 Hr)
At a distance of 17 km from Shimla Railway Station, Tara Devi Temple is situated near Shogi village on Shimla - Kalka National Highway. Known for its breathtaking location and beautiful valleys around the hill, the temple is one of the top pilgrimage sites in Shimla.
The Temple is dedicated to Goddess Tara (goddess of stars) and stands on Tara Devi hilltop lies at an altitude of 1851 m above sea level between Shimla and Shoghi. The lush green environs surrounding it give the temple a very peaceful and tranquil atmosphere. It is one of the famous places for sightseeing in Shimla.
According to the legend, Goddess Tara Devi's idol was brought to Himachal Pradesh from West Bengal. The history of this temple dates back to about 250 years when this temple was built here. Hundreds of years ago a king from the Sen Dynasty visited this area. He was in the habit of carrying his family idol around the upper torso of his arm. While hunting in the dark and dense forests of Juggar, he forgot his path. Because of tiredness he fell asleep and dreamt that his family deity Ma Tara and her consorts Dwarpal Bhairav and Lord Hanuman requested him to unveil them before the people. The king donated 50 bighas of land and sponsored the construction of the Tara Devi temple. Inside the temple, a wooden idol of the Goddess was installed as per Vaishnav traditions.
Later on, Raja Balbir Sen of the same dynasty had a dream in which the Goddess expressed her desire to be installed on the hilltop of Tarav Parvat. King Balbir Sen commissioned the 'Ashtdhatu' (mix of eight metals) deity enshrined here in 1825. The Sen dynasty of the erstwhile Keonthal State till date is carrying on with the age-old tradition of worshipping their family deity Maa Tara on Ashtami during Shardiya Navratras each year when a fair is also held on the same day in the temple complex. Wrestling is an age-old tradition of this fair every year.
The location of the temple on the hilltop makes it appear that the goddess seems to keep everyone under the protective gaze, showering innumerable blessings on her worshippers From here one can get a panoramic view of Shimla and snow-clad Himalayan range on one side with the other side revealing the plains at a far distance as part of Shimla sightseeing packages.
There are big precessions and celebrations held at the temple during the Navaratri and Ashtami.
Timings: 7 AM to 6.30 PM
