Chamunda Devi Temple

The Chamunda Nandikeshwar Temple is located in the Kangra District, some 10 kilometres west of Palampur, on the banks of the Baner River. The god at this 16th-century temple is Chamunda Devi, a manifestation of Mata Shakti. From Kangra and Dharamshala, pilgrims can travel to the temple quickly and conveniently via public transportation buses and tourist taxis. Numerous people visit the temple because it is a well-known Hindu shrine. Because it is thought that the temple is the sacred residence of "Lord Shiva and Shakti," it is also known as Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham. The vengeful manifestation of Durga, the Goddess who may grant the desires of loyal followers, is thought to be Chamunda Devi.

Built during Maharaja Umed Singh’s times, Chamunda Devi Temple, also known as the 'Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham, is considered as one of the most well-known holy shrines of the Hindus. Dedicated to Goddess Kali, the temple is also said to be Lord Shiva's and Mata Shakti's home, and it features remarkable old-world architecture. Located on the banks of the Banganga (Baner) River in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra region, the temple is barely 10 kilometres away from the city of Palampur. The place remains crowded with devotees all year and has become one of the most visited places in Chamba.  However, Navratri season is the busiest, as thousands of devotees gather here to seek Chamunda Devi's blessings.

It belongs to the 16th-century and is an ancient masterpiece, complete with floral and animal carvings on silver sheets. It has a cave-like scoop with constructions (Lingam) portraying Nandikeshwar (Shiva) and a gushing water pool with statues of Lord Shiva and Saraswati at the backside of the temple.

1. Although the environment in Chamba is nice all year, monsoons can bring torrential rains and landslides, thus it is not suggested to be outside during storms.
2. If you plan to trek to the Chamunda Devi temple, choose comfortable clothing such as a t-shirt and shorts.
3. If you want to experience spirituality and solace at its best, schedule your vacation during the off-season.
4. On the other hand, if you want to fully participate in the festivities, go during Janmashtami or Mahashivratri.
5. Don't forget to bring back treasured Chamba specialties such as metal or wooden objects, chappals, paintings, or shawls.
6. The temple of Chamunda is located on top of the 1173-foot-tall Chamund or Chotila hill. There are 620 steps to climb in order to get to the temple.

Chamunda Devi Temple is one of the most prominent Hindu shrines, it welcomes followers throughout the year from all over India and even outside. For it being a hilly shrine, the weather here plays an essential role when you decide what the best time to visit is.

The June to October time period is relatively pleasant as afterwards, the season brings chilly and cold temperatures. Also, this season allows devotees to appreciate the grace and enthusiasm of Navratri festivities.

During the festivals, the temple gets adorned with colourful lights and flowers and receives thousands of followers from all over the country who gather for  the shower of Goddess’s blessings.