Historical places in Himachal Pradesh

Hidimba Devi Temple

This temple is also known as Dhungri Temple, situated in Manāli, one of the most
beautiful historical place in Himāchal Pradesh It is an ancient cave temple devoted
to Hidimba Devi, spouse of Bhima, a character of Indian epic Mahābhārata. The temple
is covered by a cedar forest called Dhungri Van Vihar at the foot of the Himālayas. The

sanctuary is built over a big rock jutting out of the ground which was worshiped as an

image of the deity. The architecture was built in 1553.

The Hadimba devi temple was constructed in 1553 AD by Maharaja Bahadur Singh.The

temple is built around a cave where Devi Hadimba observed meditation. Hidimbi was

supposed to have lived there with her real brother Hidimb, and not enough is known

about their parents. Born into a Rakshasa family, Hidimba affirm to marry one who

would defeat her brother Hidimb, who was supposed to be very brave, strong and

fearless. During the Pandavas displacement, when they visited to Manali , Bhima

(one of the five Pandavas) killed Hidimb. Thereafter, Hidimba married Bhima and they

had a son, named Ghatotkacha.

People in Manali worship Hidimba devi as a idol. During Navratri all Hindus crosswise

the nation worship goddess Durga, but people in Manali worship their own goddess

Hidimba devi. No. of people can be seen outside the temple, but the crowd increases

too much during Navratri.The Indian epic Mahabharata described that the Pāndavas

stayed in Himachal during their exile. In Manali, the powerful person there, brother of

Hidimba, attacked them and in the ensuing attack Bhima,most strongest amongst the

Pandavas, killed him. Bhima and Hidimba, then got married and had a son named

Ghatotkacha, (who later proved to be a great fighter in the war against Kauravas). When

Bhima and his siblings returned from exile, Hidimbi did not followed him, but stood back

and did tapasyā (a combination of . penance ,meditation,and prayer ) so as to ultimately
attain the status of a goddess.

Hidimba Devi temple

KEY MONASTERY, SPITI

Key monastery  is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery situated on top of a hill at an elevation

of 4,166 metres (13,668 ft) above sea level, and very close to the Spiti River, in the Spiti

Valley of Himachal Pradesh,district Lahaul and Spiti, India.It is the oldest and biggest

monastery of Spiti Valley and a religious training centre for Llamas. It reportedly had

100 monks in 1850. It is one of the best historical places.

Key monastery said to have been organized by Dromtön , a learner of the most famous

teacher, Atisha in the 11th century. This may however mention to a now destroyed

Kadampa monastery at the nearby town of Rangrik, which was apparently destroyed

in the 14th century when the Sakya sect rose to power with Mongol assistance.

Key monastery was assaulted again by the Mongols during the 17th century, during the

rule of the Fifth Dalai Lama, and became a Gelugpa organization. In 1830, it was

terminated again during the wars amidst Ladakh and Kullu. In 1841, it was badly damaged

by the Dogra army under Rahim Khan and Ghulam Khan. Later in that same year, it

experience more damage from a Sikh army. In the 1840s, it was destroy by fire and, in

1975, a extreme earthquake caused further damage which was repaired with the help of

the Archaeological Survey of India and the State Public Works Department.

The surrounding walls of the monastery are covered with murals and paintings, an model

of the 14th century monastic architecture, which developed as the result of Chinese force.

Key monastery has a collection of ancient books and murals , including Buddha pictures.

There are 3 floors, the first floor is underground and used for storing. One room, called the

Tangyur is sumptuously painted with murals. The ground floor has the amazing decorated

Assembly Hall and cells for many monks.

Key monastery now belongs to the Gelugpa sect, along with Dhankar monastery and

Tabo Monastery one of the 3 monasteries in Spiti."The monastery of Key, for occurrence,

shelter nearly 300 monks, who lives within the sacred walls in winter, and stays in the time

of summer with their parents or brothers employing in the fields or in carrying travellers

goods. These monasteries have their common heads, or rector, and the higher clerical

titles can only be obtained by the candidates proceeding in person to either Lhasa or

Shigatzee (Shigatse).A celebration of its prosperity was conducted in 2000 in the

presence of the Dalai Lama. A new worship Hall was inaugurated on 3 August 2000 by the

14th Dalai Lama. It was bestowed through a tableau in the 69th Republic Day celebration

held at Delhi.

Key Monastery, Spiti

BHIMAKALI TEMPLE

Shri Bhima Kali Temple is a temple situated in Sarahan , Himachal Pradesh .This temple

is dedicated to the mother goddess Bhimakali, presiding divinity of the rulers of former

Bushahr State. The temple is placed about 180 km from Shimla, The capital city and is

one of the 51 Shakti Peethas. The town Sarahan is known as the gateway or entrance

of Kinnaur. Downward below at a distance of 7 km from Sarahan is the Satluj River.

Sarahan is identified with name Sonitpur mentioned in Puranas.

According to a legend, the indication of the goddess is reported to the Daksha-Yajna

incident when the ear of the Goddess Sati fell at this place and became a place of

worship as a Pithasthan.Currently in the form of a virgin the icon of this abiding goddess

is consecrated at the top storey of the new building. Below that floor the goddess as

Parvati, the daughter of Himalaya is hold as sacred as a divine consort of Lord Siva.
Lord Shri Raghunathji, Narsinghji and Patal Bhairva Ji , the guardian deity.

Sarahan was the capital of emperor of former Bushahr State. Bushahr dynasty earlier

used to mastery the state from Kamroo. Later the capital of state  was shifted to

Sonitpur.Raja Ram Singh made Rampur as the capital. It is true that the country of

Kinnaur was the Kailash mentioned in Puranas, the place of Shiva. With its capital at

Sonitpur this former royal state was extended up to entire area of Kinnaur where for

sometimes Lord Shiva unrecognized himself as Kirata.Sonitpur is known as Sarahan

now. Banasur the enthusiastic devotee of Lord Siva, eldest among the one hundred

sons of great erode demon King Bali and the great grandson of Vishnu votary Prahlad,

during the Puranic age was the ruler of this royal state.

Bhimakali Temple, Sarahan.

NALAGARH

Nalagarh is a municipal committee and beautiful city in Solan district in the Indian state

of Himachal Pradesh. It was the seat of the eponymous Rajput royal state, established

in medieval period as the state of Hindur.Currently Nalagarh is an emerging town for

industries as it hosts production units for leather, steel, chemicals, thread mills and

breweries ,thus air pollution is entirely a concern here. It is located a distance of 65 km

rom nearby main city Chandigarh. It has further been diminished to about 40 km after

the opening of new Chandigarh Siswan road.

Nalagarh is a gateway to beautiful state Himachal Pradesh . From Chandigarh it is 60 km

and from Delhi it is 300 km.It was established by the Chandela Rajputs in 1100 AD under

the name Hindur. The Fort of Nalagarh was built in 1421 during the reign of Raja Bikram

Chand on a small hill at the foothills of the mighty Himalayas, affording a bird's eye view

of the Shivalik hills beyond the Sirsa river, hence gave its name to the state, which further

enjoyed indirect rule all along the British Raj as a non-salute state.

In the early 20th century, Nalagarh State was one of the Simla hill states under Punjab

government. The country was invaded by the Gurkhas for some years before 1815, when

they were compelled out by the British, and the king was confirmed in ownership of the

territory. In the past main agricultural products were Grain and opium.

Nalagarh was administered by the Chandel Rajputs, who created from Chanderi in the

Bundelkhand region of central India. So many other Rajputs then inhabited this place

including Rathore, Parmar, Pawar, Panwar, Chauhan,Thakurs, Tomara,Bais. Many of

now stayed back as farmers in the Chikni Sirsa Valley. Nalagarh Fort encircled by endless

acres of greenery, with all modern amenities is an ideal retreat away from the frantic crowd

of metropolitan cities.Nalagarh is a Semi-Hilly Area, Where the summers are hot and

Winters are Dry and wet. Summers temperature does reach 45-46 degrees Celsius also

it could be Humid, Which Make "Feel Temperature" at 48-50 degrees Celsius. During rainy

season strong breezes are experienced.Nalagarh tangibly belongs to Himachal Pradesh

but Look and feel of it is mostly like Punjab. More than 85% people are Punjabi here. It is

a town Which is nearest to Pinjore in Haryana, and to Ropar in Punjab. The normal annua

l rainfall is 600mm. During the year 2007 it has increases to 1250 mm.

Nalagarh Fort.

CHAMUNDA DEVI TEMPLE

Chamunda also calls Chamundi, Chamundeshwari, Charchika and Rakta Kali is alarming

aspect of Devi, the Hindu holy Mother and one of the seven Matrikas the mother goddesses.

It is one of the best historical place in Himachal Pradesh, it has its own beautiful story pg

goddess Chamunda Devi. She is also one of the most important Yoginis, a group of eighty

one Tantric goddesses, who are aide of the warrior goddess Durga. The name is a combo

of Chanda and Munda, these two monsters were killed.She is closely colleague with Kali,

another violent aspect of Devi. She is labelled with goddesses Parvati, Chandi or Durga as

well.The goddess is often imitate as haunting cremation grounds or fig trees. The goddess

is worshipped by ceremony animal sacrifices along with offerings of wine and in the ancient

times, human sacrifices were present too. Originally a racial goddess, Chamunda was

absorb mentally in Hinduism and later entered the Jain pantheon too. Though in Jainism

the ceremony of her worship include only vegetarian offerings excluding meat and liquor

offerings.Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar says that Chamunda was initially a tribal goddess,

honor by the tribals of the Vindhya Mountains in central India. These tribes were known to

offer goddesses animal as well as human sacrifices including ritual offerings of liquor. These

methods of worship were kept in Tantric worship of Chamunda, after absorption in Hinduism.

He proposes the violent nature of this goddess is due of her association with Vedic Rudra

identified with fire god Agni At times.It is best historical place to visit in Himachal.

The red or black coloured Chamunda is described as wearing a wreath of severed heads or

skulls (Mundamala). She is define as having 4,8,10 or 12 arms, holding a drum in hands, sword,
thunderbolt,trishula,a snake,skull-mace, a severed head and skull cup filled with blood

or panapatra (drinking vessel wine cup).Standing on a dead body of a man or seated on a

defeated demon or corpse. Chamunda is describe adorned by ornaments of skulls,bones

and serpents. She also use a Yajnopavita (a sacred thread worn by mostly Hindu priests)

of skulls. She wears a jata mukuta that is hat formed of piled,tangled hair tied with snakes

or skull ornaments. Sometimes a sickle-shaped moon is seen on her head.Her eye sockets

are defined as burning the world with flames. She is escort by evil spirits.She is also shown

to be covered by skeletons or ghosts and beasts like jackals, who are shown eating the beef

of the corpse which the goddess sits or stands on.

Chamunda devi temple.

KAMRU FORT

Kamru is a beautiful village located in the Sangla Valley district Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh

India. It is 2,700 m above the sea level. The village Kamru is an ancient capital of the

Bushahr principate. It is especially known for the tower-like fort at its highest point, which

was made by 5 Pandavas thousands of year ago during their reign.Inside the fort it is says

, there are about 36 crore (360,000,000) gods and goddess. There is also altar to Kamakhya

Devi inside the campus of fort which was brought there so many years ago from Assam. It

is about 2 km from the beautiful hilly town of Sangla it is situated on the foot of Kinner-

Kailash (House of Lord Shiva).According to a tradition, fort there is around 36 crore

(360,000,000) gods and goddess residing in the fort.

The Kamru Fort is located at an altitude of 2600 m above the sea level at 229 km from the

Capital city Shimla and 2 km from the tourist town Sangla Valley. It is located in the charming

location of the Sangla Valley and is entered through a series of gates. At the main entrance

gate of this fort is a huge image of Lord Buddha that welcomes you. There is also a beautiful

wooden balcony at the top of this fort along with an deity of Kamakhya Devi installed in its

third floor.It is one of the best historical places in Kinnaur, Himachal.

This deity of Kamakhya Devi is said to have been brought from Guwahati. There is also a
Badrinath Temple situated within the campus of this Kamru Fort that dates back to the 15th
century. There is also famous fair held in the place to honour the main deity of the temple.
During this fair the deity of the temple is taken to Gangotri which is the origin of River Ganges.

Kamru Fort