Hadimba Temple

Hadimba Devi Temple, also known as the Hadimba Temple, is located in Manali, a hill station in the State of Himachal Pradesh in north India. It is an ancient cave temple dedicated to Hadimba Devi, sister of Hidimb, who was a character in the Indian epic, Mahabharata. The temple is surrounded by a cedar forest at the foot of the Himalayas. The sanctuary is built over a huge rock jutting out of the ground, which was worshiped as an image of the deity. The structure was built in the year 1553.

History:
The story follows Pandavas when they unconsciously crossed the territory of Hadimb Rakshash (evils), while looking for food and shelter. They were attacked but managed to survived. Here Bhima, one of the Pandava brothers fell in love with Hadimba, evil’s sister and asked her to marry him. However she could only marry him after her brother’s death. In a fight, Bhima succeeds in killing her brother and later marries her. After living there for more than a year he asks her to leave the place with him to rejoin with the rest of his family. However, Hadimba decides to stays back. After her husband leaves, she started praying and meditating for the next several years, which blessed her with supernatural god gifted powers, which she used to treat people. Thus, she became a goddess and the temple in her name was erected.
This place has a lot to offer. It not just gives you the divine religious experience but the serine 360 views of the surrounding landscape is just astonishing. The morning is the best time to visit this temple.

Fact:
Inside the temple there is an imprint of the Goddess’s feet that is carved on a block of a silver stone. This is one of the most prominent aspects about this temple however the really amazing fact about this place is if you log onto Google satellite image of Manali and zoom in on the Doongri forest where this temple is situated, you can see a vague but noticeable figure of a giant foot spread across the whole valley. It is just magnificent and magical to see that from your own eyes.
So while you are there do not forget to sit down and enjoy the calmness all around. Go with an open mind inside the temple and you will feel a powerful positive energy around which many claim is the healing power of Goddess Hadimba reaching out to you.

The temple is also known for a fair held every year in Hindi month of Sravan in the memory of Raja Bahadur Singh, who built the temple. The fair is popularly known as Bahadur Singh Re Jatar among locals. There is another fair too which is held on 14th May each year in the celebration of birthday of Hadimba Devi. Women around and from Dhungri forest come and celebrates this fair with music and dance.