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Hadimba Devi Temple, Manali
Hidimba Devi · Manali, Himachal Pradesh
॥ ॐ दुं दुर्गायै नमः ॥
The Hadimba Devi Temple at Manali is a 16th-century wooden pagoda shrine set in a grove of ancient deodars, dedicated to Hidimba, the demoness of the Mahabharata who married Bhima and became the mother of the hero Ghatotkacha. Built in 1553 around a cave with a sacred rock, its tiered wooden tower and carved doorway make it one of the loveliest temples of the Himalaya.
The goddess of the Mahabharata
Hidimba was a rakshasi of the forests who fell in love with Bhima during the Pandavas’ exile, married him and bore the mighty Ghatotkacha. After Bhima left, she is said to have remained in the mountains in meditation, and the hill people of Kullu came to revere her as a goddess, the guardian of the valley.
A pagoda in the deodars
The temple, built in 1553 by Raja Bahadur Singh, rises in the kath-kuni manner of timber and stone as a four-tiered wooden pagoda, crowned by a brass cone, around a cave that holds the natural rock worshipped as the goddess. Its doorway is carved with figures and motifs, and it stands amid towering deodar cedars in the Dhungri forest above Manali.
The Dhungri fair
The Dhungri Mela, held in May, is the temple’s great festival, when the people of Kullu honour the goddess with music and dance, and the shrine in its forest fills with devotees. Hidimba is closely tied to the royal house of Kullu and to the famous Kullu Dussehra, and her temple is the most visited in Manali.
How to reach the temple
- By road: the temple is in the Dhungri forest, about 2 km from the Mall in Manali.
- By train: Joginder Nagar is the nearest (narrow-gauge) railhead; Chandigarh is the nearest broad-gauge station.
- By air: Bhuntar (Kullu) airport is about 50 km away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Hadimba Devi?
Hadimba (Hidimba) is the demoness of the Mahabharata who married Bhima and bore the hero Ghatotkacha; the hill people of Kullu revere her as a goddess and guardian of the valley.
When was the temple built?
It was built in 1553 by Raja Bahadur Singh, around a cave holding a sacred rock worshipped as the goddess.
What is special about its architecture?
It is a four-tiered wooden pagoda in the kath-kuni style of timber and stone, with a carved doorway, set amid ancient deodar cedars — one of the loveliest temples of the Himalaya.
What is the Dhungri Mela?
It is the temple’s great festival, held in May, when the people of Kullu honour the goddess with music and dance in the forest shrine.
Where is the temple?
It is in the Dhungri forest, about 2 km from the Mall in Manali, Himachal Pradesh.
How do I reach the temple?
It is about 2 km from central Manali; Bhuntar (Kullu) airport is about 50 km away and Chandigarh the nearest major railhead.
॥ जय हिडिम्बा देवी ॥ • Bhaktiras.net Temple Guide
| Deity | Hidimba Devi (wife of Bhima) |
| Built | 1553, Raja Bahadur Singh |
| Architecture | Kath-kuni wooden pagoda; carved doorway |
| Setting | Dhungri deodar forest, Manali |
| Festival | Dhungri Mela (May) |
| Region | Kullu, Himachal Pradesh |