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Tara Devi Temple, Shimla
Goddess Tara · Hilltop Shrine · Himachal Pradesh
॥ ॐ ह्रीं स्त्रीं हुं फट् ॥
The Tara Devi Temple crowns a forested hill on the outskirts of Shimla, a shrine to the goddess Tara — the star-goddess and one of the great Mahavidyas — brought, by tradition, from Bengal some two and a half centuries ago. Set among deodar woods with wide views over the Himalaya, it is one of the most loved hill shrines around the old summer capital.
The star-goddess on the hill
Tara, whose name means “star” and “she who carries across,” is one of the ten Mahavidyas, the great forms of the Mother, especially revered in eastern India. The temple on Tara Parvat enshrines her image at the summit, and devotees climb through the deodar forest to seek her protection.
Brought from Bengal
Tradition holds that the worship of Tara was brought to this hill by the Sen rulers, who carried the goddess from Bengal and established her shrine here, some two hundred and fifty years ago. The present temple, rebuilt over time, keeps that eastern devotion alive in the western hills.
A shrine in the deodar woods
The hilltop is wrapped in old cedar forest, and the climb — by road or by a forest path — rewards the pilgrim with cool air and far Himalayan views. Navaratri is the great festival, when the hill fills with devotees, while the rest of the year the shrine is a peaceful retreat near Shimla.
How to reach Tara Devi
- By road: the temple is about 11 km from Shimla on the Shimla–Kalka road, with a hill road to the summit.
- By train: Tara Devi has a station on the Kalka–Shimla narrow-gauge railway.
- By air: Shimla (Jubbarhatti) airport is the nearest; Chandigarh is the larger airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tara Devi?
Tara is the star-goddess, one of the ten Mahavidyas or great forms of the Mother, especially revered in eastern India and enshrined on the hilltop near Shimla.
How did the worship of Tara reach Shimla?
Tradition holds that the Sen rulers brought the goddess Tara from Bengal and established her shrine on the hill some two hundred and fifty years ago.
Where is the Tara Devi Temple?
It crowns Tara Parvat hill about 11 km from Shimla, on the Shimla–Kalka road, set among deodar forest.
How do I reach the temple?
It is about 11 km from Shimla; a hill road leads to the summit, and Tara Devi also has a station on the Kalka–Shimla narrow-gauge railway.
When is the main festival?
Navaratri is the great festival, when the hill fills with devotees climbing to the goddess.
Is the temple worth visiting for the views?
Yes — the deodar-forested summit offers cool air and wide Himalayan views, making it a peaceful retreat as well as a shrine.
॥ जय माँ तारा ॥ • Bhaktiras.net Temple Guide
| Deity | Goddess Tara (a Mahavidya, the star-goddess) |
| Setting | Hilltop in deodar forest near Shimla |
| Origin | Brought from Bengal by the Sen rulers (~250 years ago) |
| Railway | Tara Devi station on the Kalka–Shimla line |
| Main Festival | Navaratri |
| Nearby | Shimla (~11 km) |