Chamunda devi temple is an quisessential pilgrimage spot, over 700 years old, is located at a distance of 15 km from Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh at an altitude of 1000 meters above sea level. It provides an arena for those who seek spiritual enlightenment, as well as an eye boggling sight of the beautiful sceneries surrounding it.

The temple site was used for exhuming mortal remains by the communities living in the surrounding area. It is a place where a lot of people come to seek spiritual solace for the deceased. Huge numbers of pilgrims come to cleanse their sins by taking a dip in the Ban Ganga River also called ‘Kund’. There is a Siva statue beneath the rock where the Chamunda temple is located which the pilgrims worship while taking the holy dip.The fearceful from of Durga as called Chamunda is revered here. The idol is considered so sacred that it covered underneath cloth away from sight and touch of pilgrims.

Snapshots of the great epics of the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Devi Mahatmya are interspersed all over the walls. Images of Bhairo and Hanuman adorn the sides of the deity.The site provides inspiration to all those who believe good always overcomes evil.The folklore state that there once lived an obnoxious demon king named Shumbh Nishumbh who sent the two demons Chanda and Munda to traumatize the goddess Goddess "Kaushiki" also known by the name Goddess “Ambika”. Chamunda evolved as Chandika from an eyebrow of the Goddess Ambika eliminated the demons by beheading them and displaying them afront Ambika. Ambika was so estatic with the act that she named the city as Chamunda and ever since the temple Chamunda Devi has been reversed as an epitome of faith.

There is handicrafts centre inside the temple complex. It contains some of the rarest wood carvings, wooden toys, black pottery, honey, Kangra tea and world famous Kangra Paintings. Visitors often by items from the handicraft centre which serve as a good souvenier. The best time to visit the religious site is from June end to late October before it starts to snow on the upper reaches.

How to reach

Train: e nearest railway station is Pathankot in Punjab for the regular broad gauge trains.
Nagrota Bagwan is the station of taking the narrow gauge trains.

Air: Gaggal Airport is the closest to the religious site and flights are available to Chandigarh and New Delhi.

Road: Palampur is located 10 km from Chamunda. Palampur is well connected by road to Dharamshala.
We at Bharat Apna can help you plan you trip to Chamunda Devi, providing you with all the information and services.