Temple dedicated to Wife of Bhima - Hadimba Temple Himachal Pradesh

Hadimba Temple or Hidimba Devi Temple is an ancient Cave Temple situated in Dhoongri, a small village in Manali District of Himachal Pradesh, India. 

Hadimba Temple in Himachal Pradesh

The temple is one of the ancient temples of India and is also known as the Dhoongri Temple. The shrine is dedicated to Hadimbadevi, the wife of Bhim who is one of the five Pandava brothers in the Indian epic Mahabharata. The temple is surrounded by a cedar forest at the foot of the Himalayas. Built in pagoda style, the temple has no idol within. Only some footprints are carved and are worshiped by devotees.

Hadimba Temple Architecture 

Hidimba Devi Temple was built in 1550 AD by Maharaja Bahadur Singh. The architecture of the temple is worth mentioning here. The four storey temple has elaborately carved wooden doors and a 24 m tall wooden shikhar or tower. There are three square roofs which are covered with timber tiles and a cone-shaped roof at the top is covered in brass. The base of the temple is made out of mud-covered stonework and a huge rock is seen inside the temple. A 3 inch tall brass image represents Hidimbi Devi, sister of Hidimba or Hidimbasura.

Legend of Hadimba Temple

According to legends, Bhim killed a demon called Hadimb and married his sister Hadimba. They had a son called Ghatotkacha. While the Pandava brothers returned from exile, Hidimba did not go with them. She stayed at Dhungri and did penance to attain the status of a goddess.

Hidimba Devi Temple Festivals 

Hadimba Temple is renowned for a fair, held every year during the month of Shravan (July/August). The fair is celebrated in the memory of Raja Bahadur Singh, who built the temple. Locals call this fair as Bahadur Singh Re Jatar. This fair is also called as Saroohni, which symbolizes the completion of the transplanting of paddy.

May 14th of every year is celebrated as the birthday of Hadimba Devi. Held in the Dhungri forest, the festival lasts for three days. Large numbers of people participate in the Mela. Enthralling music and dance by men and women form attracts tourists.

There is another ceremony, wherein, the deities, Kartikswami of Simsa, Chhandal Rishi of Parsha, Shrishti Narayan of Aleo, Shriganh of Jagatsukh, Vishnu of Shajla, Maladevi of Sial and Sankh Narayan of Nasogi are brought in procession by their followers to Dhungri. The fair is shifted on the 4th day to the temple of Manu in the village Manali.

How to reach Hadimba Temple

Hadimba Templeis about 2 km from Manali.

By air

Bhuntar Airport at Kullu, which is 52 km away from Manali, is the nearest airport. Delhi is the nearest international airport, which is about 565 km away from Manali.

By rail

Joginder Nagar, which is about 50 km away, is the nearest railway station to Manali. Joginder Nagar is connected to other Indian cities via Chandigarh.

By road

Kullu Valley is connected by network of buses with the northern region. Tourists can hire a taxi from Kullu or bus to cover the 67 km stretch, or drive to Manali from Shimla via Mandi.

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