Temples in Kinnaur: Himachal Pradesh

Bhimakali Temple

The Bhimakali temple with its six Silver coated doors is a mixture of both Hindu and Buddhist style of architecture attracts pilgrims and tourists from all over the world. The temple of Bhimakali is situated at Sarahan. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Bhimakali, there are numerous other deities installed in the complex. One comes to know of the origin of the temple also through the legends in the “Markadya Purana� and Durga Shaptshati. Legends say Goddess Durga had promised the Devtas that she would save them from the atrocities of Asuras by re-incarnation. True to her word she decimated the asuras and became famous by the name of Bhima Devi. The five storey Bhimakali temple is situated on a hillock amongst beautiful scenery of gigantic deodar trees. The exquisitely carved wooden sloped roofs are slanting and slightly and concave. These roofs are reminiscent of the Chinese architecture.

There are two temples of Bhimakali .The original temple got tilted hence the second has been constructed in the same architectural style. The statuettes of Devis were installed in the temple in 1962.The one meter Ashtdhatu (alloys of 8 metals) Deity of Goddess surrounded by Parikrama Path on the four sides. Besides this deity are statuettes of numerous deities like Chamunda, Annpurna, Brajeshwari, Shiv-Parvati, Ganesh, and Buddha.

The Devi decorated with silver plates. The Bimakali temple attracts a stream of visitors during Navratras. Other major fairs celebrated with gaity and fervour are Janamashtami, Ramnavmi, Makar Sakranti, Shivratri and Diwali. Three day Dushehra fair dedicated to Raghunathji is enthusiastically celebrated with a Rath Yatra.