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Sacred geography · Goddess Hadimba

Hadimba Devi (nearby)

Dhungri, 42 km from Kullu

Timings

8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Distance

42 km

Best time

March – June, September – November

Elevation

2,050 m

About the temple

A 16th-century pagoda standing inside a cedar grove above Manali. Dedicated to Hadimba, wife of the Pandava Bhima and mother of Ghatotkacha, the temple is famed for its towering wooden roof, intricate door carvings and the silence of the surrounding forest.

Significance

Hadimba is the patron deity of the Manali region. Local Kullu kings drew their legitimacy from her blessings, and the temple still hosts the Dhungri Mela every May.

History & legend

Raja Bahadur Singh built the temple in 1553 on the spot where Hadimba is said to have meditated after Bhima's departure. Legend says the king cut off the right hand of the master craftsman so he could never reproduce such beauty elsewhere.

Established

1553 AD, by Raja Bahadur Singh

Architecture

Four-tiered pagoda built entirely of deodar wood

Highlights

01

Towering 24-metre wooden pagoda inside a cedar grove

02

Intricately carved 16th-century doorway

03

Sacrificial stone bearing handprints from local lore

04

Yak and angora rabbit photo opportunities outside

Festivals & rituals

Dhungri Mela

May (14th)

A three-day fair marking Hadimba's birthday, with folk dance, traditional music and a deity procession.

Navratri

September / October

Nine nights of devotional singing inside the wooden mandir.

Gallery

How to reach

Drive 42 km from Kullu town to Manali (≈1.5 hours), then 2 km uphill to Dhungri. Taxis and HRTC buses run regularly from Kullu bus stand.

Nearby attractions

Manu Temple (3 km)
Old Manali cafés
Vashisht hot springs (5 km)

Visitor tips

Visit early morning to experience the silence of the cedar forest
Photography of the inner sanctum is prohibited
Combine with Manu Temple and Old Manali in the same trip

Frequently asked questions

Other Kullu temples

Bijli Mahadev

Lord Shiva

Raghunath Temple

Lord Raghunath (Rama)

Jagannathi Devi Temple

Goddess Bhuvaneshwari

Epic Himachal Expeditions

Walk the sacred geography of Kullu.

Custom temple circuits with a local guide who speaks the legends.