Cave Temple of Hadimba – Manali, Himachal Pradesh

By | June 8, 2020

Image: Wikipedia

Traditionally a Hidimbi Devi Temple, generally called and famous as Hadimba Temple, is located in Manali, an internationally famous hill station of Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh in north India.

It is an ancient cave temple dedicated to Hidimbi Devi, sister of the demon named Hidimb known character in the Indian epic of Mahabharata.

The temple surrounded by a cedar forest locally called as Dhoongri is built over a huge rock jutting out of the ground.

Since Hadimba who meditated at Dhoongri the Temple is also known as Dhoongri Devi Temple.

The Dhoongri Temple dedicated to Goddess Hadimba (or Hirma Devi), the wife of Bhima of Mahabharta fame is just within a walkable distance from the Manali town.

The structure was built in 1553 AD by Raja Bahadur Singh, son of Raja Sidh Singh.

Hadimba temple at Dhoongri has a pagoda-shaped roof of thick deodar shingles.

The square is in tiers of diminishing size above which is a kind of circular wooden cave, which is again surrounded by a brass ball and trident.

Verandahs occupy three sides of the temple. The doorway faces the east and is extremely decorated by carved woodwork depicting elephants, tigers, birds, etc.

Hadimba is held in great veneration throughout and even beyond Kullu valley. She is still being worshipped by the local people by offering the occasional sacrifice of animals, chiefly as a propitiatory measure for the amelioration of ailments and natural calamities.

Presently the Temple is under the control of archaeological survey of India.

Read also: History of District Kullu 

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