Shri Chamunda Devi Temple is one of the earliest temples in Indian history, built in the 16th century. Temple timings are 6:00 AM TO 9:00 PM.
Shri Chamunda Devi Temple is located in the northern part of India. This sacred temple is called Chamunda Nandikeswar Dham and is dedicated to the goddess Durga. This temple is 19km from Palampur in the Dharamshala Tehsil of Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh.
This temple is famous in Himachal Pradesh. People visit this temple believing that the goddess always protects them from evil and only allows good deeds to the people.
Chamunda Devi Temple:
This goddess is one of the seven Matrices who protect the earth from evil and fight against demons. The temple is one of the Shakti Peeth temples with a history of Indian culture, and is also popular among tribals.
Large devotees visit temples from different states of India to get a glimpse of the goddesses. There are many myths around the temple, as it says there is a small cave where the Shiva lingam lies.
Nevertheless, the temple is the most visited during Navaratri days and many other Hindu festivals every season. This temple has a history of 700 years. The temple has undergone many changes according to the culture.
History:
Four hundred years ago, a king of the area where the temple lies prayed for the goddess, asking permission to move the idol to different places for the sake of devotees. One day, the goddess appeared in a brahmin’s dream, saying he would dig up the ground in a particular area to find her idol.
As a result, they found the idol after digging into the ground. Finally, they decided to build a temple for the goddess. They gathered the villagers to build the temple.
Despite the hard work, the villagers and the king started building the temple, but got stuck with another problem. The idol is too heavy to move. Again, they all prayed to the goddess.
The goddess appeared in the brahmins’ dream and said the villagers treated the idol as just an idol. She told him to wake up in the morning, take baths, wear fresh clothes, and lift the idol wholeheartedly.
The brahmin followed the goddess’s instruction and finally lifted the idol easily. Afterwards, this temple became famous among the tribals around the country.
Chamunda Devi temple timings:
This temple has different timings for both summer and winter.
| Day | Summer | Winter |
| Monday | 5:00 AM -10:00 PM | 6:00 AM -10:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 5:00 AM -10:00 PM | 6:00 AM -10:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 5:00 AM -10:00 PM | 6:00 AM -10:00 PM |
| Thursday | 5:00 AM -10:00 PM | 6:00 AM -10:00 PM |
| Friday | 5:00 AM -10:00 PM | 6:00 AM -10:00 PM |
| Saturday | 5:00 AM -10:00 PM | 6:00 AM -10:00 PM |
| Sunday | 5:00 AM -10:00 PM | 6:00 AM -10:00 PM |
Aarti timings:
Like every temple, aarti is performed twice a day. At this time, the pilgrims are not allowed to see the idol.
Winter: 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM
Summer: 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM
Best time to visit:
The best time to visit the Shri Chamunda Devi temple is between May and September because the temperature is bearable. During winter, the temperature will be comparatively low, making it difficult to enjoy the visit.
Visit the temple at noon or in the evenings, when it will be easier to locate the temple. Avoid nights because the temperature will be low, and the roads will not be visible. Summers here have 25 degrees, which is preferable.
Nearest places to visit:
Kotla fort: Kotla fort is located 64 km from the Shakti Peeth Chamundi Devi temple. This fort is a heritage monument of the state highways between Shahpur and Nurpur. Guler Rajas built this fort. This has some beautiful Indian architecture, which adds fun to your trip.
Bharmour: Bharmour, known as Brahmapura, was the ancient capital of the district of Chamba. Brahmapura is known for its scenic view of nature and ancient temples. This village is at a distance of 190 km from the temple.
Church of St.John: This church was built in 1852 and is near Dharamsala. The temple is 24 km away from Palampur.
Chaurasi temple: This temple is 198 km away from Chamundi Devi temple. It is located in Bharmaur, the centre of all activities in the tiny village of Bharmaur.
How to reach Shri Chamunda Devi temple:
There are different transport facilities available to reach the temple.
By Air: Gaggal is the nearest airport available. This is connected through Indian Airlines flights with New Delhi and Chandigarh.
By train: The nearest railway station is in Palampur. I prefer trains as they are safe and affordable.
By road: The major towns like Dharmashala, Palampur and Pathankot have many buses, autos, and cabs that lead to the temple. You can also use public transport to reach the temple easily.
Address:
Chamunda Temple Path, Padar, Himachal Pradesh, 176052.
Shri Chamunda Devi temple phone numbers:
You can contact the temple officer at 01892-236034, 236384.
Official Website: https://chamundamata.com/
Frequently asked questions:
1. Is Chmundi a shakti peeth?
Yes, Chamundi is considered one of the Shakti peeths among the 18 Shakti peeths.
2. Who built the Chamunda Devi temple?
Raja Umed Singh built the temple.
3. Are goddesses Kali and Chamundi the same?
No, they are different. Even though both Kali and Chamundi are forms of the goddess Durga, they are two different goddesses.
