Situated in chandar bhan, jia in kangra valley, himachal pradesh, india, in the himalayas, “Maa Aadi Himani Chamunda Devi Temple”, Also Known As “Mata Kaushiki Aadi Chamunda Temple” is dedicated to the worship Of The Divine Mother Mata Chamunda.

Temple History

The inception Of The “Maa Aadi Himani Chamunda Devi Temple” dates back to around 1660. The area, known as chandar bhan nagar, was named after raja chandar bhan. His palace ruins are just 50 meters from The “Maa Aadi Himani Chamunda Devi Temple”, and the ruins of his fort are 200 meters away, showing that the area was once vibrant.

In 1992, the temple was restored mainly due to the hard work of mr. p. d. saini, a retired class 1 officer, who spent 20 years on the restoration with the help of devotees. Even after the government took over the temple’s administration, the devotees continued to work on its improvement.

The Destruction Of chanda and munda

“The Devi Mahatmya” in Chapter 7 describes the allegorical battle where The Divine Mother Of the universe Emerges In Her Fierce And Formidable Form As Maa Maha Kaali, Slays the asuras chanda and munda, And Is Revered As Mata Chamunda.

Chanda and munda were the servants of the asura brothers shumbha and nishumbha, who had dispossessed the gods and took reign of the three worlds. The Divine Mother Had Promised That whenever remembered in times of distress, She Would Appear And Put An End to misfortune, and so the gods invoked The Divine Mother With praise. The Divine Mother Emerged In A Resplendent Form And Destroyed the asuras, Restoring balance in the universe.

The locals believe that Mata Chamunda Slayed the asuras chanda and munda on the hilltop of the holy site of The “Maa Aadi Himani Chamunda Devi Temple”.

Temple location

Situated within the kangra quarter of himachal pradesh, the trek to “Maa Aadi Himani Chamunda Devi Temple” takes you to an elevation of 3185 meters above sea level. The devotees Of Mata Chamunda undertake this journey with Great Reverence.

The temple address is: Trail To “Maa Aadi Himani Chamunda Devi Temple”, kudan, chandar bhan, himachal pradesh 176059, india.

When to visit the temple

The “Maa Aadi Himani Chamunda Devi Temple” Is open from march 15 to november 15 each year. The best time to visit is from april to june and september to mid-november, as the monsoon season (july to september) and the winter season (post-october) make the trek difficult due to heavy rains and snow. During the winter months, the temple is unmanned, but the sarai (rest house) remains open with some basic cooking utensils and bedding provided.

How to reach the temple

The “Maa Aadi Himani Chamunda Devi Temple” Provides panoramic views of the dhauladhar range, making the hilltop a favorite destination for nature lovers and travelers seeking tranquility.

To reach the temple from both within and outside India, these steps can be followed:

From Outside India

1. By air:
– Nearest international airports:
– indira gandhi international airport (DEL) in new delhi.
– sri guru ram dass jee international airport (ATQ) in amritsar.
– From these international airports, take a domestic flight to kangra airport (also known as gaggal airport) in himachal pradesh.
2. By train:
– Nearest railway stations:
– Pathankot railway station (PTK), from where you can take a taxi or bus to kangra.
– Alternatively, you can travel to chandigarh railway Station and then take a taxi or bus to kangra.
3. By Road:
– From delhi or chandigarh, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to kangra.
– There are regular state-owned and private buses available from major cities like delhi, chandigarh, amritsar, and jammu to kangra.

From within india

1. By air:
– Domestic flights:
– Book a flight to kangra airport (gaggal airport), which is 13 km from kangra and 20 km from dharamshala.
2. By train:
– Nearest railway station:
– Pathankot railway station is the nearest major railhead, approximately 87 km from kangra.
– From pathankot, you can take a taxi or bus to kangra.
3. By road:
– From major cities:
– From delhi (500 km), chandigarh (250 km), amritsar (200 km), and jammu (200 km), you can drive or take a bus to kangra.
– State transport and private buses frequently operate to kangra from these cities.

Reaching the Temple

1. From Kangra to the Temple:
– By Trekking:
– The “Maa Aadi Himani Chamunda Devi Temple” is accessible via a 12-kilometer trek from two main starting points:
– Jia Village: The trail starts near nagrota bagwan and involves a steep climb through lush meadows and challenging terrain.
– “Maa Chamunda Devi Temple”: This route merges with the trail from jia village, and both are around 12 kilometers long with a steep ascent.
2. By local transport:
– From kangra, you can take local buses or hire a taxi to jia village or “Maa Chamunda Devi Temple”, which are the starting points for the trek.

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