Kangra, Hindu Pilgrimage in India
KANGRA FACTS & FIGURES
Location:
Northern state of
Himachal, North
India, Altitude
: 615m.
Best time to Visit: May to November.
Significance : Pilgrimage center of Hindus notably ancient Hindu Temples.
Best time to Visit: May to November.
Significance : Pilgrimage center of Hindus notably ancient Hindu Temples.
Kangra was
the first seat of
Raja Sansar
Chand II (1775-1823)
.One of the ancient
capital of powerful
hill state-fort
of Nagarkot(3km)
stands as a mute
witness to the ravages
of conquerors from
Mahmood of Ghazni
to the Emperor Jehangir,
and the disastrous
earthquake of 1905.
The place is now
called "Purana
Kangra".2 km
from the bus stand
is the temple dedicated
to the goddess Barjeshwari
Devi. Known for
its legendary wealth
it was invaded in
1009 AD by Mahmud
of Ghazni who departed
with King's ransom
in gold, silver
and jewels. Earthquake
of 1905 destroyed
it completely. Rebuilt
in the present form
in 1920, it continues
to be a busy palace
of pilgrimage. Old
Jain temple and
Gupt Ganga are the
other attraction
of the town. Jayanti
Devi temple is 7
km and the Kangra
mandir railway station
3 km from the main
bus stand.
The prominent temples in Kangra valley, Himachal Pradesh
Jwalaji
Jwalamukhi
Temple is perched
on a ridge called
Kali dhar. The shrine
has a gilt dome
and soaring pinnacles.
Inside is a square
pit, three feet
deep with a pathway
all around. The
rock in the middle
has a crack, through
which a gas is emitted,
and on lighting
it the gas bursts
into a huge flame.
The priest keeps
applying the flame
to the gas —
which is seen as
a blessing of the
deity.
The
shrine has no idol
as such, the emanation
of the gas is believed
to be a manifestation
of the goddess Jwalaji.
Brajeshwari Devi
Brajeshwari
Devi Temple, located
in the old Kangra
township, is said
to have been built
over the charred
breasts of Sati.
This shrine, once
renowned for its
great wealth, has
been plundered relentlessly
over the ages.
Naina
Devi 
Naina
Devi Temple is located
atop a hill, commanding
an awesome view
of the Punjab plains
on one side and
the Gobind Sagar
lake on the other.
This is the spot
where Sati's eyes
— nain —
are believed to
have fallen.
Chintpurni
Chintpurni
Temple stands on
the spot where the
charred feet of
Sati fell. The 'Pindi'
or the stone hall
symbolises her feet.
The Chintpurni 'mantra'
is very popular
with devotees.
Chamunda
Devi
Also
known as Chamunda
Nandikeshwar Dham,
it is situated on
the banks of Ban
Ganga. This Sidhapeeth
is a place where
saints and priests
pray amidst natural
surroundings.
This is the place where the demons Chand and Mund came to conquer Devi Mahakali. In the fight that ensued, the Devi cut their heads and presented these to Maa Ambika, who in turn told Mahakali that you will be worshipped as Chamunda Devi.
This is the place where the demons Chand and Mund came to conquer Devi Mahakali. In the fight that ensued, the Devi cut their heads and presented these to Maa Ambika, who in turn told Mahakali that you will be worshipped as Chamunda Devi.
Kangra
Devi
The
Goddess, located
in the town of Kangra
is also called Vajreshvari.
It is believed that
when Sati's body
was cut into different
pieces the remaining
part stayed in this
place.
Food offerings are divided into three parts. One part each for Mahalakshmi, Mahakali and Mahasaraswati.
Food offerings are divided into three parts. One part each for Mahalakshmi, Mahakali and Mahasaraswati.
Baijnath Temple
One
of the most remarkable
monuments of the
Bias valley is the
temple of Baijnath.
Baijnath is in reality
the appellation
of the chief temple
dedicated to SivaVaidyanatha
("Lord of Physicians")
which has know the
Village itself.
The original name
of the village was
Kiragrama.The Baijnath
temple is orientated
due west. It consists
of a puri or adytum,
8 feet square inside
and 18 feet outside,
surmounted by a
spire of the usual
conical shape, and
cf a mandapa or
front hall, 20 feet
square inside, covered
with a low pyramid
shaped roof.How to Reach Kangra
Air
: Kangra airport
is 7-km away and
has got straight
flights from Delhi
Rail
:Nearest broad-gauge
railhead at Pathankot
is 86-km away .
Kangra Valley express
is a narrow gauge
train, starting
from Pathankot and
continues to Bajinath.
Road
: Kangra is well
connected by road
with Dharamsala,
which is 18-km away
