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Ancient legend speak of a time when
demons lorded over the Himalayan mountains and harassed the gods. Led by Lord Vishnu, the
gods decided to destroy them. The gods focused their strengths in an huge
flame which rose from the earth. From the fire, a young girl look birth. She is regarded as Adishakti the first 'Shakti'.
Known as Sati or Parvati, she grew up
in
the house of Prajapati Daksha and later became the consort of Lord Shiva. Once her father
insulted Lord Shiva and unable to accept this, she killed herself. When Lord Shiva heard
of his wife's death his rage knew no bounds and holding Sati's body he began stalking the
three worlds. The other gods trembled before His wrath and appealed to Lord Vishnu for
help. Lord Vishnu let fly a volley of arrows which struck Sati's body and severed it to
pieces. At the places where the pieces fell, the fifty-one sacred Shaktipeeths came into
being.
Sati's tongue fell at Jwalaji (610m)
and the goddess is manifest as tiny flame that burns flawless blue through fissures in
the age-old rock. Even the Pandavas are regarded to have visited this sacred place.
ACCESS:
The airport at Gaggal is 46 km from Jwalamukhi. The closest broad gauge railhead is at
Pathankot, 123 km away. Taxis and buses are available at both places. From Delhi the road
distance is 473 km and from Shimla is 212 km.
CLIMATE:
In winter, the climate is cold but pleasant when woolens are required. During summer the
temperature is hot and cottons are recommended.
HOTEL JWALAJI: About 350m from the
shrine and 100m from the bus station, Himachal Tourism runs Hotel Jwalaji at Jwalamukhi. This is an elegant dressed-stone building with lawns and trees. It's modern rooms
makes for comfortable and convenient stay.
ADDRESS:
Hotel Jwalaji, Jwalamukhi (H.P.) - 176031.
Tel: (01970) - 222280, 222801
CLASS: Deluxe Hotel.
Check availability and book Hotel Jwalaji
- Luxury suite and Deluxe rooms are air-conditioned, Semi Deluxe rooms are air cooled and
Regular rooms and Dormitory have ceiling fans.
- All rooms are airy, spacious, well furnished
with
attached baths and running hot & cold water.
- Satellite Television
- Parking within premises.
- Restaurant, Room service, Laundry and Dry-cleaning arranged.
-
Conference Hall.
CAFE JWALAJI: HPTDC runs a cafe with a sitting capacity of 30 persons.
PLACES OF INTEREST
JWALAJI SHRINES: There are nine
different flames within the temple and each signifies something different. It is said that
centuries ago, a shephard saw the flames for the first time and Raja Bhumi Chandra, the
ruler of the area had the original temple built. The Mughal Emperor Akbar installed a gold
parasol and Maharaja Ranjit Singh had the dome gilded. Across the courtyard is Devi's bed chamber
and above the temple
is the shrine of Baba Gorakhnath.
NAGINI MATA( 4.5 km): The site of a fair
held in July / August, this is located on the hill above Jwalaji.
SHRI RAGHUNATHJI TEMPLE (5 km):
Popularly known as Teda mandir, Rama, Laxman, and Sita are said to have stayed here and the first temple is supposed to
have been built by the Pandavas.
ASHTABHUJA TEMPLE(1 km): This ancient
temple has stone image of the eight-armed goddess.
NADAUN (12 km): Closely connected with
the glory of Kangra erstwhile rulers, there are numerous old temples and remains
of a couple of old palaces.
CHAUMUKHA (22 km via Nadaun): There is a
temple dedicated to Lord Shiva with a huge four faced image.
PANJ TEERTHI AND MAHAKALESHWAR (9 km and
28 km via Nadaun): By the banks of the river Beas and closely associated with the exile of
the Pandavas are these two sacred places. These are within a few hundred meters of each
other.
BANKHANDI (36 km):
At the Bandla Mata temple is a stone image of the goddess. At the nearby Shiv
temple is a Linga said to have been placed by the Pandavas.
HARIPUR (45 km):
There are numerous
attractive temples and an old fort.
MANGARH (37 km):
On top a hill is this
octagonal fort named after Raja Man Chand.
 Sati's feet fell at Chintpurni
(940m) and the devout come here to leave their worries and pray for boons. The legend goes
that the temple came into being after the goddess revealed herself to Maya Dass, an ardent
devotee. The temple is built around the Devi's pindi. Her image depicts
her without a head, it is said that she cut it of to assuage the blood thirst of her companions. And
hence the name, Chinnimastika Devi - 'The Goddess without a Head'.
ACCESS:
The closest railhead is at Hoshiarpur in Punjab 43 km away. From Jwalamukhi, the distance
is 35 km. Taxis and buses are available at both places.
CLIMATE:
In winter, the climate is cold when woolens are required. It is hot in summer and cottons
are recommended.
THE CHINTPURNI HEIGHTS:
Formerly known as Yatri Niwas,
the Chintpurni Heights has been extensively renovated. It is situated at a
distance of two
km from the
shrine of Chintpurni, It
has a magnificent view, the bright lights of the temple bazaar are just ahead and past the
wooded slopes are the shimmering waters of the Govind Sagar.
ADDRESS:
The Chintpurni Heights, Bharwain, Chintpurni (H.P.) - 177109.
Tel: (01976) - 255234.
CLASS: Budget Hotel.
Check availability and book The Chintpurni Heights
at Brarwain
- Rooms are airy, spacious with attached baths and running hot & cold water.
-
Satellite Television, Restaurant
and Room Service.
- Parking with in premises.
CAFE SOMBHADRA: HPTDC runs cafe with sitting capacity of 50 persons at Una
Chronicled in the Durga Sapt-Shati,
the story goes that on the orders of Shamb and Ni-Shamb, two demons tried to harass the
goddess Ambika. Enraged, Ambika knitted her brows and from the folds a horrifying from
of Kali emerged. After a great battle, the goddess Kali slew the two demons, Chand and
Mund. Delighted by Kali's achievement, Ambika declared that she would now be worshipped
here as Chamunda a combination of the demons names. Chamunda Devi temple is at height of
1000m.
ACCESS:
The closest airport is at Gaggle, 28 km away. The nearest railhead on the narrow guage
line is at Moranda near Palampur, 30 km. Taxis and buses are available at both
places. By road, Chamunda Devi is 15 km from Dharamsala and 55 km from Jwalamukhi.
CLIMATE:
In winter, the temperature can get quite cold when woolens are required. It is hot in
summer and cottons are recommended.
 THE YATRI NIWAS: Barely 300m from the temple
of Chamunda Devi, Himachal Tourism runs a Yatri Niwas.
This rests on the same spur as the shrine which is clearly visible from it. The water of
the Baner (Banganga) rivulet flow just below the Yatri Niwas. On the facing hill, the
Durga Temple is is visible.
ADDRESS:
Yatri Niwas, Chamunda Devi (H.P.)
Tel: (01892) - 236065.
CLASS: Budget.
Check availability and book The Yatri Niwas
- Rooms are airy, spacious, decently furnished
with attached baths and running hot & cold water.
- Restaurant, Room Service, Parking within premises.
PLACES OF INTEREST
Palampur (14 km.), Baijnath (30 km),
Andretta (26 km), Tashijong Monastery (25 km) and Bir (38 km).
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