Hadimba Devi Temple

Hadimba Devi Temple (also known as the Dhungri Temple), rising gracefully amidst towering, centuries old deodar cedar woods in the Dhungri forest 2 km from the Mall Road in Manali in Himachal Pradesh, stands as Himachal Pradesh's most iconic, architecturally unique, and culturally revered wooden pagoda sanctuary.

Constructed in 1553 AD by Maharaja Bahadur Singh of Kullu around an ancient natural rock cave, this four tiered timber and-slate shrine honors Goddess Hidimba, the wife of Pandava warrior Bhima and mother of the heroic warrior Ghatotkacha from the Indian epic Mahabharata.

It's the home of an extraordinary 24 meter-tall four tiered pagoda roof crowned with a brass finial kalash, masterfully hand carved deodar wooden lintels depicting Hindu deities and mythical animals, sacred ibex horn offerings lining the temple exterior, the nearby open air tree shrine of Ghatotkacha, and peaceful forest walking trails through Dhungri Van Vihar.

It represents a rich Himalayan sanctuary where ancient epic Mahabharata lore, indigenous Kath Kuni timber craftsmanship, mystical forest energy, and deep regional folk spirituality unite in the Kullu Valley.

Located in the Dhungri forest zone just 2 km from central Manali, it sits 50 km from Kullu Manali Airport (Bhuntar, KUU) and 305 km from Chandigarh, easily accessible by auto rickshaw, local taxi, or a pleasant 20 minute shaded uphill stroll through the pine woods.

The 1553 AD Pagoda Shrine & Mahabharata Legend

According to the Mahabharata, the Pandavas took refuge in the forests of Manali during their exile, where Bhima defeated the demon ruler Hidimb and married his noble sister Hidimba.

When Bhima and his brothers left the valley, Hidimba remained behind to perform rigorous spiritual meditation in this cedar forest, eventually achieving divine status as the protector goddess of the Kullu people.

Truth is, in 1553 AD, Kullu ruler Maharaja Bahadur Singh built the pagoda structure over her sacred meditation cave to formalize state worship, commemorated on a historic wooden inscription panel by the entrance.

Four Tiered Wooden Architecture & Sacred Rock Cave

The Pagoda Architecture: The temple rises 24 meters high in four distinct tiers, the lower three covered with local timber planks and the conical uppermost canopy covered in polished brass sheets.

The Sacred Cave Sanctum: Inside the dimly lit sanctum, there is no conventional metal idol; worship is directed to a large natural rock boulder housing a sacred 3 inch footprint imprint of Goddess Hidimba.

Ghatotkacha Shrine & Dhungri Mela Festival

Ghatotkacha Tree Shrine: A short 70 meter walk through the deodar grove leads to an unroofed wooden shrine dedicated to Ghatotkacha, where wooden weapons and ritual tridents are offered by local devotees.

Dhungri Mela & Dussehra Role: Every May, the temple grounds host the lively three day Dhungri Mela celebrating the goddess's birthday with traditional Nati folk dancing and music. During the grand Kullu Dussehra, Goddess Hadimba's wooden palanquin leads the ceremonial procession of over 200 valley deities.

After offering prayers at Hadimba Devi Temple, explore the cafes and craft shops of Old Manali, visit the natural hot springs of Vashisht, or drive through the snow meadows of Solang Valley.