The Devi temples of Kangra in two days — Jwalamukhi, Chintpurni, Bagalamukhi, Kangra and Chamunda
Two days of darshan among the Devi temples of the lower Kangra valley, with Jwalamukhi as the base. Day one is the flame temple of Jwala Devi and Mata Chintpurni in Una district. Day two goes north to Bagalamukhi at Bankhandi, the Vajreshwari temple in Kangra and Chamunda Devi, and ends within an hour of Dharamshala. How the Shakti Peeths of Himachal fit together is in the Shakti Peeth circuit.
Photos: Ms Sarah Welch (CC0) · Ms Sarah Welch (CC0) · Ashish3724 (CC BY-SA 3.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Who this is for
Families and pilgrims who want the major Devi temples of Kangra and Una in one short trip, by car or hired taxi. Most stops are short walks from the road.
Day by day
Day 1Jwala Devi and Mata Chintpurni
2 stops · 1 h 2 min on the road
Jwala Devi and Mata Chintpurni
Darshan at Jwalamukhi in the early morning, before the queues, then the drive south-west into Una district for Chintpurni, about 61 min, and back to Jwalamukhi for the night.
- 07:30Jwalamukhi TempleThe goddess Jwala Devi is present here as the eternal flames that burn from the rock beneath the shrine. Go early; the courtyard fills by mid-morning.
- ↓ 1 h 2 min by road · 36 km11:30Mata Chintpurni TempleThe temple of Mata Chintpurni, Chhinnamastika Devi, at Chintpurni town, about 977 m up. It is a Shakta pitha: here fell the consciousness of Sati. Expect queues on festival days.
Day 2Bagalamukhi, Vajreshwari at Kangra, and Chamunda
3 stops · 1 h 11 min on the road
Bagalamukhi, Vajreshwari at Kangra, and Chamunda
North towards the Dhauladhar: the Bagalamukhi temple at Bankhandi, the Vajreshwari temple in Kangra town, and Chamunda Devi by the river, ending close to Dharamshala and Palampur.
- 08:30Bagalamukhi Temple, Bankhandi, HPThe temple of the goddess Bagalamukhi, one of the ten Mahavidyas, at Bankhandi, about 34 min from Jwalamukhi. It is busiest at Navaratri.
- ↓ 41 min by road · 23 km11:00Vajreshwari Devi Temple, KangraThe temple of Vajreshwari Devi in Kangra town, about 49 min from Jwalamukhi, one of the Shakti Peeths of this valley.
- ↓ 30 min by road · 20 km14:30Shri Chamunda Devi MandirThe temple of Chamunda Devi beside the river, about 77 min from Jwalamukhi. Dharamshala and Palampur are both close from here.
Getting there
See how to reach Jwalamukhi. From Chamunda, Dharamshala and Palampur are close for the onward trip.
Where to stay
One night in Jwalamukhi; on day two, sleep in Dharamshala or Palampur, or head home.
Know before you go
- Navaratri and the spring and autumn fairs bring the largest crowds to every temple on this route; plan around them, or start each day at first light.
- Chintpurni lies in Una district; the road crosses into it and back on day one.
Places on this route
Going together
No one has started a group going on this plan yet. Start one and other travellers can ask to come along.
Other ways to do it
All Jwalamukhi itineraries →
More places nearby
All of Jwalamukhi →
Nearby destinations
All destinations →
Questions people ask
How far is Chintpurni from Jwalamukhi?
About 61 min by road on our measured routing, south-west into Una district. Chintpurni town stands at about 977 m, some 40 km north of Una. Most pilgrims pair it with Jwalamukhi on the same day and return to Jwalamukhi or go on to Kangra for the night.
Can you visit Jwalamukhi, Chintpurni, Kangra and Chamunda in two days?
Yes, by car. Day one covers Jwalamukhi and Chintpurni. Day two takes the Bagalamukhi temple at Bankhandi, Vajreshwari Devi at Kangra and Chamunda Devi, which are 34, 49 and 77 min from Jwalamukhi. On festival days the queues are long, so start at first light.
Which Devi temples in Himachal are Shakti Peeths?
Wikipedia lists five in Himachal: Chintpurni, Jwalamukhi, the Vajreshwari temple at Kangra, Chamunda Devi and Naina Devi. This plan visits the first four; Naina Devi, near Bilaspur, is too far for the same two days and needs its own trip.