Jhula Devi Temple — the bell-hung Durga shrine above Ranikhet
What it is
The Jhula Devi Temple stands among the pines near Chaubatia, above Ranikhet. It is dedicated to Durga. Local belief says the goddess kept the villagers safe from the leopards and tigers that once roamed the thick forest here, and that is why people still come to thank her.
Photos: Harshit SR (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
The bells
The tradition is to give a bell to the goddess once a wish has been granted. After many years of such offerings, the temple is hung with bells of every size, and the gate you see in the picture is only the beginning.
Getting there
By road it is about 5 km and 10 minutes from the centre of Ranikhet on our routing; Wikipedia gives about 7 km. Wikivoyage describes a walk that goes up from the eastern end of the Mall, past the army's handloom tweed factory, to the temple at the gate of the cantonment.
Nearby
Wikipedia says a Rama temple with a small monastery stands close by, where students are taught the Vedas alongside Vedic and modern mathematics. Chaubatia, about 10 km from town, is known for its orchards of apples, peaches, apricots and plums. The Haidakhan Babaji Temple is on the other side of Ranikhet, and the one-day plan joins the two.
When to go
March to October, by Wikipedia's account. See when to visit Ranikhet and things to do in Ranikhet.
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Nearby places
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Questions people ask
What is the Jhula Devi Temple?
A temple to the goddess Durga near Chaubatia, above Ranikhet. Local belief says she protected villagers from the leopards and tigers that roamed the dense forest here. Worshippers offer a bell when a wish is granted, so the shrine is hung with large numbers of them.
How far is the Jhula Devi Temple from Ranikhet?
About 5 km and 10 minutes by road on our routing, though Wikipedia gives about 7 km. Wikivoyage describes it as standing at the gate to the cantonment. Walking up from the eastern end of the Mall is possible, and the temple is on the way to Chaubatia's orchards.
What else is near the Jhula Devi Temple?
A Rama temple that Wikipedia says has a monastery where students learn the Vedas along with Vedic and modern mathematics, and the Chaubatia orchards of apples, apricots and peaches, about 10 km from Ranikhet. The Bhalu Dam, the reservoir for Ranikhet, is nearby, but we have no verified location for it.