Shringa Rishi Temple

What it is

The temple of the valley's deity, Shringa Rishi, above Bagi village on the slope east of Banjar: a pagoda-roofed shrine in a courtyard with the valley below it. It is the place the villages around the town look to, and the shrine whose deity travels to the valley's festivals. It is a working village temple, and the courtyard is where the walk up to Chehni Kothi begins.

Getting there

From Banjar's bazaar, the side road that climbs to Bagi — 7 km and 13 minutes by taxi, or the local bus when it runs. The taxi waits in the courtyard while you walk up to the tower and back.

The visit

Shoes off, head covered, no photographs inside, nothing touched. Half an hour in the courtyard is the visit; the temple's people will say what is open. Then the path: half a kilometre and 27 minutes up by our measure, steep on rock steps, to the tower above Chehni.

When to go

Any month; the steps to Chehni are the only weather question. In the weeks after the winter the villages hold Fagli, the masked festival, and the deity is out — a guest is welcome, a camera less so.

Around it

Chehni Kothi above. Banjar below. Bahu Lake across the valley, the other half of the heritage day.

Plans that include this

All 4 plans that stop here →

Day plan · First visitTemples & heritage

Chehni Kothi in a day — Shringa Rishi's temple, the wooden tower above Banjar, Bahu lake and the bazaar

A day on the valley's heritage from Banjar: Shringa Rishi's temple, the climb to the kath-kuni tower of Chehni Kothi, Bahu's temple pond and the bazaar.

Best Mar–Jun · Sep–Dec

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2 nights · 3 days · First visitClassic

Three days in the Tirthan valley — the river, Jalori Pass and Serolsar lake, then Chehni Kothi and Jibhi

The classic three days in the Tirthan valley: the river at Gushaini, Jalori Pass and the ridge walk to Serolsar lake, Chehni Kothi and Jibhi on the way out.

Best Mar–Jun · Sep–Nov

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2 nights · 3 days · Slow travelMonsoon

The Tirthan valley in the monsoon — what still works: the river from the bank, Chehni Kothi, the park's museum and a wet Jibhi

The Tirthan valley from July to September, honestly: the river from a terrace, Chehni Kothi between showers, the park's museum, an empty Jibhi, what is closed.

Best Jul–Sep

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7 nights · 8 days · WorkationClassic

A working week at Jibhi — a café with a signal by day, the stream and the tower in the evenings, Jalori at the weekend

Seven nights at Jibhi with a laptop: a terrace with a signal by day, the gorge, the waterfall and Chehni Kothi after work, Raghupur and Serolsar at the weekend.

Best Mar–Jun · Sep–Nov

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