Sankat Mochan Temple
temple · 3.5 km away
temple39 min from Shimla
Tara Devi Temple
Tara Devi Temple, at about 1,850 m near Shimla, is a roughly 250-year-old shrine to the goddess Tara Devi, built by Sen dynasty kings atop its own ridge.
What it is
On its own ridge at about 1,850 m, roughly 7 km from Shimla's city centre, Tara Devi Temple is a roughly 250-year-old shrine to the goddess Tara Devi — one of the ten great Mahavidyas, or wisdoms, in Hinduism and Buddhism. Sen dynasty kings built the temple around 1766, and a later king, Balbir Sen, moved it to its present hilltop after his own vision of the goddess.
Getting there
About 39 minutes by road from the edge of Shimla, roughly 18 km — the furthest of the standard day trips in the two-day and three-day plans.
The visit
Local tradition holds that Goddess Tara was brought to the Himalayas from West Bengal in the 18th century, and that she watches over the area from the skies as the goddess of stars — "tara" means star in many Indian languages. The temple grounds are kept clean, with flowers maintained throughout, and visitors are said to have their wishes granted with unwavering devotion.
> proper day trips in different directions from Shimla, and doing them together saves real time.
When to go
April to June or September and October, matching the rest of Shimla's clearer, drier windows.
Around it
Kufri, on a different day trip route, is the natural pairing for a two-day plan from Shimla — see the two-day plan. For the closer town-centre sights, the Ridge and Christ Church fill the shorter one-day loop instead.
Plans that include this
All 2 plans that stop here →
1 night · 2 days · First visitClassic
Two days in Shimla — the Ridge and Kufri
A two-day Shimla plan: the Ridge, Christ Church and Jakhoo Temple on day one, then Kufri and Tara Devi Temple on day two. Free, copyable plan on HimLocal.
Best Apr–Jun · Sep–Oct
See the plan →
2 nights · 3 days · First visitClassic
Three days in Shimla — the full circuit
A three-day Shimla plan: the colonial town core on day one, quieter temples and a waterfall on day two, Kufri and Tara Devi Temple on day three.
Best Apr–Jun · Sep–Oct
See the plan →Nearby places
Questions people ask
Who built Tara Devi Temple?
Sen dynasty kings, starting around 1766, after King Bhupendra Sen reportedly had a vision of the goddess Tara Devi asking him to install a shrine so people could receive her blessing. A later king, Balbir Sen, moved the temple to its present hilltop.
What does the name Tara mean?
Tara is one of the ten great Mahavidyas, or wisdoms, in Hinduism and Buddhism, and a source of all energies in that tradition. The word derives from the Sanskrit root "tr," meaning to cross, and also means "star" in many Indian languages.
How high up is Tara Devi Temple?
About 1,850 m above sea level, on a ridge of its own around 7 km from Shimla's city centre. The site is kept clean, with flowers maintained around the temple, and is described as a peaceful spot at real altitude.