The temple of Shri Naina Devi is situated on a hillock in the Bilaspur district of the state of Himachal Pradesh.
This temple is situated at an altitude of 1219 meters above sea level, which was built by Raja Bir Chand during the 8th century.
This temple is known for many folklores after its construction and is considered very sacred by tourists and pilgrims today. There is a regular crowd of tourists in this temple.
There are many mysterious folk tales surrounding the Naina Devi Temple, which attract tourists to visit.
Shri Naina Devi is built on a triangular hill and is believed to be one of the 51 Shakti Peethas of Mata Sati.
All major festivals of Hindu mythology are celebrated with great enthusiasm in the temple, making the temple full of festivities throughout the year.
In this article, we are giving you complete information about Shri Naina Devi Temple.
Read also: Famous Temples of Himachal Pradesh – Part one
History of Shri Naina Devi Ji Temple
According to a legend, when Goddess Sati immolated herself in a yagya, Lord Shiva was infuriated and lifted Sati’s corpse on his shoulder and started the Tandava dance, which horrified all the gods.
After this everyone urged Lord Vishnu to stop him. After this Lord Vishnu fired his Sudarshan chakra which cut the body of Mata Sati into 51 pieces. Shri Naina Devi Temple is the place where Sati’s eyes fell, hence this temple is called Shri Naina Devi.
Structure of Naina Devi Temple
Naina Devi Temple is situated on the top of the hill which can be reached on foot or with the help of any vehicle. There is also a ropeway here which can be used to reach the hilltop.
After crossing the main entrance, tourists can see a grand Peepal tree on the left side. The idols of Lord Ganesha and Lord Hanuman are situated right in front of this tree. On reaching the main temple, two statues of lions welcome the tourists.
The inner sanctum of the temple has three idols in which maa Kali on the left, Shakti’s eyes in the middle and Lord Ganesha on the right. Small shops selling prashad and souvenirs are seen all along the way leading to the temple.
The temple attracts a large number of devotees every year and the temple becomes very crowded during auspicious Hindu festivals. This temple is one of the most revered temples in the country.
Read also: Famous Temples of Himachal Pradesh – Part Two
Naina Devi Temple Opening Timings
The darshan of Naina Devi can be done from 4 in the morning till 10 in the night. But during Navratri, this temple remains open for darshan from 2 am to 12 midnight.
What is the best time to visit Naina Devi Temple
Naina Devi Temple is a major religious place in Bilaspur. One can visit the temple in any month of the year. Bilaspur has hot summers, moderate rainfall during monsoon.
The temperature here falls to 0 degree during winter. The festival of Navratri is celebrated in the temple with great enthusiasm and fervor, if you want to participate in this festival then you can visit the temple in October-November.
How To Reach Naina Devi Temple
Read also: Most Haunted Temple of Himachal Pradesh
How to Reach by Flight
If you want to travel to Bilaspur by flight, this city does not have an airport of its own. The nearest airport to Bilaspur is Shimla Airport which is 124 km away from Bilaspur.
The best mode of transport between Bilaspur to Shimla is by hiring a taxi. You can also take a bus from Shimla to Bilaspur.
How to Reach by Road
Bilaspur is well connected by road with major cities of Himachal Pradesh and cities of nearby states.
You can easily reach Bilaspur by bus from major cities like Shimla, Delhi and Chandigarh.
How To Reach By Train
Bilaspur doesn’t have any railway station of its own so if you want to travel by train then Kiratpur Sahib in Punjab is the nearest railway station to Bilaspur.
It is situated at a distance of 94 km from Bilaspur. The best way to get from Kiratpur Sahib to Bilaspur is to hire a taxi or take a bus to Bilaspur.
