Hidimba Devi Temple

Hidimba Devi Temple is located within dense cedar forest in the small tourist town of Manali. It was built in 1553 by Raja Bahadur Singh and is dedicated to the goddess Hadimba Devi, who features in the Mahabharata. A heritage site steeped in mythology, visitors come from far and wide to visit the site.
This ancient cave temple was built over a large rock jutting out of the ground, which was where Hidimba was said to meditate. Built in a pagoda style, the structure is made of wood, with a three-tiered roof crowned by a cone-shaped brass tower known as a shikhara. The temple door features intricately carved figures, including the goddess Durga, whom Hidimba was believed to be an incarnation of.
Inside the temple is a stone idol of Hidimba Devi measuring approximately 60 centimeters tall, and not far from the main building is a shrine dedicated to Hadimba’s son, Ghatotkacha.

Practical Info

The Hidimba Devi Temple can be found on the way to Old Manali, around two kilometers from Mall Road.