Place Details

An ancient cave temple surrounded by a cedar forest at the foot of the Himalayas, Hadimba temple is located in the hill station of Manali in Himachal Pradesh. The temple is dedicated to Hidimba Devi, Pandava Bheem's wife, as depicted in the Mahabharata. Today, Hadimba Temple in Manali is a popular place of worship where thousands of tourists pay a visit. The temple has beautifully carved out wooden doors with the base of the temple made up of whitewashed stone. Three square roofs covered with timber tiles and a fourth brass cone-shaped roof at the top makes it different from any of the other temples. Hadimba temple in Himachal is a piece of art with its unique style of construction. Moreover, there is a temple nearby dedicated to Ghatotkacha, the son of Hidimba and Bhima.

History of Hadimba Temple

Let’s go back to the days of Mahabharat. It’s said that when Pandavas escaped the ‘Lakh Palace’, and arrived in this area, Bheem fell in love with Hadimba. However, both of them could have married only after killing Hadimba’s brother, hence, they chose to live in the valley. As Bheem joined his brothers after a year, meanwhile their son Ghatotkacha born, and later he conquered the entire region. There is no idol or image in the temple, but only the footprints of Hadimba Devi, which are worshipped by the locals with complete devotion.

Importance of Hadimba Temple

Located in the hill station Manali in Himachal Pradesh, Hadimba Temple is an ancient cave temple surrounded by a cedar forest at the foot of the Himalayas. Constructed in 1553, it is said that Hidimba used to perform meditation in the cave where the Hadimba Temple is built. As she was very kind and gained some supernatural powers, people of the region dedicated this temple to her. Holding such a monumental significance, Hadimba Temple in Manali makes for a great place to explore for history enthusiasts. In addition to that, the astonishing architecture of the temple decked with high wooden towers and intricately carved wooden doors is meant to marvel at, and thus, the attraction never fails to seize the attention of its visitors. Due to the observation of Navratri and Dussehra festivals in the temple, it holds even more significance in the hearts of locals.