Bhima Kali Temple at Sarahan

Temple are an esential part of a Hindu's life and almost every Hindu once in his life goes to a temple of other. Himachal Pradesh in the north of India is called as "Dev Bhoomi - The Land of Gods" and is famous for its scatered temples all over the state. Some are famous for its dieties where are others are more famous among foreighn tourists due to their legends and architecture.


Bhimakali temple at Sarahan is one of them. Perhaps this is the most beutiful temple among all in the Himalayas and attracts not only Indians but foreighn tourists also due to its architectural aspects, woodwork and its grand size. Perhaps there is no other tmeple that has the similar aspects and is so attractive. It is not only the building of the temple but also its placement, the surroundings, the snowclad peaks and its approach from Shimla to its main complex.
As per the legend this area, then called Shonitpur, was ruled by a Demon King called Banasur. He was devotee of Lord Shiva but was a crule king so the people of the area are scared of this Demon and would speak nothing against him. His daughter once saw a youngman, in her drea, approaching her for her hand. She narrated this story to one of her friend cum who found out that the handsome youngman was, Prduman, the son of Lord Krishana who was the ruler of Mathura Dwarika. She went to Dwarika and kidnapped the youngman and brought him here. When Lord Krishana came to know about the kidnaping of his son, he attacked this area and Killed Banasur and buried his head right at the gates of the main complex of the temple. Later Praduman ruled this area.
Since then this Kindom was governed uninterruptedly by the descendants of this dynasty till the end of the princely estates in independant India. This ruling family got constructed a splendid temple in the State Capital and recoganised Mother Goddess Bhimakali as the presiding deity of the ruling family.
A religious festival called Udyapan Jag is celeberated here after a gap of 100 years or more. Last time it was done in 1904 that lasted for 6 months. 600 goats were sacrificed and 11 Brahamins - The holy men had housed the fed. Navratras are celeberated twice a year, all over the country and it lasts for nine nights, during Chaitra and Ashvin months of Hindu Calender, April and October respectively. During these Navratras the dieties from all over the area are brought up here and thousands of local people also throng the complex.
How to Reach : Reach Shimla by rail or road and drive to Sarahan. Taxies are very easily avaiable at Shimla. Stay here overnight and next day start driving via Kufari, Fagu, Theog, Narkanda, Nogli, Rampur, Jeori and form here turn right to Sarahan. This place form Shimla is 175 kilometers and is 17 kilometers right uphill from Jeori after Rampur. The road to the temple is in excellent condition and the beauty of the Himalayan Forests does not give you any chance to get tired.
Where to Stay : The temple complex has a guest house with very neat and clean rooms with attached toilet and bath facilities, fitted with hot water gysers. There are a number of guest houses in Sarahan and a Hotel Srikhand Mahadev run and managed by Himachal Pradesh Tourism Department offers very good rooms with excellent view and a restaurant.

Visit to Moonland

Do you want to have Moon as your next holiday destination, Yes? But sorry you cannot go there. Right? Ok, then take my suggestion and go to Spiti Valley.

A drive of 350 km from Shimla through breathtaking scenery of Himalayan landscapes takes you to Spiti Valley. After crossing Narkanda, 64 km, and then driving opposite of River Satluj from near Rampur, 130 km, you stop for a night each at Sarhan, Kalpa and Pooh. Then you cross a bridge at Khab where river Spiti meets Satluj. Now you are in Spiti Valley.
Astounding, right? You may not be able to blink your eyes as the barren landscape, here, keeps you hold your tongue and your eyes wide open. You are above the tree line and standing at the elevation of nearly 13000 feet.
Spiti valley shares its borders with Tibbet, so has the Tibbetian influence with the oldest ‘Gompa’ - the Monastery called Tabo, famous as Ajanta of Himalayas. Tabo was established in 996 AD by a Tibetan Scholar Lotsawa Rinchen Tsang Po. He travelled all the way form Lhasa and established this monastery here in order to translate Indian Buddhist scripture to Tibetan Language. It holds the second position only to the Tholing Gompa in Tibet in the entire Himalayan region. It was developed as an advanced centre for learning by the great teacher and translator, the king of western Himalayan Kingdom of Guge -- also known as Lha Lama Yeshe O'd or Mahaguru Ratnabhadra. The Chos-Khor at Tabo remained one of the most important Buddhist establishments during the time of Lotsawa after the Chos-Khor at Tholing, the capital town of Guge. To date, it is the preserver of the Buddhist Legacy and is one of the most important Gompa of the entire Tibetan Buddhist world.
Every Morning a ‘Traditional Puja’ is performed here by the Buddhist Monks who live in the complex. A guest house, in the monastery, provides accommodation to the travelers at very cheap rates. Tabo is also famous for its 700 to 900 years old wall paintings, still preserved and they depict the meaning of Buddhism. Old scriptures are still preserved in the Monastery. Nearly 36 almost life-size clay statues perch on the walls of the assembly hall. Here again, the temple complex is a National Historic treasure of India and protected as such by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Next morning you drive to Kaza but do not forget to visit Dhakar Monastery on the way. The drive is through the breathtaking landscape and the effects of the air erosion can be seen all over here on the slopes and river side. A number of rocks have been carved, by air, to take a pointed shape. Take right from Shichiling and ascend towards Dhakanr Gompa. Dhankar means "A place in the mountains unreachable for strangers" Dhankar was traditional Capital of Spiti valley kingdom during 17th century and is set picturesquely on a clay hill above Shichilling village. There is a castle on the hill top, which was once under rule of Spiti kings. The Dhankar monastery belongs to Gelugspa School of order. Set against a lunar landscape of crumbling cliffs, the ' Lha - Opa Gompa' dates back to the 12th century. It has over 150 monks, some fascinating 'thangka' sculptures and a statue of the 'Dhyan Buddha'. Some of the Gompas were destroyed during a particularly harsh winter in 1989. The present monastery is under threat of the geographical calamities so the monks are fighting to save it.
A further drive form Dhankar takes you to Lalung Village where a small monastery in Lingti Valley is situated built nearly 600 years ago. Lhalung Gonpa was certainly founded by Lotsava Rinchen Zangpo in 10th century, as there are signs of Lotsava's paintings in the Serkhang.

From here, to stay overnigh, Kaza is your next destination. Kaza, a small town that saw development recently and still improving, is the headquarter of Spiti valley and has a number of hotels, guest houses, a bazaar, a petrol pump, all kinds of low budget restaurants, cyber café, telephone shops and vehicle repair shops. The old houses here are getting buried under the new concrete construction and a rain fed stream that flows through the town towards Spiti River to its south, when dried is full of plastic and other kind of rubbish. It has the influence of the empty packets of junk food, empty bottles of mineral water and soft drinks and other non bio degradable material.

If you want to enjoy the most breathtaking Moonlike landscaping, a half days visit to the villages of Komic, Langcha and Damul should not be skipped at any cost. Here you are at the elevation of 5487 meters and would be astounded to see people living here. Locales work in their field where they grow pea crop and village boys run towards you with age old fossils in their hands. They intend to sell them to you as a negotiable cost but it is requested not to buy them as this way you take an essential part of the wealth of this area, away.

While visiting Kaza one can enjoy a trip to Kibber Sanctuary. This sanctuary is about 20 Km away from Kaza and is linked with road via Lalung, Langcha & Kibber village. One can see herds of Blue Sheep, Ibex and panoramic views of Shila Peak, Parang La & many other enchanting views of sanctuary. On way to Kibber one must enjoy the glimpse of famous Kee Gompa.
Kibber sanctuary is the only sanctuary in the country which is situated in the cold desert area. The sanctuary is covering an area of 1400.5 sq km. There are about 13 villages situated outside the periphery of the sanctuary. Only two households in one village Kibber exist inside the sanctuary area.
Just above the, on a hill, village Langcha there is a small monastery and the view of peak ChaoChao dominates the entire region. Next to the Monastery a huge statue of meditating Buddha has been established. The barren landscape has some rare medicinal plants such as Junglee Lahsun, Ratanjot and Ginger.

Next morning a full day drive takes you to to Manali over Kunzon Pass (4600 meter) and Rohtang Pass (4090 meter). Before you ascend the Kunzum Pass declare your passport at Losar. On top of the pass there is a temple of Goddess Kunzuma. Everyone must register his/her presence here at the temple. You try to stick a coin to the idol of the goddess and if you are a clean hearted fellow the coin sticks to it. From here starts the trek to Chandertal - The Moonlake, 9 km. A dust road good enough for small jeep can also take you to Chandertal from the other side of the pass. You must have your tents with you, in case you plan to stay there overnight.

Manali is busy town that survives on tourists completely, Indians and foreigners as well. This is full of life’s humdrum and offers all quality hotels, restaurants, bus station, taxies, airport that is 50 km away, rafting, bazaars, sightseeing, clubhouse and much more.