Beautiful Mahakaleshwar Pandoi Devta ji Temple at Pandoa (Shimla)

You are aware of my road trip on the stretch Nalagrah-Ramshehr-Arki-Basantpur-Luhri-ANNI. When from Basantpur-Tatapani Road, we take a right turn on MDR 22 towards Luhri and Rampur then we follow the Satluj river continuously and get a chance to see communities living near Satluj river and in this valley. We also get a chance to see their culture and beliefs. Today, I am going to talk about the Pandoi Devta temple situated just a few meters away from this road at Pandoa village. Himachal Pradesh can be known as a place of thousands of deities; therefore, we say it the land of Gods. This temple is not visible from the road and you need to take an unpaved road that is 300 meters long to reach this temple. Pandoi Devta temple is a set of one main temple and two Kothis.

At this place, we can find the same style of Shivlinga as we find at the Ujjain; therefore, this place is also known as Mahakaleshwar Pandoi Devta ji Shahib. It is believed that this Shivlinga was created by Pandavas during their exile. When Pandavs created this place then it was known as Pandowas, but today it is known as Pandoa. These kinds of temples are the beauty of this place only and they are unique to the location. This temple is made with the help of stones and wood. We see the construction of the lower part of the temple with the layers of stones and wood integrated with each other to make a wall. This architecture is unique to this area and we can find the use of this technique on many old and new temples, building situated in Kullu and Shimla district. Apart from it, we can also find great craftsmanship on the wood by hand which looks very beautiful on the first look.

Today, we do not see this much detailing on the wooden crafts in other parts of India. We can find a similar look at the Hatu Mata Temple too which is also constructed in a similar design. This a new temple constructed at this place whereas the old temple is situated at the top of the hill at Kotighat which is not totally linked to the road so far. The idol of the main devta is moved from this temple to the old temple from time to time. The areas around the upper hills are divided among various local devtas and the area around lower and upper temples is part of the jurisdiction of the Pandoi devta. People of this area have great faith in the Pandoi devta and they often come to him for blessings.

Overall, it was a great visit to the lower Pandoi devta temple situated near the MDR 22 road to Luhri (Rampur) and it was by luck and with the help of a local people, we found it. This temple is a gem hidden in the hills and very unique to a person like me who doesn't find similar things often.

Also Visit - Discover Paneu Hill Station and Naag Temple

Watch the Video of Lower Pandoi Devta Temple-

Comments

Sidh Baba Garibnath Temple, Androli (Una, India)

I love to cover temples of Himachal Pradesh and Today, I will share with you a beautiful temple situated on the bank of the Govind Sagar Lake near Androli village of Himachal Pradesh, we can find this Shiva temple. It got its name of Sidh baba Garibnath because of a Saint with a similar name who meditated at this place. The unique thing about this temple is that it becomes inaccessible during the monsoon due to a rise in the water levels of Govind Sagar Lake. On any ordinary day, we can reach this temple by road, however, during the rainy season when the water level rises then we need the help of boats to reach this temple. This temple looks beautiful in all conditions whether it is submerged in water or out of water. When the temple is out of the water then it offers a very scenic view of Gobind Sagar lake. Every time, you visit this temple, you can find a different view because of the different water levels in the Gobind Sagar lake. Image Source - wikimedia Image Source -...

Why travelling is so important for all of us?

We all get bored with the routine of daily life and want to break this routine. Holidays offer a great escape from all this hectic and busy life. The stress in day-to-day life is so common and high that long exposure to this stress can make us ill. Therefore, we need a break from time to time to explore new things and places. When we go to a new place then we learn many new things and interact with many new cultures. It offers an escape from the familiar and provides an opportunity to relax and rejuvenate. Whether you're lounging on a beach, exploring nature, or immersing yourself in a different city, travelling can be a source of relaxation and a chance to recharge. Travelling often involves interacting with locals and fellow travellers from different backgrounds. It provides a chance to make new friends, learn from others, and build connections. Meeting people with different perspectives and life experiences can be enriching and create lasting memories and friendships. Tra...

Information and Glimpse of International Shivratri Festival Mandi (Himachal Pradesh)

In the previous post, I shared with information and pictures of the ancient Bhootnath Temple of Lord Shiva in Mandi town . Today, I will be giving you an opportunity to see the glimpse of famous and international Shivratri festival held every year in Mandi near the Bhootnath temple. This fair lasts for seven days and starts on the Shivratri day. This fair is attending by hundreds of local deities and millions of people from across the world. It was a great experience for me to attend this fair because I never saw such fair before in my life. If anyone wants to get the glimpse of the life of Pahari people then he needs to visit this fair. Local deities (Gods and Goddesses) from the temples situated in or around Mandi are invited to attend this festival and some deities travel for many days to reach this spot. During this festival, we can see the use of traditional musical instruments like Karnal, dhol etc. Mandi is also known as small Kashi because of the 81 old temple...

17th century Maa Tarna (Shyamakali) Temple, Mandi (Himachal)

I have visited many ancient and beautiful temples of the Himachal and found them all unique in their beauty and construction. With changing landscape, we can see changes in the designs of temples. From the ancient wood temple of Shakti Devi in Chamba to Masroor Rock temple in Kangra , all temples in Himachal offer something unique and special. Today, I will talk about the Tarna Mata temple situated in the Mandi city of Himachal Pradesh that is also known as Choti Kashi because of 80 plus temples. The actual name of the temple is Shyamakali Temple and it was built by king Shyam Sen in the 17th century on the hill called Tarna; therefore, this temple has got its name of Tarna Mata from the name of the hill on which it was built. This temple is also a sign of victory of the Mandi kingdom because Raja Shyam Sen built this temple after winning a battle against the rival king of Suket Jeet Sen. Raja Shyam Sen of Mandi wished from Maa Kali to grant him a win over the Raja J...

I Travel For You

Search This Blog