Bhimakali Temple
Temple Of Goddess Bhimakali
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History
The temple was built in 13th century as a shrine dedicated to goddess Durga, locally known as Bhimakali, and is revered as one of the 51 sacred Shakta pithas. She is the kuldevi of the rulers of the erstwhile Bushehr state. The temple is a popular pilgrimage site in Himachal Pradesh. Raja Padam Singh contributed towards rebuilding the temple in the 1920s.
During the 1905 Kangra earthquake disaster, the main tower tilted slightly but astonishingly straightened back during a subsequent tremor. Legend has it that the temple has deep foundations and includes a disused tunnel connecting it to the village of Ranwin, located a kilometer away. In ancient times, priests supposedly used this secret passage for entering and leaving the temple.
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Legend
According to one legend, during Daksha Yagna, the Ear of Sati Devi fell here when Lord Vishnu cut the pieces of her body carried by heartbroken Lord Shiva. Other legend states that this area was under the rule of a Demon called Banasura, the great-grandson of king Prahlad an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. Due to the Usha-Anirudh affair, Lord Krishna fought here with him, and in this battle, Lord Siva stood against the former. The legend goes that the head of the defeated king Banasura was buried in front of the entry gate now marked as a raised platform to the first courtyard. After Banasura, Pradyumna son of Lord Krishna ruled this area. Then the ruling king constructed this temple recognizing Devi Bhimakali as the presiding deity of this area.
Architecture
The architectural style of the temple is a blend of Hindu and Buddhist temple construction styles that is not found anywhere else in the hilly region. Constructed in tower temple typology and kath-kuni style, the temple has three courtyards that surround the main complex. There is a twin tower, a guest house, the old royal palace of Bushahr, accommodation space for support staff, and a couple of smaller temples. The first courtyard has Narsingha temple, the second courtyard has Raghunath temple, and the third courtyard has the twin towers containing the idol of goddess Bhimakali.
There are four exquisitely carved gateways to the temple: the first gate is gold-plated, the second gate is silver foiled, the third gate opens to the Raghunath temple, and the fourth gate opens to the twin tower temples and it is known as Shri Dwar. The entire complex has wooden and silver carvings. The external open areas are decorated with wooden chimes that still produce humming sounds while oscillating. Stones and deodar wood were the primary materials of construction.
Conservation
In 2022, a portion of the foundation of the temple collapsed. An analysis committee was established in 2023 with the help of the Bhimakali Temple Trust Rampur to assess the damages and prepare a plan to protect and conserve the temple. Experts from IIT - Mandi were hired to assess the cause of natural damages and propose conservation methods.
Travel
The temple is reachable by air, train, and road. The nearest airports are Bhuntar Airport and Chandigarh Airport. The nearest railway station is the Chandigarh junction railway station. Private bus operators and the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) ply daily buses from nearby major cities like New Delhi. The temple is at a walking distance from the Sarahan market area.