The famous Chamunda Devi Mandir stands as an enduring icon of faith in the middle of the beautiful Kangra valley in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, India. The Shakti Peeth Chamunda Devi Temple is located on the road that leads from Dharamshala to Bir.

There are quite a few temples in India that are dedicated to Chamunda Devi or Chamundi Devi, who is one of the seven Matrikas (Sapta Matrika), a group of mother goddesses, whose earliest description can be found in the Rigveda. The most famous of the Chamunda Devi temples include the Chamundi temple located on the Chamundi Hills in Mysore, Karnataka, and the Chamunda Mandir in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh.

Chamunda Devi Mandir, Kangra

This is a complete guide to visiting the famous Chamunda Devi Mandir in Kangra and includes details of the Chamunda Devi Temple History, legends of Chamunda Devi, Chamunda Temple timings, how to reach the holy abode of Kangra Chamunda Mata, and where to stay when visiting this famous temple of Himachal Pradesh.

Famous Chamunda Devi Mandir | Who Is Chamunda Devi

The famous Chamunda Devi Mandir located about 56 kilometres from Dalhousie and about 25 kilometres from McLeodganj is dedicated to Chamunda Devi who is also referred to as Chamundi or Charchika. Some sects consider her synonymous with Kali, owing to her appearance.

Chamunda Devi is one of the Sapta Matrikas, who are associated with Skanda (Subrahmanya) and Lord Shiva. The Matrikas are essentially seven female Godesses or divine mothers who are part of the Shakti cult. The Devi Mahatmya mentions Ashta Matrikas or 8 Matrikas. In Nepal, the Matrikas are considered to be eight in number and are worshipped as Ashtha Matrika.

Chamunda Devi is depicted in Hindu iconology as a goddess with a dark complexion who wears a garland that is made of skulls or severed heads. The garland is called Mundamala or Rundamala. She has a fiery expression and she is depicted holding a Damaru or drum, a trident or Trishul, a sword, and a drinking vessel.

Chamunda Devi has three eyes and is shown riding a jackal or standing on a corpse. Chamunda Devi is believed to be the consort of Bheeshana Bhairava, a form of the god Bhairava, who is himself considered to be a fiery manifestation of Lord Shiva.

The Ashta Matrikas of the Devi Mahatmya are Brahmani, Vaishnavi, Maheshwari, Indrani, Kaumari, Varahi, Chamunda, Narasimhi

Famous Chamunda Devi Temple History | Legends of Chamunda

There are various legends relating to the origin of Chamunda Devi. One of the most popular legends associated with Chamunda Devi is that she was created from the eyebrows of Goddess Durga, to destroy the demons Chanda and Munda who had unleashed a reign of terror.

The fiery form created by Goddess Durga was known as Chandi Devi. She waged a fierce battle against the demons Chanda and Munda and killed them. From that day she was called Chamunda Devi, or the killer of Chanda and Munda.

Another legend is associated with a demon called Raktabija. He was an evil force who spread terror and mayhem wherever he went. Goddess Durga waged a battle against this demon, who had a boon that wherever a drop of his blood fell, his clone would spring up.

The Goddess along with the assistance of the Matrikas was battling this demon whose every drop resulted in the multiplication of himself. At this time Chamunda Devi collected the blood of the demon in a vessel and drank it, not allowing a drop to fall on the ground, while the other Matrikas fought the demon and killed him.

The famous Chamunda Devi Mandir has its own share of legends. Not much is clear about the history of the temple, except for many myths and legends. However, it is believed that the temple dates back over 400 years. Local legend traces the origin of the temple to a King and his priest who prayed to the Goddess regarding the shifting of a temple.

The Goddess is believed to have appeared in the priest’s dream and instructed him regarding the location of an idol and how to get it from the depths of the earth, where it lay buried. The priest with the help of the King retrieved the image and had it installed in a temple that was built, and that is where the temple of Chamunda Devi became famous in its current location.

Visiting Shri Chamunda Devi Mandir | Shakti Peeth Chamunda Devi Temple

A sloping road leads from the temple parking to the Chamunda Devi Mandir. Shops selling their colourful wares line the road.

A giant wheel can be seen in the distance as we make our way toward the temple. We deposited our footwear by the side of the main entrance before entering the temple precincts.

A huge arch leads inside the temple complex. There is a huge hall at the entrance, and as you descend to a slightly lower level, the sanctum is located to the right. The idol of Chamunda Devi presides here and worship is offered to the Devi. It is said that one can see the forms of Shiva and Hanuman also in this idol of Chamunda Devi.

We offered our obeisance to the divine mother and prayed before her. We then moved further down and saw a large pond or tank. There was no water in it right now. A little monkey scampered across it in front of a beautiful statue of Lord Shiva sitting in Padmasana and meditating on a tiger skin, which stood in the centre. Incidentally, the Chamunda Devi temple is also known as Chamunda Nandikeshwar Temple.

Towards the right was an imposing statue of Hanuman standing, holding a mace in his left hand. The right palm is pointing downwards as a gesture of benevolence and generosity. The pedestal on which the statue stands has a verse of Hanuman Chalisa written on it.

As we walked to the left of the pond, a magnificent statue of Shri Ram greeted us. A ray of light fell on the statue creating a surreal effect. Steps led down towards the pond through an arch that stood in front of the statue.

The Beej Mantra of Chamunda Devi was written on the arch, “ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चै ।,” and a bell hung from the top of the arch.

A picturesque scene stretched out beyond the pond of the temple. A small arched bridge spanned the stream of the river Baner. The stream was flowing over a rocky path full of small and large pebbles, against the backdrop of thickly wooded hills.

The bridge also offered a beautiful panoramic view of the Chamunda temple complex. The scene seemed to be straight out of a painting on canvas. The blue-coloured temple pond in the foreground, the temple complex in the centre, and hills standing majestically in the background with clouds making splashes of white against the blue skies was a sight to behold.

How To Get To Chamunda Devi Temple Himachal Pradesh (चामुंडा देवी मंदिर)

The famous Chamunda Devi Mandir is located in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. It falls under the Dharamshala Tehsil and is located on the road that connects Dharamshala, Palampur, and Bir.

• Chamunda Devi Temple is located about 16 kilometres from Dharamshala
• Famous Chamunda Devi Mandir is about 25 kilometres from McLeodganj
• Chamunda Devi Mandir and Dalhousie distance is about 56 kilometres
• The nearest airport to the Chamunda Devi Mandir is Gaggal Airport near Dharamshala
• The nearest railway station to the Chamunda Devi Temple is Nagrota Railway Station about 8 kilometres away

If you are planning a visit to the famous Chamunda Mandir, you can book your flight tickets right here through Cleartrip or Makemytrip or CheapAir or Priceline and fly to Pathankot, Gaggal, or Amritsar. If you are thinking of a road trip, do check out the rental car and bus options.

Where To Stay When Visiting Chamunda Devi Temple Kangra

You can stay at either McLeodgang, Dharamshala, Palampur, or even Bir, and visit Chamunda Devi temple. We visited the temple on our way from McLeodganj to Bir. If you want to stay at Chamunda, there are a few options that include the Yatri Nivas Chamundaji, a hotel of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC).

For The Yatri Niwas Chamundaji booking please contact, 01892236065, Mobile-9882028820, email:[email protected]

You can book Hotels in Mcleodganj, Hotels in Bir, Hotels in Dharamshala, Hotels in Palampur or any destination right here through any of the options here – TripAdvisor or Cleartrip or  makemytrip or  goibibo or  Booking.com or  HotelsCombined or  Agoda  and save a lot by getting the best deals on booking your stay.

Other Places To Visit Near Famous Chamunda Devi Mandir With Distances

Chamunda Devi Temple stands in the centre of Kangra District of the lovely state of Himachal Pradesh in India. There are many attractions for travellers to visit and enjoy in the vicinity, these include temples, monasteries, and places that offer experiences in nature and adventure. Here are some of the places to visit near Chamunda Devi.

• Baijnath Shiv Mandir at a distance of about 38 kilometres
• Palampur at a distance of about 17 kilometres
• Bir Billing famous for paragliding and other adventure sports at a distance of about 64 kilometres
• Dharamshala is at a distance of about 16 kilometres
• McLeodganj famous for the presence of the Dalai Lama is about 25 kilometres away

Chamunda Devi Temple Kangra – FAQ

In which district is Chamunda Devi Temple located?
The Chamunda Devi Temple is located in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh.

Who built Chamunda Devi Temple?
There is no historical evidence about this, a legend says that a priest and King had the idol of the Goddess retrieved from below the ground and installed and a temple built.

Who is the husband of Chamunda Devi?
According to Devi Mahatmya, the consort of Chamunda Devi is Bheeshana Bhairava.

Who is Devi Chamunda?
Chamunda Devi is one of the Matrikas who was created by Devi Durga to destroy the demons, Chanda and Munda.

Is Chamunda Devi and Kali the same?
Some Shakti cults believe that Chamunda Devi and Kali are one and the same.

Is Chamunda Devi one of the Ashta Matrikas?
Chamunda Devi is one of the Ashta Matrikas.

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