Hadimba Devi Temple, Himachal Pradesh

Hadimba Devi temple is also known as Dhungari temple or Hidimba Temple and is in the hills of Manali. It is a cave temple dedicated to Hadimba Devi, a figure in the Indian epic Mahabharat. People worship Hadimba as a deity in the form of a huge rock protruding out of the ground. The temple is surrounded by a cedar forest and the place is called Dhungiri Van Vihar. Outside the temple, there is a small part of Mahabharat written and displayed for the public which tells the story of the Pandyas staying in Himachal while they were in exile.

History

The location of the Temple has a great significance in Hindu mythology. Maharaja Bahadur Singh built the Temple in the mid-sixteenth century. It was built on the surroundings of a cave where the wife of Bhima, Devi Hidimba, was believed to perform meditation. Hidimba, who was a Rakshasha, lived here with her brother Hidimba. She vowed to marry only the one who defeats her strong brother Hidimba and thus proving his might and prowess.
During their exile, the five Pandavas visited Manali, and the strongest of them, Bhima killed Hidimba. It is because of this that the people of Manali follow and worship Hidimba Devi. Even during Navratri when Durga is worshipped in the whole country by Hindus, people in Manali worship Devi Hidimba.