Bala Sundari Temple

Getting there

• By air

  The nearest airport to Nahan is Chandigarh. Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport is an alternative.

• By train

  The nearest railway stations to Nahan are Barara, Ambala, Chandigarh and Kalka. Regular buses connect them to the town.

• By road

  Regular buses run from Nahan to Shimla, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Delhi and Haridwar. The temple is about 6 km from Kala Amb, the gateway to Nahan from Haryana.

Rules to know

• Offering coconut and other items at the temple is banned.
• Devotees may not touch the idols.

Why devotees come here

Bala Sundari Temple stands on a hillock at Trilokpur, about 24 km south-west of Nahan in Sirmaur district, Himachal Pradesh. It is dedicated to Bhagwati Tripur Mahamaya Bala Sundari, shown as a childhood image of Durga. Trilokpur is a place of great religious importance, and this is its main temple.

Legend says a sacred stone, called a pindi, appeared in a bag of salt that a local trader, Ram Dass, bought in 1570. The pindi is regarded as a symbol of Devi. The temple attracts lakhs of pilgrims from all over Northern India.

The ruler brought artisans from Jaipur in 1570 to build the temple in marble. It was finished and dedicated to Tripura Bala Sundari in 1573. Its architecture blends Indo-Persian styles. Raja Dip Prakash is recorded as the builder of the temple in 1573.

The temple was renovated in 1823 by Maharaja Fateh Prakash, and again in 1851 by Maharaja Raghubir Prakash. At present, the temple is run by a temple trust headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Sirmour.

Festivals

• Chaitra month, during Navaratri in AprilChaitra fair

  A major fair, held from the 8th to the 14th of the bright half of the month of Chaitra. Devotees from nearby states throng the temple during the Navaratras.

• Ashvina month, during Navaratri in OctoberAshvina fair

  Held over the same days of the bright half as the Chaitra fair.

Tips for your visit

• The Lalita Devi temple, dedicated to Bhagwati Lalita Devi, is 3 km from this temple.
• At Trilokpur, the Dhyanu Bhagat temple is said by local belief to house Devi Jwala Ji.

Questions people ask