Bijli Mahadev Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Kullu-Manali Airport at Bhuntar is 11 km from Kullu and 52 km from Manali.

• By train

  Kullu district has no railway connection. Joginder Nagar (JGNX) is listed as the nearest station.

• By road

  The temple is about 20 km from Kullu. It can be reached from the Kullu valley, the Parvati valley and Naggar town, and the last stretch is a 3 km trek from the motorable road.

Why devotees come here

Bijli Mahadev is a Shiva temple in Kashawri village, Kullu valley, Himachal Pradesh, at about 2,460 meters. It is one of a few Shiva temples situated on a mountain top. Its name comes from the lightning that is said to strike the lingam.

Legend says the temple was built to honour Shiva. He defeated the demon Jalandhara with his trident and saved the Kullu valley from being submerged. Another telling names the demon Kulanta, who became a giant serpent to flood all life under water. Shiva slew him, and after the snake died it turned into a huge mountain.

The temple takes its name from bijli, the word for lightning. Reportedly, lightning strikes the lingam inside every 12 years and breaks it into pieces. The priest is believed to gather the pieces and join them again with a paste of cereal, pulse flour and unsalted butter.

Local people say the temple has stood since ancient times, and it is widely believed the Pandavas built it during their years of exile. The building follows the Kath-Kuni style of the Mahasu region, a traditional Pahari hill method. A 60-foot staff of deodar wood stands in front of the temple, and devotees walk around the sanctum through a wooden corridor.

Tips for your visit

• The entire mountain gets buried in snow during the winters.
• Basheshwar Mahadev in Bajaura, about 23 km away, is another old Shiva temple you can visit nearby.
• The trek passes rugged terrain, verdant forests and cascading waterfalls, with panoramic views along the way.

Questions people ask