Kunal Pathri Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Kangra (Gaggal) Airport is about 15 km southwest of Dharamshala and is the nearest airport.

• By train

  Dharamshala has no direct railway station. The nearest major railhead is Pathankot Junction, about 85 km away.

• By road

  The Himachal Road Transport Corporation runs regular buses from Dharamshala to Shimla, Delhi, Chandigarh, Pathankot, Amritsar and Manali.

Why devotees come here

Kunal Pathri is a small rock temple on the suburbs of Dharamshala, in Himachal Pradesh. It stands in a dense tea garden about 3 km from town. A stone inside it is always filled with water, and locals believe it lies on the forehead of Mata Kunal Pathri.

The Himachal tourism site names the deity as Devi Durga, worshipped here as Kapaleshwari. A Tribune report instead links the shrine to Devi Sati, consort of Shiva, which has a large following in the Kangra region.

Inside the shrine, a large stone is always filled with water. Locals believe it lies on the forehead of Mata Kunal Pathri, and they hold the water in high regard.

Kunal Pathri is a small rock temple on the suburbs of Dharamshala town, set in the middle of a dense tea garden. Dharamshala has been the administrative headquarters of the Kangra district since 1855. A local priest gave one visiting group a detailed briefing on the temple's history, mythology and significance. Kotwali Bazar lists the temple among its sightseeing options, along with the Kangra Art Museum and a War Memorial.

Tips for your visit

• The state tourism department calls the temple ideal for an afternoon walking visit.
• A recent NCC group visited the lush green tea gardens on the way back from the temple.

Questions people ask