Bajreshwari (Brajeshwari) Devi Temple, Kangra
Devi as Vajreshwari / Bajreshwari, goddess of the thunderbolt temple · Kangra (Nagarkot), Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India
The Bajreshwari Devi Temple, also spelled Brajeshwari or Vajreshwari and popularly called Kangra Devi, stands in the old town of Kangra, historically known as Nagarkot, in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. It is close to Kangra Fort, notes Incredible India, the Union tourism ministry's site.
The goddess is a form of Durga, and the shrine is counted among the Shakti Peethas. Once famed for its wealth, the temple was plundered in the early 11th century and destroyed by the great Kangra earthquake of 1905, after which it was rebuilt. Its seven-day Makar Sankranti fair, with offerings of butter and ghee, is one of the district's best-known festivals.
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Bajreshwari (Brajeshwari) Devi Temple, Kangra
According to the Kangra district administration and Incredible India, the temple is a Shakti Peetha, one of the places where parts of the body of Sati are believed to have fallen after Vishnu divided it to calm Shiva's grief; tradition holds that her left breast fell here. Wikipedia counts it among the 51 Shakta pithas.
The name Vajreshwari joins the Sanskrit vajra, thunderbolt, and ishwari, goddess. Wikipedia, citing the scholar David Kinsley, records the legend that the goddess slew a demon named Kalikala with a divine thunderbolt. The district and Incredible India also relate a tradition that the Pandavas built the first temple at Nagarkot after the goddess Durga appeared to them in a dream.
The temple's Makar Sankranti observance has its own legend. The Kangra district administration records the belief that the goddess was wounded while fighting the demon Mahishasura and healed the wound by applying ghee; at Makar Sankranti a fair is held at the temple for seven days, with butter sculptures and flower decorations, while pilgrims also take holy dips in the Ban Ganga stream.
Heritage
History of Bajreshwari (Brajeshwari) Devi Temple, Kangra
The shrine's wealth made it famous long before modern times. The 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica described the temple of Devi Bajreshri at Kangra as one of the oldest and wealthiest in northern India, and recorded that Mahmud of Ghazni took the fort in 1009 and carried off a vast treasure from one of its temples. Incredible India and the district administration both say the temple, once known for its gold and silver bells, was plundered by Mahmud at least five times.
On 4 April 1905 a severe earthquake destroyed the temple together with Kangra fort and town, according to the 1911 Britannica, which puts the deaths in Kangra alone at 1,339. The district administration says the temple was afterwards rebuilt by the government, and Incredible India dates its restoration to 1920.
Wikipedia notes that the complex includes several smaller temples to other deities. The Kangra district administration presents the shrine alongside the district's other great goddess temple at Jwalamukhi as part of the Kangra pilgrimage, and Wikipedia groups it with the Himachal shrines of Jwala Ji, Chintpurni and Naina Devi.
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
The temple is busiest during Navaratri and the seven-day Makar Sankranti fair. Dress modestly, follow the instructions of temple staff, and confirm current darshan timings and arrangements with the temple administration or the Kangra district administration before visiting.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with the temple administration before travelling. Last reviewed 1 November 2026.
Sacred Calendar
Festivals at Bajreshwari (Brajeshwari) Devi Temple, Kangra
Makar Sankranti fair
A seven-day fair with butter sculptures and flower decorations, linked by the district administration to the belief that the goddess healed a battle wound with ghee.
Navaratri
Wikipedia names Navaratri as the temple's main festival, and Incredible India recommends visiting then.
Location
How to Reach Bajreshwari (Brajeshwari) Devi Temple, Kangra
The temple is about 11 km from Kangra railway station, according to the Kangra district administration. Incredible India names Kangra airport at Gaggal as the nearest airport, with Chandigarh's international airport as an alternative. The temple lies in Kangra town, near the fort.
Location: Kangra (Nagarkot), Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India
Nearest airport: Kangra (Gaggal), per Incredible India
Nearest railway station: Kangra (about 11 km, per the Kangra district administration)
More in Hindu temples in Himachal Pradesh · Devi as Vajreshwari / Bajreshwari, goddess of the thunderbolt temples · Temples in Natehar (438) · Temples in Kangra Tehsil · Temples in Kangra District
Questions
Bajreshwari (Brajeshwari) Devi Temple, Kangra: Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Bajreshwari temple a Shakti Peetha?
Yes, by tradition. The Kangra district administration and Incredible India say Sati's left breast is believed to have fallen here.
What does Vajreshwari mean?
Goddess of the thunderbolt, from vajra (thunderbolt) and ishwari (goddess). Legend says she slew the demon Kalikala with a thunderbolt.
What happened to the temple in 1905?
The Kangra earthquake of 4 April 1905 destroyed the temple along with the fort and town. It was later rebuilt; Incredible India dates the restoration to 1920.
Was the temple raided by Mahmud of Ghazni?
Yes. The 1911 Britannica records that Mahmud took Kangra fort in 1009 and carried off a vast treasure, and official tourism and district pages say the temple was plundered at least five times.
What is special about Makar Sankranti at the temple?
A seven-day fair is held with butter sculptures and flower decorations, based on the belief that the goddess healed a wound with ghee.
How do I reach the temple?
It is about 11 km from Kangra railway station; the nearest airport is Kangra (Gaggal).
Sources and attribution
- District Administration, Kangra (Government of Himachal Pradesh) — Kangra Pilgrimage
- District Administration, Kangra (Government of Himachal Pradesh) — Fair and Festivals
- Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India — Brajeshwari Devi Temple
- Encyclopaedia Britannica (1911), via Wikisource — Kangra
- Wikipedia — Bajreshwari Mata Temple, Kangra
Further reading: Bajreshwari (Brajeshwari) Devi Temple, Kangra on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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