Hidimba Devi Temple
Hidimba Devi (Hadimba), wife of Bhima temple · Manali (Dhungri), Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, India
Hidimba Devi Temple, also called the Hadimba or Dhungri temple, stands in a cedar forest known as Dhungri Van Vihar on the edge of Manali in Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh. It is dedicated to Hidimba, who in the Mahabharata becomes the wife of the Pandava Bhima and the mother of Ghatotkacha.
Incredible India, the Government of India's tourism portal, records that the temple was built in 1553 CE by Maharaja Bahadur Singh. Its tall, tiered wooden tower and carved doorways make it one of the best-known examples of timber temple building in the Kullu valley, and the goddess holds a central place in the valley's religious life, including the Kullu Dussehra.
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Hidimba Devi Temple
According to the legend summarised by Incredible India and Wikipedia, Hidimba was born in a rakshasa family and was the sister of Hidimb. During the Pandavas' exile, Bhima defeated and killed Hidimb and married Hidimba; their son was Ghatotkacha. When the Pandavas left, Hidimba stayed behind and performed penance here, and devotees believe she was blessed to become a goddess.
The Kullu Dussehra website of the Himachal Pradesh government describes Hidimba as the presiding deity of the Kullu valley and the 'Dadi' (grandmother) of the former Kullu royal family, from the tradition that she granted the kingdom to Bihangmanipal, the first king of Kullu. It states that the Kullu Dussehra festivities begin only after she arrives in Kullu from Manali, and that her procession image is styled as a bride.
Incredible India notes that local people worship her as a kuldevi and village goddess, and that during Navratri the devotional focus in Manali shifts to Hidimba. A shrine to her son Ghatotkacha stands about 70 metres from the temple, according to Wikipedia.
Heritage
History of Hidimba Devi Temple
Incredible India and Wikipedia date the present temple to 1553 CE and credit Maharaja Bahadur Singh. The Kullu Dussehra website adds a tradition that after a fire in 1553 the villagers wished to rebuild the temple elsewhere, but the goddess refused, so it was rebuilt on the same rock. The temple is therefore older in tradition than its present structure.
The ENVIS centre on eco-heritage (CPR Environmental Education Centre, supported by the Union environment ministry) records that Raja Bahadur Singh is remembered in a local fair held in his name, called 'Bahadur Singh Re Jatar', in the month of Shravan.
Architecture and sacred features
The temple is built over a large rock that juts out of the ground and is worshipped as the goddess. Incredible India describes a pagoda-style structure about 24 metres tall, with three square timber-tiled roofs topped by a fourth, cone-shaped brass roof. Inside, a footprint of the goddess carved on a stone block is worshipped, along with a small brass image of about 7.5 cm (3 inches).
The wooden doorways are richly carved. Incredible India and the ENVIS eco-heritage centre describe figures of Goddess Durga as the main theme, along with animals, foliage, dancers, scenes from Krishna's life and the Navagrahas, set over a whitewashed, mud-plastered stone base.
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
The temple stands in a forest park, and it is busiest during the tourist season, Navratri and the goddess's fairs. Incredible India publishes visiting hours, but they can change. Confirm current timings, photography rules and any restrictions with the temple management or Himachal Pradesh Tourism 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 Hidimba Devi Temple
Hidimba Devi fair (Dhungri Mela)
An annual fair marking the goddess's birthday, celebrated with music and dance by local women, according to Incredible India and the ENVIS eco-heritage centre.
Bahadur Singh Re Jatar
A fair held in memory of Raja Bahadur Singh, the builder of the temple.
Navratri
During Navratri the focus of worship in Manali shifts to Hidimba Devi.
Kullu Dussehra
The goddess travels from Manali to Kullu, and the festivities begin only after her arrival, according to the Kullu Dussehra website.
Location
How to Reach Hidimba Devi Temple
The temple is in Dhungri, on the edge of Manali; the Kullu Dussehra website gives it as about 45 km from Kullu town. Incredible India lists Kullu–Manali Airport at Bhuntar as the nearest airport, with Chandigarh as the nearest large international airport, and Joginder Nagar as the nearest railway station.
Location: Manali (Dhungri), Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, India
Nearest airport: Kullu–Manali Airport, Bhuntar
Nearest railway station: Joginder Nagar
More in Hindu temples in Himachal Pradesh · Hidimba Devi (Hadimba), wife of Bhima temples · Temples in Nasogi (21/27) · Temples in Manali Tehsil · Temples in Kullu District
Questions
Hidimba Devi Temple: Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Hidimba Devi?
In the Mahabharata, Hidimba is the sister of Hidimb who marries the Pandava Bhima and becomes the mother of Ghatotkacha. Devotees believe she became a goddess through penance at Manali.
When was Hidimba Devi Temple built?
The present temple is dated to 1553 CE and credited to Maharaja Bahadur Singh. A tradition recorded by the Kullu Dussehra website says it was rebuilt on the same rock after a fire that year.
What is special about the temple's architecture?
It is a pagoda-style timber temple about 24 m tall, with three square wooden-tiled roofs and a brass cone on top, built over a rock worshipped as the goddess, with richly carved wooden doorways.
What role does Hidimba play in Kullu Dussehra?
She is regarded as the presiding deity of the Kullu valley and grandmother of the former royal family; the Dussehra festivities begin only after she arrives in Kullu from Manali.
Is there a Ghatotkacha shrine near the temple?
Yes. A shrine to her son Ghatotkacha stands about 70 metres from the temple.
How do I reach Hidimba Devi Temple?
It is in Dhungri on the edge of Manali, about 45 km from Kullu. The nearest airport is at Bhuntar and the nearest railway station is Joginder Nagar.
Sources and attribution
- Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India — Hidimba Temple
- Kullu Dussehra, Government of Himachal Pradesh — Hidimba (deity profile)
- ENVIS Centre on Conservation of Ecological Heritage and Sacred Sites of India (C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre) — Dhoongri Temple
- Wikipedia — Hidimba Devi Temple
Further reading: Hidimba Devi Temple on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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