Chintpurni Temple, Una: Darshan, Navratri Mela, Story & How to Reach
माता श्री चिंतपूर्णीShe who ends all worries.
Mata Shri Chintpurni, the seat of Chhinnamastika on a hill in Una district — next door to Suzu Travels’ home in Bilaspur. The legend, how darshan works (parchi and Sugam Darshan), mela dates and the easiest ways to reach the temple.
- 11–20 Oct Navratri mela 2026
- 3 aartis every day
- ~40 km from Una town
- ~31 km to Jwala Ji
Where is Chintpurni temple and why is it sacred?
Mata Shri Chintpurni stands in Chintpurni village (once called Chhaproh) in Una district, Himachal Pradesh, about 40 km north of Una town. The goddess is Chhinnamastika, one of the ten Mahavidyas, and she is believed to end her devotees’ worries (chinta). Many lists count it among the Shakti Peeths of Himachal. The 2026 Navratri mela runs 11–20 October.
The goddess of Chintpurni is Chhinnamastika (Chhinnamasta), the Mahavidya who is shown holding her own severed head — a form that speaks of the Mother giving even herself for those who depend on her. The temple trust describes the dham as guarded by Shiva, as Rudra Mahadev, on all four sides: Kaleshwar Mahadev to the east, Narahna to the west, Muchhkund to the north and Shiv Bari to the south.
Chintpurni is the second stop on the five Shakti Peeths of Himachal circuit, after Naina Devi and before Jwala Ji, and one of the nine shrines of the Nau Devi Yatra. Please note that this is the Himachal temple — the Chhinnamasta temple at Rajrappa in Jharkhand is a different shrine of the same goddess.
The story of Chintpurni
The temple trust tells the Chhinnamasta story, and a later tale of one devotee whose worries she lifted. This is how they are told.
- Hunger after the battleAfter a fierce battle, the Mother’s two attendants, Jaya and Vijaya, were still burning with hunger and thirst, and nothing could satisfy them.
- The Mother gives herselfOut of compassion she struck off her own head, and streams of her blood nourished them. Devotees call this form Chhinnamastika — the goddess who holds nothing back.
- A hill ringed by ShivaTradition held that her seat would be a place guarded by Shiva on every side. This hill in Una, with a Shiva shrine at each of the four points, is believed to be that place.
- Mai Das at ChhaprohMuch later, a devotee named Pandit Mai Das from the old Patiala state is said to have received her darshan at Chhaproh village. She ended his worries, so she came to be called Chintpurni.
The temple’s own account says Mai Das founded the shrine about twelve generations ago, and his descendants still serve as its priests; there is no dated record of the building, so we don’t give a year. Where Chintpurni sits among the Shakti Peeths is debated: compiled 51-peetha tables say Sati’s foot fell here, popular Himachal tradition says her forehead, and some accounts speak of her consciousness. The temple itself tells the Chhinnamasta story rather than naming a body part, and so do we.
Chintpurni darshan timings and booking
| Temple hours | Not published officially — confirm locally or on the trust’s site. Hours are longer during Navratri. |
| Aarti | Three daily aartis — morning (Pratahkal), midday and evening (Sandhya). Clock times are not published officially. |
| Queue | Take a darshan slip (parchi) from the temple guard and join the official queue. The trust asks pilgrims not to use back-door or middleman darshan. |
| Sugam Darshan | Paid Sugam Darshan can be booked online only on the official site, matashrichintpurni.com — check the current fee there. |
| Fake sites | Book only on the temple trust’s own site. Look-alike booking pages and agents selling “VIP darshan” are not the trust. |
From the Mata Shri Chintpurni temple trust’s pages on aartis and do’s and don’ts (checked 8 Oct 2026). Many travel websites print clock times for Chintpurni that the trust does not publish — please don’t rely on them.
Chintpurni mela dates
| What | Date | Status / source |
|---|---|---|
| Sharad (Asuj) Navratra mela 2026 | 11–20 Oct 2026 | Una administration, via Amar Ujala (5 Oct 2026) |
| Chaitra Navratri 2027 | From 7 Apr 2027 | Panchang |
| Sawan Ashtami mela | July–August, 10 days | 2027 dates not announced yet |
| New Year event | 28 Dec – 2 Jan | Temple trust |
| Sankranti | Every month | Temple trust |
The two Navratri melas and the Sawan Ashtami mela bring the biggest crowds of the year, and queues run through the day. Elders and small children are more comfortable on a weekday outside the melas.
How to reach Chintpurni
By road
About 40 km north of Una town. From the other Shakti Peeths: about 31 km from Jwala Ji and about 112 km from Naina Devi. Ghumarwin is about 147 km via Una (a shorter hill road may exist).
By rail
The nearest stations are in Una district — Una Himachal and Amb Andaura. Confirm the road distance from your train’s station locally.
By air
Gaggal (Kangra) airport is the usual choice, with Chandigarh as the larger airport for more flights. Plan the last stretch by road.
The last stretch
From the bus stand and parking it is a short walk up the bazaar lane to the temple. There is no ropeway, pony or palki service published for Chintpurni.
A two-day Chintpurni and Jwala Ji trip
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Day 1Naina Devi → Chintpurni
Morning darshan at Naina Devi, then about 112 km down to Una and up into the hills to Chintpurni. Evening darshan with a parchi; overnight at Chintpurni or Bharwain.
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Day 2Chintpurni → Jwala Ji
Early darshan at Chintpurni, then a short 31 km to Jwala Ji for the flames. Continue to Kangra and Chamunda to complete the five Shakti Peeths, or head home.
Every yatra is planned for your dates, group and pace — Price: Get Quote.
Before you go
- Parchi firstCollect your darshan slip from the temple guard before joining the queue, and use only the official line.
- Book Sugam Darshan only on the trust's sitePaid Sugam Darshan is sold on matashrichintpurni.com. Beware of look-alike websites and touts offering quick darshan.
- Respect the temple's rulesThe trust asks pilgrims not to feed the monkeys, not to smoke or drink, and not to drop prasad on the floor. Follow the notices about photography inside.
- Plan around the melasIn Navratri and the Sawan mela, go early in the morning, keep bags small, carry water and keep children close in the crowd.
- Elders and wheelchairsWheelchair facilities are not published — confirm locally before you travel. A weekday visit outside the melas is much easier for elders.
- Where to staySimple sarais and guest houses are in Chintpurni town, and HPTDC’s Chintpurni Heights is at Bharwain nearby.
Plan your Chintpurni darshan with Suzu
Chintpurni is next door to our home district of Bilaspur. We plan Chintpurni trips, the five Shakti Peeth circuit and the Nau Devi yatra — cars, stays and timings that keep you clear of the worst mela crowds.
Questions pilgrims ask
What are Chintpurni temple timings?
The temple trust does not publish clock times. There are three daily aartis — morning, midday and evening — and hours are longer during Navratri. Check matashrichintpurni.com or confirm locally before you go.
How do I book Sugam Darshan at Chintpurni?
Paid Sugam Darshan is booked online only on the temple trust’s official site, matashrichintpurni.com, where the current fee is shown. Avoid look-alike sites and touts offering VIP darshan.
When is the Chintpurni Navratri mela in 2026?
The Sharad (Asuj) Navratra mela runs from 11 to 20 October 2026. Chaitra Navratri 2027 begins on 7 April, and the Sawan Ashtami mela is held in July–August (2027 dates not announced yet).
Why is the goddess called Chintpurni?
Because she is believed to free her devotees from worry (chinta). Tradition says she lifted the worries of her devotee Pandit Mai Das at Chhaproh village, which later took the name Chintpurni.
Who is Chhinnamastika?
One of the ten Mahavidyas — the goddess who, in the temple’s legend, cut off her own head so that her blood could feed her hungry attendants Jaya and Vijaya.
Which part of Sati fell at Chintpurni?
Traditions differ. Compiled 51-peetha tables say her foot, popular Himachal tradition says her forehead, and some accounts say her consciousness. The temple itself tells the Chhinnamasta story.
How far is Chintpurni from Jwala Ji and Una?
About 31 km by road from Jwala Ji and about 40 km from Una town. From Naina Devi it is about 112 km.
Do I need a darshan slip at Chintpurni?
Yes. The trust asks every pilgrim to take a darshan parchi from the temple guard and join the official queue, and not to use back-door or middleman darshan.
Keep exploring
Yatras & circuits
Temple guides
Planning guides
Sources
- Mata Shri Chintpurni temple trust (official)
- Temple trust — history and mythology
- Temple trust — aartis
- Temple trust — festivals
- Temple trust — do's and don'ts
- Amar Ujala, Una — Navratri mela 11–20 Oct 2026
- Wikipedia — Chintpurni
- Wikipedia — Shakta pithas
- Navratri dates — Dekho Panchang
Legends are retold in our own words as traditions. Animations are original artwork by Suzu Travels.
