Hidimba Devi Temple, Manali (Hadimba Temple): Story & Timings
हिडिम्बा देवी मंदिरA wooden pagoda over a forest rock, where Bhima's queen is worshipped.
The Hidimba Devi Temple — Hadimba or Dhungri temple to locals — stands among tall deodars about 2 km from central Manali. Its Mahabharata story, what you see inside, darshan timings, the Dhungri Mela and Kullu Dussehra, and the easiest way to reach it.
- ~8 am–6 pm darshan (confirm locally)
- ~2 km from central Manali
- 1553 built by Raja Bahadur Singh
- ~14 May Dhungri Mela
Where is Hidimba Devi Temple and what are its timings?
The Hidimba Devi Temple stands in the Dhungri deodar forest, about 2 km from central Manali, in Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh. Built in 1553 by Raja Bahadur Singh of Kullu, it honours Hidimba, Bhima’s wife in the Mahabharata, worshipped here as the valley’s goddess. It is open from about 8 am to 6 pm — confirm locally, as winter hours can be shorter.
Hidimba Devi Temple — हिडिम्बा देवी मंदिर — is the best-known shrine of the Kullu valley. Locals call it the Hadimba temple or simply the Dhungri temple, after the forest of Dhungiri Van Vihar in which it stands. For the people of the valley Hidimba is no distant legend: she is their kuldevi and gram devi, the family and village goddess.
The temple is built in the Himachal pagoda style, about 24 metres high: three tiers of square wooden roofs crowned by a brass cone, rising from a whitewashed stone base. The low doorway is framed by rich wood carving — Durga, animals and foliage, dancers, scenes from Krishna’s life and the nine planets (Navagrahas) — and the outer walls are hung with old antlers and ibex horns. Hidimba is not counted among the Shakti Peeths; she is revered here in her own right.
The story of Hidimba Devi
The Mahabharata tells the first half of this story. Kullu tradition tells the rest — and the temple stands where the two meet.
- A forest of rakshasasAccording to the Mahabharata, the Pandavas, escaping the burning house of lac, rested in a forest ruled by the rakshasa Hidimb. He sent his sister Hidimbi to lure them.
- Hidimbi and BhimaInstead she fell in love with Bhima. Bhima defeated Hidimb in a duel, and with Kunti’s blessing Hidimbi married him.
- GhatotkachaTheir son was Ghatotkacha, the mighty warrior who later gave his life for the Pandavas at Kurukshetra.
- Penance on a rockKullu tradition says that when the Pandavas moved on, Hidimbi stayed in these mountains, gave the kingdom to her son and meditated on a rock in the forest. Through her penance — blessed by Durga, it is believed — she came to be worshipped as a goddess.
The temple was raised over that very rock in 1553 by Raja Bahadur Singh of Kullu, who is still remembered at a fair in his name each Shravan. In 2008 the Archaeological Survey of India, the National Culture Fund and UCO Bank signed an agreement to improve visitor facilities here.
Hidimba Devi temple timings
| Temple hours | About 8 am to 6 pm (Incredible India) — confirm locally; winter hours can be shorter |
| Aarti | Times are not published officially — ask the priests at the temple |
| Entry | No ticket is known to be charged — confirm locally |
| Season | Open all year. In Dec–Feb the forest path can be icy after snow |
| Busiest times | Summer weekends, Christmas–New Year, and the Dhungri Mela in mid-May |
Hours as published by Incredible India (checked October 2026). No temple-trust website exists; for local notices see the Kullu district site.
Festivals at Hidimba Devi temple
| What | Date | Status / source |
|---|---|---|
| Dhungri Mela (Hidimba Devi's birthday fair) | Around 14 May 2027 | Held every year in mid-May; devtas arrive on palanquins and local women dance — confirm the exact days locally |
| Bahadur Singh Re Jatar | Shravan (Jul–Aug) 2027 | Fair in memory of Raja Bahadur Singh; date not announced yet |
| Navratri | Chaitra Navratri from 7 Apr 2027 | Locally, Navratri worship centres on Hidimba Devi |
| International Kullu Dussehra | Not announced yet for 2027 | Hidimba Devi travels from Manali with her retinue to join the festival; 2026 ran 21–27 Oct (DD India) |
Festival days bring big crowds to the temple lane. Plan an early-morning visit.
How to reach Hidimba Devi temple
From Manali town
About 2 km from central Manali. Walk up through the deodar forest, or take a taxi or auto to the temple lane — then a short slope and a few steps.
By air
Kullu–Manali Airport at Bhuntar is about 51 km by road. Chandigarh is the larger airport, a long day’s drive away.
By rail
Joginder Nagar, a narrow-gauge station, is about 160 km away. Most travellers come by road from Chandigarh or Delhi instead.
By road
Overnight Volvo buses and taxis reach Manali from Delhi and Chandigarh; the temple is on the edge of town, in Dhungri.
A simple Manali temple day
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Day 1Hidimba Devi and Old Manali
Morning darshan at Hidimba Devi and the Ghatotkacha shrine; walk on to Old Manali and the Manu temple; afternoon at the Vashisht temple and hot springs.
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Day 2Naggar or Solang
Drive down the valley to Naggar and Jagatsukh, or up to Solang Nallah; Rohtang needs a permit.
Every yatra is planned for your dates, group and pace — Price: Get Quote.
Before you go
- Go earlyQueues at the small doorway grow by late morning in season. Early morning is quiet, and the forest light is lovely.
- Easy for eldersNo ropeway or pony needed — just a short slope and steps. The forest path is uneven and slippery after rain or snow.
- Respect the shrineDress modestly, remove footwear, don’t climb the carved woodwork, and follow the priests’ instructions on photography.
- Keep the forest cleanDhungiri Van Vihar is a protected deodar forest — carry your litter back.
What is inside the Hidimba Devi temple?
Many visitors are surprised: there is no large idol in human form. The sanctum is built over a big natural rock — the rock of Hidimba’s penance in local tradition. Here a footprint of the goddess carved on a stone block is worshipped, along with a small brass image, about 7.5 cm (3 inches) tall. Bow low as you enter: the carved doorway is small.
About 70 metres away, under the deodars, is the shrine of her son Ghatotkacha — a sacred tree that is worshipped in his name, not a separate temple building. Most pilgrims visit both.
Plan your Manali temple trip with Suzu
We are a Himachal agency — Manali is home ground. Tell us your dates and we will plan the drive, a stay near Dhungri and a calm morning darshan, or add Hidimba Devi to a longer Himachal Devi yatra.
Questions pilgrims ask
What are Hidimba Devi temple timings?
About 8 am to 6 pm, as published by Incredible India. Aarti times are not published officially, and winter hours can be shorter — confirm locally.
What is inside the Hidimba Devi temple?
There is no large idol. The shrine is built over a big rock, where a footprint of the goddess carved in stone and a small brass image, about 7.5 cm tall, are worshipped.
Who built the Hidimba Devi temple?
Raja Bahadur Singh of Kullu built it in 1553, in the Himachal pagoda style: three wooden roofs crowned by a brass cone.
Who was Hidimba?
In the Mahabharata she was the sister of the rakshasa Hidimb; she married Bhima and was the mother of Ghatotkacha. Kullu tradition says she later meditated here and came to be worshipped as a goddess.
How far is Hidimba temple from Manali?
About 2 km from central Manali, in the Dhungri deodar forest. You can walk up or take a taxi to the temple lane.
Is there an entry fee at Hidimba Devi temple?
No ticket is known to be charged. Confirm locally, and beware of anyone selling ‘darshan passes’.
When is the Hidimba Devi mela?
The Dhungri Mela, her birthday fair, is held around 14 May every year. She also travels to Kullu for the Dussehra festival in October.
Is Hidimba Devi a Shakti Peeth?
No. She is not in any classical Shakti Peeth list; she is a Mahabharata figure revered as the goddess of the Kullu valley. Himachal’s Devi circuit of Naina Devi, Chintpurni, Jwala Ji, Kangra and Chamunda is a separate yatra.
Keep exploring
Yatras & circuits
Seasonal yatras
Temple guides
Planning guides
Sources
- Incredible India (Govt of India) — Hidimba Temple
- National Culture Fund (Ministry of Culture) — Hidimba Devi Temple project
- CPREEC Eco-heritage — Dhoongri Temple
- DD India — Kullu Dussehra 2026
- Kullu district administration
- Wikipedia — Hidimba Devi Temple
- Lonely Planet — Hidimba Devi Temple
Legends are retold in our own words as traditions. Animations are original artwork by Suzu Travels.
