Mata Mansa Devi Temple, Panchkula: Timings, Story & How to Reach
Photo: Aerorahulraj, CC BY-SA 4.0
श्री माता मनसा देवी मंदिरThree stones on a Shivalik hill, and a goddess of the heart's wishes.
Shri Mata Mansa Devi Mandir stands in the Shivalik foothills of Panchkula, just outside Chandigarh. Its story, darshan and aarti timings, the two Navratri melas, and the easiest ways to reach it — plus how it differs from the Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar.
- 4 am–10 pm summer darshan
- ~10 km from Chandigarh bus terminus
- 1811–1815 built by Raja Gopal Singh
- 7 Apr 2027 Chaitra Navratri mela begins
Where is Mansa Devi temple in Panchkula and what are its timings?
Mata Mansa Devi Temple stands in the Shivalik foothills at Bilaspur village, Panchkula district, Haryana — about 10 km from the Chandigarh bus terminus. Built in 1811–1815 by Raja Gopal Singh of Mani Majra, it is run by a Shrine Board. Darshan is 4 am–10 pm in summer and 5 am–9 pm in winter. It is not the hill temple in Haridwar.
Shri Mata Mansa Devi Mandir — श्री माता मनसा देवी मंदिर — is the best-loved Devi shrine of the Chandigarh tricity. Mansa Devi is worshipped as a form of Shakti, the goddess who knows the wishes (mansa) of the mind. In the sanctum she is worshipped not as a large idol but as three pindis — natural stones.
Not the Haridwar temple. There are two famous Mansa Devi temples. This one is in Panchkula, Haryana, on the Shivalik foothills, and vehicles reach the complex. The other is on Bilwa Parvat above Haridwar, Uttarakhand, reached by a ropeway. The traditional Nau Devi Yatra visits the Panchkula temple.
Mansa Devi in pictures
The white domes of the Panchkula shrine, its marble stairway and the old wish-thread tree — real photographs, each credited to its photographer.
The story of Mansa Devi
A cow, three stones and a devoted raja — the hill’s story as the Shrine Board and local tradition tell it.
- Milk on three stonesLong ago, it is said, a cow climbed this Shivalik hill every day and let its milk flow over three stones lying side by side.
- Sati's foreheadVillagers began to worship the stones. In local tradition, kept by the Shrine Board, the three pindis are linked to the forehead of Sati.
- A raja's tunnelRaja Gopal Singh of Mani Majra was so devoted that, legend says, he came to the goddess every day with his queen through a tunnel about 3 km long from his fort.
- The temple risesHe built the present temple between 1811 and 1815. In 1840 Maharaja Karam Singh of Patiala added a Shiva temple close by, the Patiala Shivalaya.
After the princely states merged, royal patronage ended and the shrine was neglected for years. In 1991 Haryana passed the Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Act, and a Shrine Board has run the complex since — about 100 acres of temples, courtyards and pilgrim facilities. Look for the fine 19th-century wall paintings in the temple complex.
Mansa Devi temple timings (Panchkula)
| Summer darshan | 4 am – 10 pm |
| Winter darshan | 5 am – 9 pm |
| Aarti — summer | Morning 4:30–5 am · Evening 7–7:30 pm |
| Aarti — winter | Morning 5:30–6 am · Evening 6–6:30 pm |
| Bhog | 11–11:15 am daily |
| Summer / winter change | The exact changeover dates are not published — confirm locally |
Timings as published by the Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board on its official site (checked 21 Oct 2026). Hours may be extended during the Navratri melas — check the board’s notices.
Navratri melas at Mansa Devi
| What | Date | Status / source |
|---|---|---|
| Chaitra Navratri mela 2027 | From 7 Apr 2027 | Nine days; organised by the Shrine Board |
| Ashvin (Sharad) Navratri mela 2027 | Not announced yet | Usually Sep–Oct; the 2026 mela ran 11–19 Oct |
| Normal days | Open all year | Calm on most days; Oct–Mar is pleasant weather |
Lakhs of devotees come for each mela. The board usually arranges free e-rickshaws for elders and differently-abled devotees during Navratri — check its notices before you go.
How to reach Mansa Devi temple, Panchkula
By road
About 4 km from Panchkula bus stand and about 10 km from the Chandigarh bus terminus. Vehicles reach the temple complex; Delhi is about 272 km away.
By rail
Chandigarh railway station is about 13 km away; Kalka about 25 km.
By air
Chandigarh airport is about 19 km by road.
Nearby Devis
Chandi Mandir is about 10 km away and Kali Mata Mandir, Kalka about 25 km; Naina Devi in Bilaspur is about 110 km.
A simple Mansa Devi trip from Chandigarh
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Day 1Mansa Devi, Chandi Mandir and Pinjore
Early darshan at Mansa Devi and the Patiala Shivalaya; on to Chandi Mandir; afternoon at Kali Mata Mandir, Kalka and the Pinjore (Yadavindra) Gardens.
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Day 2On to the Himachal Devis
Drive to Naina Devi in Bilaspur (about 110 km) and continue on the Himachal Shakti Peeth circuit to Chintpurni and Jwala Ji.
Every yatra is planned for your dates, group and pace — Price: Get Quote.
Before you go
- Easy for eldersOne of the easiest Devi shrines to visit: close to the city, with vehicles reaching the complex. Avoid the Ashtami and Navami crowds of Navratri with elders.
- Go early in NavratriQueues build from the morning aarti. Weekday mornings outside the melas are the calmest.
- Respect the shrineDress modestly, remove footwear and follow the Shrine Board’s instructions on photography.
- Use only the official siteFor notices, donations or prasad, use the Shrine Board’s own website, mansadevi.org.in — beware of look-alike sites.
Plan your Mansa Devi darshan with Suzu
Mansa Devi is the natural first stop on a Devi yatra from Chandigarh. We can plan a calm darshan day in the tricity, or combine it with the Himachal Devi circuit — Naina Devi, Chintpurni, Jwala Ji and more.
Questions pilgrims ask
What are Mansa Devi temple Panchkula timings?
In summer 4 am to 10 pm, in winter 5 am to 9 pm, as published by the Shrine Board. Bhog is offered from 11 to 11:15 am. The changeover dates are not published, so confirm locally.
What is the Mansa Devi aarti time?
Summer: 4:30–5 am and 7–7:30 pm. Winter: 5:30–6 am and 6–6:30 pm (Shrine Board).
Is Mansa Devi Panchkula a Shakti Peeth?
Local tradition and the Shrine Board link the three pindis to Sati’s forehead, but the temple is not in the classical lists of 51 Shakti Peeths. It is revered as one of the Nau Devi goddesses.
Who built Mansa Devi temple?
Raja Gopal Singh of Mani Majra built the present temple between 1811 and 1815. The nearby Patiala Shivalaya was added in 1840 by Maharaja Karam Singh of Patiala.
How far is Mansa Devi from Chandigarh?
About 10 km from the Chandigarh bus terminus, about 13 km from Chandigarh railway station and about 19 km from the airport.
Is Mansa Devi Panchkula the same as Mansa Devi Haridwar?
No. The Panchkula temple is in Haryana’s Shivalik foothills and vehicles reach it. The Haridwar temple is on Bilwa Parvat in Uttarakhand and is reached by a ropeway.
When is the Navratri mela at Mansa Devi?
Twice a year, for the nine days of Chaitra and Ashvin Navratri. The next mela begins with Chaitra Navratri on 7 April 2027.
Which Mansa Devi is in the Nau Devi Yatra?
The Panchkula temple. It is one of the nine Devis of the traditional yatra, usually visited early in the route.
Keep exploring
Nau Devi YatraNine Devis, from Shakumbhari to Vaishno Devi
Naina Devi, BilaspurShakti Peeth above Gobind Sagar
5 Shakti Peeths of HimachalNaina Devi to Chamunda in one loopAll pilgrimage toursJyotirlingas, Shakti Peeths, Char Dham & moreYatras & circuits
Seasonal yatras
Temple guides
Planning guides
Sources
- Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board — timings & notices
- Shrine Board — Mata Mansa Devi Temple history
- Shrine Board — administration
- UNI — Mansa Devi shrine Navratri celebrations (Oct 2026)
- Wikipedia — Mata Mansa Devi Mandir
- Wikipedia — Saat Behna (seven sister goddesses)
Photo credits
The domes of the Mata Mansa Devi temple — Photo: Aerorahulraj, CC BY-SA 4.0 · The wish-thread tree — Photo: Barthateslisa, CC BY-SA 4.0 · The temple domes and arches — Photo: Barthateslisa, CC BY-SA 4.0 · The marble stairway to the shrine — Photo: Aerorahulraj, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Red threads around the old tree — Photo: Srvkumar09, CC BY-SA 4.0 · The goddess in a red chunri — Photo: Aerorahulraj, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Vaishno Devi: the Bhawan on the Trikuta mountain — Photo: KDhruv406, CC BY 4.0 · Naina Devi town on the ridge below the shrine — Photo: Devyansh.sharma09, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Golden domes of Jwala Ji over the temple courtyard — Photo: Ms Sarah Welch, CC0
Legends are retold in our own words as traditions. Photographs are by the Wikimedia Commons contributors credited above, used under their licences; illustrated animations are original artwork by Suzu Travels.
