Devi Darshan in Himachal Pradesh: A Sacred Journey Through Kangra

Himachal Pradesh is often called Dev Bhoomi — the Land of the Gods.

Beyond the familiar landscapes of Dharamshala, McLeod Ganj and the Dhauladhar, the Kangra Valley has a deep spiritual heritage shaped by ancient temples, pilgrimage traditions, sacred rivers and mountain communities.

For travellers visiting this part of Himachal, a Devi Darshan can be a beautiful way to experience the region beyond conventional sightseeing.

Among the most important temples are Chamunda Devi, Mata Bajreshwari, Maa Baglamukhi, Jwala Ji, Chintpurni and Naina Devi.

At Saraaya Glamps Dharamshala, we often find that guests want to experience these places without turning their entire holiday into a pilgrimage tour. The best approach is therefore to plan the temples around your arrival and departure route and leave enough time to enjoy the mountains as well.

Planning Your Devi Darshan Around a Stay at Saraaya

The right itinerary depends largely on how you arrive in Himachal.

If you are driving from Delhi, Chandigarh, Punjab or elsewhere, some temples can be incorporated naturally into your road journey.

If you are flying into Kangra Airport, Saraaya works well as a peaceful base for exploring the closer Kangra temples.

Arriving by Air

Kangra Airport is approximately 1 hour 15 minutes by road from Saraaya.

Rather than spending your arrival day travelling between temples, we recommend reaching Saraaya, checking in and settling into the mountains.

The following morning, you can start early and explore the nearby Kangra temples.

Arriving by Road

For guests driving into Himachal, the route can be planned differently.

Saraaya is approximately 30 km from the main highway, so guests travelling by road should consider which temples naturally fall along their approach or onward journey.

For example, depending on your starting point and onward destination, Chintpurni, Jwala Ji or Baglamukhi may make more sense as part of your road journey rather than as a separate excursion from Saraaya.

This can save considerable time on mountain roads.

Chamunda Devi & Mata Bajreshwari: A Half-Day Temple Journey from Saraaya

One of the easiest and most meaningful temple excursions from Saraaya is a visit to Chamunda Devi Temple and Mata Bajreshwari Devi Temple in Kangra.

If you leave Saraaya early, both temples can comfortably be visited in a half-day, allowing you to return to the property with the rest of the day still available.

The suggested morning

Early breakfast at Saraaya

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Chamunda Devi Temple

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Mata Bajreshwari Devi Temple, Kangra

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Optional Kangra Fort

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Return to Saraaya

The exact duration will depend on traffic, temple queues and how much time you choose to spend at each place, but an early start gives you considerably more flexibility.

Chamunda Devi Temple

Situated beside the Baner River beneath the Dhauladhar ranges, Chamunda Devi Temple is one of the most important religious destinations in the Kangra region.

The setting is part of what makes the visit special.

The temple is surrounded by mountains and the river landscape, creating an atmosphere that feels deeply connected to the Himalayan environment.

For guests at Saraaya, Chamunda is an especially natural addition to a morning exploring the Kangra Valley.

Mata Bajreshwari Devi Temple

From Chamunda, continue towards historic Kangra and Mata Bajreshwari Devi Temple, also known as Kangra Devi Temple.

The temple is dedicated to Bajreshwari Devi and has played an important role in the religious and cultural history of Kangra.

If time permits, the visit can be combined with Kangra Fort, making the excursion a blend of spirituality and Himalayan history.

A practical half-day from Saraaya

Saraaya → Chamunda Devi → Bajreshwari Devi → Kangra Fort → Saraaya

Leave early, keep the morning relaxed and return to Saraaya for lunch or a quiet afternoon at the property.

This is one of the temple excursions we would particularly recommend to guests who want to experience Kangra without sacrificing their time at Saraaya.

Maa Baglamukhi & Jwala Ji

For a second temple excursion, Maa Baglamukhi and Jwala Ji can be combined into a longer day.

Baglamukhi Temple is located at Bankhandi in Kangra district and is dedicated to Goddess Bagalamukhi, one of the ten Mahavidyas in the Shakta tradition.

Jwala Ji, at Jwalamukhi, is renowned for its naturally occurring sacred flame and is one of Himachal Pradesh’s most distinctive pilgrimage destinations.

A practical itinerary can be:

Saraaya → Baglamukhi → Jwala Ji → Saraaya

However, this is a longer outing than the Chamunda–Bajreshwari combination, so it is worth starting early and allowing sufficient time for mountain travel.

Chintpurni: Best Considered Along Your Road Journey

Mata Chintpurni is an important pilgrimage destination in Una district and attracts devotees throughout the year.

Because it lies on a different corridor from the closer Kangra temples, we would not recommend adding Chintpurni simply because you are staying at Saraaya.

Instead, if you are travelling by road, look at your complete journey.

Depending on where you are coming from and where you are going afterwards, Chintpurni may make much more sense as a stop before reaching Saraaya or on your onward journey.

This is one of the advantages of planning your pilgrimage around your actual travel route rather than following a generic temple circuit.

Naina Devi: For a Longer Pilgrimage

Shri Naina Devi Temple is another major pilgrimage destination in Himachal Pradesh, located farther away in Bilaspur district.

It is best considered as part of a longer Himalayan pilgrimage or as a stop that fits naturally into your onward journey.

We would not recommend trying to combine Naina Devi with a short Kangra temple excursion from Saraaya.

The mountains reward a slower pace.

A Simple Way to Plan Your Temple Visits

If you are flying into Kangra Airport

Day 1

Kangra Airport

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Approximately 1 hr 15 min drive

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Saraaya check-in & relax

Day 2

Early breakfast

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Chamunda Devi

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Bajreshwari Devi

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Optional Kangra Fort

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Return to Saraaya

Day 3

Baglamukhi + Jwala Ji, if you would like a longer temple excursion.

If you are driving to Saraaya

Look at your complete route first.

Depending on your starting point, consider incorporating:

Chintpurni / Jwala Ji / Baglamukhi

into the journey before reaching Saraaya or on your onward drive.

Then use your time at Saraaya for the temples that are convenient from the property, particularly:

Chamunda Devi + Bajreshwari Devi

This avoids unnecessary backtracking and gives you more time to enjoy the stay itself.

Come Back to the Quiet of the Mountains

Perhaps the nicest part of doing a Devi Darshan while staying at Saraaya is the contrast.

Your morning may begin with temple bells and Darshan.

You travel through Kangra’s villages and mountain roads.

And then you return to the quiet of the forest.

Saraaya has only four private Safari suites, giving guests an intimate Himalayan setting away from the busier tourist areas.

There is no need to fill every hour.

After returning from the temples, you can have lunch, rest, enjoy the mountain views, sit around the bonfire or watch an outdoor movie beneath the stars.

The pilgrimage becomes one part of the Himalayan experience rather than the entire holiday.

Experience the Spiritual Side of Kangra

A visit to Himachal does not have to be only about sightseeing.

The temples of Kangra offer a glimpse into the region’s faith, history and living traditions.

Chamunda Devi.

Bajreshwari Devi.

Baglamukhi.

Jwala Ji.

Chintpurni.

Naina Devi.

Each has its own history, setting and traditions.

And between them lie the mountains, forests, rivers and villages that make the journey just as memorable as the destination.

At Saraaya, we believe the best way to experience Himachal is not to rush through it.

Take the Darshan.

Take the mountain roads slowly.

And leave some time for the silence.

Saraaya Glamps Dharamshala

Serenity in Wilderness