Introduction

Over the last few years, the little village of Sidhbari has grown by leaps and bounds. Apart from some large establishments that have come up in the area, several army officers have settled in the area after their retirement. 18 km from McLeodganj, at Sidhbari, on the banks of the rivulet Bindu Saras, Chinmaya Tapovan is an 'ashram' that was established several years ago by the late Swami Chinmayananda, a noted exponent of the ancient Hindu religious text, the Gita. The complex includes a 9 m high image of Lord Hanuman, a magnificent Rama temple, a meditation hall, a school, and a health and recreation centre. 17 km from McLeodganj and a short distance from Chinmaya Tapovan, the village of Ghanhiara (Kanhiara, is a local variation of the pronunciation) is perhaps better known for its quarries of fine slate that have been used as roofing material for ages in the region. Close to the village, there is the temple complex of Shri Aghanjar Mahadev dedicated to a local manifestation of Lord Shiva. The main shrine, where worship is performed regularly by the priests of the temple, but where few devotees actually go, is a small cave approached by crawling under a huge boulder by the banks of a small rivulet below the complex. Lord Shiva is said to have revealed himself to Arjun, of Mahabharata fame at this spot. The sacred fire at the temple is said to have been kept burning uninterruptedly for centuries - and the ashes are accepted a cure for several ailments by the people of the area. It is claimed that the mighty Maharaja of the Punjab, Ranjit Singh was once troubled by a stomach ailment that simply refused to go away, and that these ashes cured him.

Special Attributes

Ashram, and a temple

Nuisance

None

Dressing restrictions

Conservative

Connectivity

Taxis, buses and autos

Enjoyed by

Religion and general interest

Exposure

Some exposure during the summer months

Avoidable Season

Open through the year

Facilities

Parking and basic restaurants close by

Things Not Allowed

No shoes in the temple area and the meditation hall.

Tip

Early evenings are a good time to be there.

Type of site

Ashram /temple