Introduction

Tucked away in a sleepy village on the outskirts of Shimla, a 4-hour drive away, is the golden-spire temple of Bheemkali. Dedicated to Goddess Durga, also called Bheemakali, the Temple is one of the fifty Shakti Peeths and is nestled amidst towering deodar trees on a hillock at the village of Sarahan.

Over 800 years old, the temple has a Buddha idol and several Hindu deities such as Goddess Durga, Lord Shiva and Parvathi, Ganesha, and Brajeshwari. The architecture of the temple is also an interesting blend of Hindu and Buddhist styles, with elements such as wooden-sloped concave roofs, golden towers, pagodas and silver-coated doors.

The Bheemkali Temple, like most temples in the region, has many interesting legends associated with it. It is believed that in 1905, the region was rocked by an earthquake that lead the temple to tilt to one side. Later another tremor sent the temple back to its original position.

The Bheemkali Temple, which is believed to belong to the Bushair rulers of Shimla, is still thronged by devotees from across the state, especially during Dusshera, when Goddess Durga is worshipped with great pomp and fair. While human sacrifices stopped about 200 years ago, animal sacrifices are still carried out here during festivals.

There is another temple near the Bheemkali Temple; built in 1927, this temple houses a 200-year old idol of goddess Bheemkali. The palaces of Shimla’s royalty are also located nearby.

Special Attributes

An 800-year old temple steeped in legend and folklore.

Nuisance

The site is very peaceful and free of irritants.

Dressing restrictions

As this site is a place of worship, visitors are requested to maintain decorum and dress accordingly to avoid hurting religious sentiments. Appropriate dresses for women would be clothing such as salwar-kameez, long skirts and trousers and shirts. For men, it would be trousers and shirts. Main objective would be to cover upper arms and legs. Visitors are strongly recommended to avoid wearing revealing clothes.

Connectivity

Bus, Taxi

Enjoyed by

All

Exposure

For the most part of your trip you will be under the open sky. The sun could shine strongly at noon, so carry along your sunshades, sunscreen lotion and a bottle of drinking water.

Avoidable Season

It's open through the year.

Facilities

The temple complex houses a rest house and canteen for the convenience of visitors.

Things Not Allowed

Footwear, camera and leather items

Tip

Wear comfortable cloths and boots in which you can enjoy long walks. Carry a bottle of water, sunglasses and wear sunblock to protect yourself from sunburn.

Type of site

Place of Worship/Temple