Bhima Devi Temple Complex
Panchkula district, Haryana
The Bhima Devi Temple Complex, nicknamed Khajuraho of North India for its erotic sculptures, comprises the restored ruins of an ancient Hindu temple dating from between 8th and 11th century AD, together with the adjacent 17th-century Pinjore gardens, located in Pinjore town in Panchkula district of the state of Haryana, India. The old temple was destroyed by Islamic invaders and the present 8-11th CE temple is likely built on the same place under the old name, and the nearby ancient baoli still has old Hindu pillars. Bhimadevi belongs to the Shakti tradition that was derived from the Buddhist tantric goddess. Further, in the Devi Mahatmya it is said that in the Western Himalayas of Himachal Pradesh, Bhimadevi appeared in an enormous form of Bhimarupa and gave protection to the sages. The site was worked upon extensively by the team of Speaking Archaeologically from 2017 to 2019, with preliminary survey beginning as early as in 2015 and the report was published as the Speaking Archaeologically Journal Volume III:Bhima Devi Project Edition in 2020.
From the Wikipedia article Bhima Devi Temple Site Museum, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it is
Panchkula district, Haryana. Open in Google Maps
How to reach
- By train: nearest station Kalka railway station (KLK), about 7 km by road.
- By air: Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport (IXC), about 22 km by road.
In-depth temple guides nearby
- Shri Mata Mansa Devi Mandir, Panchkula – Bilaspur village, Mansa Devi Complex, Panchkula (on the edge of Chandigarh) (about 11 km)
- Shri Naina Devi Ji Temple – Hilltop above Anandpur Sahib, Bilaspur district (on the Punjab border) (about 84 km)
- Brahma Sarovar and Jyotisar, Kurukshetra – Thanesar / Kurukshetra, Haryana (about 116 km)
- Jwala Ji (Jwalamukhi) Temple – Jawalamukhi, Kangra district (about 166 km)
- Mata Shri Chintpurni Temple – Chintpurni, Amb tehsil, Una district (about 3 km from Bharwain) (about 171 km)
Timings and rituals for this temple aren't in our guide yet – check locally before you travel. More temples in Haryana