Chamunda Devi Temple (Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham)

Padar (Dadh) village, on the Baner river, Kangra district, near Dharamshala and Palampur · Goddess Chamunda (Chandika), a fierce form of Durga, with Shiva as Nandikeshwar in a cave below the shrine

A river-side shrine of the slayer of Chanda and Munda, with a Shiva cave and a cremation ghat on the Baner.

The Chamunda Devi temple stands at Padar (Dadh) village on the banks of the Baner river, about 15 km from Dharamshala in Kangra district. It is dedicated to Goddess Chamunda and to Shiva as Nandikeshwar, and is counted among the five major Shakti temples of Himachal Pradesh. Local tradition treats it as a Shakti Peetha, though some scholars do not list it among the classical 51. The main shrine is in the Himachali wooden style, and a flight of marble steps behind it leads to a cave with a self-formed Shiva lingam.

Timings

Temple open: approx. 6:00 AM to 12:00 noon and 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM (listed by Incredible India; the Kangra district website says generally 6 AM to 7 or 8 PM). Confirm at the temple, as summer and winter hours differ.

Daily rituals

Morning – Morning aarti and worship: Daily worship begins at opening time. Tour listings give an aarti around 8 AM; confirm at the temple.
Evening – Evening aarti: An evening aarti is held at sunset; the time changes with the season.

Darshan types and costs

General darshan – Free. Short on weekdays; long queues in Navratri.
Darshan slips and special pooja (online) – Check on the Kangra temples portal. The Himachal government portal launched in December 2023 lists darshan slips and pooja bookings for Chamunda. It did not load when we checked in October 2026.

Sevas and costs at Chamunda Devi Temple (Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham)

Special pooja booking – Check on the Kangra temples portal

When: On the date you book

A priest of the temple performs a special pooja in your name. Online pooja was launched by the state government in December 2023.

How to book: Use the Kangra temples portal (kangratemples.hp.gov.in) or the temple office.

Persons allowed: Family

We could not open the portal in October 2026 to read the current price list.

Sarai (room) booking – Check on the portal

When: Any date

The temple trust's sarai offers basic rooms for pilgrims.

How to book: Through the portal or the temple office.

Persons allowed: As per room

Himachal Tourism also runs Yatri Niwas about 300 m from the temple (phone 01892-236065).

How to book darshan

Darshan is walk-in and free. Himachal Pradesh launched an official portal for the Kangra Shakti temples (kangratemples.hp.gov.in) in December 2023 for darshan slips, special pooja, sarai, prasad and donations. It was not loading when we checked, so confirm on the day before relying on it.

Walk in for darshan. No ticket is needed.
For online services, try the portal kangratemples.hp.gov.in announced by the Himachal chief minister, or ask at the temple office.
For a room, you may also book Himachal Tourism's Yatri Niwas through the HPTDC website.

Booking safely

Fake websites for pooja or room booking. The Himachal government portal named in news reports is kangratemples.hp.gov.in; it was not loading when we checked in October 2026, so confirm with the temple office.

Darshan is free and walk-in. Himachal Tourism's Yatri Niwas can be reached on 01892-236065.

Prasadam and offerings

Prasad – Check at the temple. Sold and distributed at the temple. The portal lists online prasad.

Red cloth, coconut, fruit and flowers: The usual offerings to the goddess.

Dress code

Modest, traditional clothes.

Temple etiquette

Photography is reported to be restricted inside the sanctum; ask at the entrance.
Remove footwear before entering.
Keep your voice low near the cremation ghat on the river.

Why it matters

Chamunda is the goddess who killed the demon generals Chanda and Munda, as told in the Devi Mahatmya. The goddess Kaushiki created Chandika from her eyebrows, and after Chandika killed the two demons, Kaushiki gave her the name Chamunda (Kangra district website).

Devotees come to Chamunda to pray for protection and for vows to be fulfilled. The Kangra district website says the temple is most lively in the two Navratris.

The shrine is a place of both Shakti and Shiva worship. The cave of Nandikeshwar below the temple, the pond with sculpted figures of gods, and a cremation ghat on the river make it a place where devotees also perform last rites, say district writeups.

Legends

Chandika, Chanda and Munda

In the Devi Mahatmya the goddess Kaushiki created the warrior Chandika. Chandika killed the generals Chanda and Munda, and Kaushiki named her Chamunda in honour of the victory.

Moving the shrine

The district website tells that a 16th-century king and a priest prayed to move the goddess from a remote hilltop (the old Aadi Himani Chamunda) to an easier place. She appeared in a dream and told them where to dig. Her ancient image was found at the present site and installed.

History

About 400 to 700 years ago: Present temple

The Kangra district website says the present shrine is about 400 to 700 years old. Other sources say it was built in the 16th century.

1972: Sanskrit school

The temple trust started the Trigarat Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya, which teaches Vedic rituals and Sanskrit free of cost (Kangra district website).

December 2023: Online services

Himachal Pradesh chief minister launched a portal for the Kangra Shakti temples, including Chamunda, with virtual pooja, darshan slips, sarai booking, prasad and donations (PTI via ThePrint).

Architecture

The main shrine is in the traditional Himachali style with wooden carving, a slate roof and stone foundation. The image is often covered in red cloth. Large figures of Hanuman and Bhairav stand on either side of the entrance to the inner sanctum as guardians (Kangra district website).

Behind the temple, marble steps go down to a cave-like hollow where Nandikeshwar Mahadev is worshipped as a self-formed lingam. The complex has a pond (kund) with sculptures of gods and goddesses.

What to see

Chamunda Devi sanctum: The main darshan of the goddess, often wrapped in red cloth.
Nandikeshwar cave: A marble stair behind the temple leads to the Shiva lingam.
The pond (kund): Pilgrims may take a ritual dip.
Baner river and cremation ghat: The temple sits above the river bank where last rites are performed.
Aadi Himani Chamunda (optional trek): The older hilltop shrine, about 13 km of hike, six to seven hours, with no water on the way (Wikipedia). Only for fit trekkers, and not in winter.

How to cover the temple

The usual route is darshan of Chamunda, the marble stair to the Nandikeshwar Shiva cave, and a visit to the pond and river bank. About 1 to 2 hours.

Park and walk: The temple is by the Dharamshala to Palampur road at Padar. Park and walk to the entrance.
Chamunda Devi: Pass the guardian figures of Hanuman and Bhairav at the sanctum door and have darshan of the goddess, often covered in red cloth.
Nandikeshwar: Take the marble stair behind the temple down to the cave where Nandikeshwar Mahadev is worshipped as a self-formed lingam.
The kund: See the pond with sculpted figures of deities, where some pilgrims take a ritual dip.
Baner river: The river bank is a place of cremation rites; visit quietly.

Customs and traditions

Worship of Shakti and Shiva together

The temple is Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham, with Chamunda above and Shiva as Nandikeshwar in the cave.

The Kangra district website calls it a divine union of Shiva and Shakti.

Visit both the sanctum and the cave.

Cremation rites by the river

Last rites are performed on the river bank near the temple.

District writeups say these are performed for the salvation of the departed.

Do not photograph funerals.

For elders and differently-abled visitors

Access: Easy. The temple is by the road and needs no climb. A short stair goes down to the Shiva cave, which elders can skip.

No climb to the main temple. A marble staircase goes down to the Nandikeshwar cave. The old Aadi Himani Chamunda is a 13 km trek and is not for elders.
Himachal Tourism's Yatri Niwas is about 300 m from the temple. We found no published wheelchair service.

Waiting time

Short on weekdays; not published.

Chaitra and Ashwin Navratri.

Best time to visit

March to June and September to November. Navratri (March to April and September to October) is the liveliest, and also the busiest.

Festivals

Chaitra and Ashwin Navratri (March to April; September to October)

Special worship and fairs with large crowds. Expect long queues and traffic on the Dharamshala-Palampur road.

How to reach Chamunda Devi Temple (Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham)

By air: Kangra (Gaggal) Airport, about 25 km (Wikipedia).
By rail: Kangra station on the narrow-gauge line, about 14 km; Pathankot Junction is about 90 km (Wikipedia).
By road: The temple is on the Dharamshala to Palampur road (State Highway 17), about 15 km from Dharamshala. HRTC and private buses and taxis serve it.

Road safety

A hill-country drive on the Dharamshala to Palampur road (SH 17). The temple is right by the road and needs no climb, but hill traffic is heavy in Navratri and monsoon rain can disrupt roads.

The temple stands at Padar (Dadh) village by the road, with parking nearby and a short walk to the sanctum. A marble stair goes down to the Shiva cave.

Full road-safety guide

Where to stay

Yatri Niwas (Himachal Tourism) is about 300 m from the temple. Dharamshala, McLeod Ganj and Palampur have many hotels.

HPTDC Yatri Niwas, Chamunda Ji – Check on the HPTDC site. Phone 01892-236065 or book through the HPTDC booking site.
Temple sarai – Check on the portal. Through the Kangra temples portal or the temple office.

Suggested plan

Half day

Reach the temple by morning from Dharamshala or Palampur.
Have darshan and visit the cave of Nandikeshwar.
Walk to the Baner river bank.
Continue to Kangra for Brajeshwari Devi or return to Dharamshala.

Tips

Go on a weekday to avoid the crowds.
Book rooms ahead if you plan to stay in Navratri.
The old Aadi Himani Chamunda is a long hike with no water; do not go without a guide in monsoon or winter.

Frequently asked questions

Is this one of the 51 Shakti Peethas?

Local tradition treats it as a Shakti Peetha, but some scholars do not list it among the classical 51 (Kangra district website).

Is the temple open at noon?

Many listings show a break between about noon and 1 PM. Check on the day.

Temples nearby

Jwala Ji (Jwalamukhi) Temple – Jawalamukhi, Kangra district (about 63 km by road)
Mata Shri Chintpurni Temple – Chintpurni, Amb tehsil, Una district (about 3 km from Bharwain) (about 79 km by road)
Shri Naina Devi Ji Temple – Hilltop above Anandpur Sahib, Bilaspur district (on the Punjab border) (about 187 km by road)
Raghunath Temple, Jammu – Raghunath Bazaar, Jammu city, Jammu district (about 206 km by road)
Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal (Ram Tirath), Amritsar – Ram Tirath, Amritsar–Lopoke road, about 11 km west of Amritsar (about 230 km by road)
Shri Durgiana Mandir (Shri Durgiana Tirath), Amritsar – Outside Hathi Gate, Goal Bagh, Amritsar (about 233 km by road)

More Devi (Durga & Shakti) temples

Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam (Kanaka Durga Temple) – Indrakeeladri hill, Vijayawada, NTR district
Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple – Madurai, Madurai district
Sri Chamundeshwari Temple – Chamundi Hills, Mysuru, Mysuru district
Gangotri Temple (Shri Ganga Mata Mandir) – Gangotri, Uttarkashi district, on the Bhagirathi river (approx. 99–100 km from Uttarkashi)
Yamunotri Temple (Shri Yamuna Mata Mandir) – Yamunotri, Uttarkashi district, below the Bandarpunch massif, approx. 6 km above Janki Chatti
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine (Holy Cave), Trikuta Hills – Trikuta hills above Katra, Reasi district, Jammu & Kashmir

All Devi (Durga & Shakti) temples

Managed by

Himachal Pradesh Government Temple Trusts

No official website: The Himachal government's Kangra temples portal (kangratemples.hp.gov.in) is named in news reports of December 2023 but did not load when we checked in October 2026, so we have not linked it.

Sources

Last checked: 2026-10. Timings and fees change – confirm with the temple before you travel.