Jwala Ji Temple

There is more than a single reason why you just can’t miss out on a quick visit to the Jwalaji Temple when you are there in Kangra for a holiday. Although it would sound like just another but the Jwalaji Temple’s history, lore and reverence are good enough to attract not only the local residents of the hill station, but travellers from all parts of the country. Located at a distance of 34 km from the Kangra Valley, Kangra’s Jwalaji Temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas that are spread across different parts of the country, and thus holds a lot of importance for the devotees from all parts of India. Having said that, reaching Jwalaji Temple is convenient and best approached by rail and by road. The railway station nearest to the Jwalaji Temple is Una, which is located at a distance of 60 km from the temple, and also Hoshiarpur, a more important station, which is located a little further ahead at a distance of 75 km. Buses, shared taxis, cabs and private cars for hire are available for reaching the temple from either of the above mentioned railway stations. As far as the Jwalaji Temple timings are concerned, it is open on all days of the week from 5 am to 12 pm, and from 4 pm to 8 pm.

History and lore The famous Jwalaji Temple in Kangra is dedicated to Goddess Jwalamukhi, the one with the flaming mouth. Having a lot of spiritual significance among the believers, this temple is believed to be the home to nine permanent flames named after the goddesses – Mahakali, Annapurna, Chandi, Hinglaj, Bindhya Basni, Maha Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ambika and Anji Devi. If the legends from this place are to be believed, it was a shepherd who discovered these flames for the first time, and understanding the spiritual significance behind them, Raja Bhumi Chandra, the ruler of the area, got the temple built. And one gets amazed to know that these are not the only historical events attached to this temple. Mughal Emperor Akbar is said to have Raja Bhumi Chandra, the ruler of the area. As far as the interiors and the sanctum sanctorum of Kangra’s Jwalaji Temple is concerned, the goddess’ bed chamber is across the courtyard, while the above the temple lies the shrine of Baba Gorakhnath.

Exploring the temple
Apart from the history and lore attached to it, what makes the Jwalaji Temple a major tourist attractions are its aartis. If you reach the temple at the precise timings, you can easily catch one of the five aartis that are held at the temple on a daily basis. Each of these aartis takes place at different times of the day, starting with the first one early in the morning during sunrise, and the last one in the night time before the goddess is believed to go to a resting sleep. As far as the architecture of the Jwalaji Temple is concerned, the structure is picturesque and is built in Indo-Sikh style. The dome is of gilt, gold and pinnacles, and possesses a beautiful folding door of silver plates, presented by the Sikh Raja Kharak Singh. There are several ways to reach the famous Jwalaji Temple in Kangra. If you are flying in to the northern part of the country from someplace far, the best way to do it is to come to New Delhi and complete the rest of the journey by road. The other alternative is to travel a part of the journey by train. The railway stations nearest to the Jwalaji Temple include Pathankot (123 km), Hoshiarpur (75 km), and Una (60 km).