Chandi Devi Temple Haridwar (Timings, History, Images, Aarti)
Located atop the Neel Parvat of the Shivalik Hills, the Chandi Devi Temple in Haridwar is a quaint temple devoted to the Chanda Devi Goddess. One of Haridwar’s five pilgrimages, the Chandi Devi Mandir, also called Neel Parvat Teerth, is also called Siddha Peetha, a location where worshippers go to fulfill their desires. Additionally, trekking visitors favor the Chandi Devi temple because to its location. A ropeway, which offers an amazing perspective, is another way to go to the temple’s peak.
The greatest way to appreciate Chandi Devi Temple’s historic splendor is to walk your way to the summit. You will undoubtedly sense the presence of the divine because of the surrounding lush foliage. This shrine, one of Haridwar’s most ancient and renowned temples, receives a ton of visitors all year long. The festivals of Chandi Chaudas, Navratra, and Kumbh Mela are among the most joyous occasions here, with the temple witnessing incredible festivities and a large number of visitors. A must-see during the festival season is the Chandi temple.
History & Significance of Chandi Devi Temple
Adi Shankaracharya is credited with laying the foundation for the Chandi Devi Temple in Haridwar sometime in the eighth century, and it is thought that the renowned Hindu priest himself placed the Goddess’ idol there. The temple gained immense importance as a respected shrine of Chandi Devi after Kashmiri king Suchat Singh constructed an official shrine in 1929.
Legend of Chandi DeviÂ
Goddess Chandi, sometimes called Goddess Chandrika, is the ruling deity of Chandi Devi Temple. According to legend, the demon kings Shuhnmbha and Nishumbha had long ago taken control of the realm of Heaven and exiled all of the gods, including God-King Indra, from it. When Goddess Parvati took on the appearance of Chandi, a stunningly beautiful woman, all the gods prayed to her, seeing no other option.
When Chandi went to see the demon rulers, Shumbha was enthralled with her face and made the decision to wed her. But when Chandi turned him down, Shumbha became extremely angry and dispatched the demon chiefs Chanda and Munda to murder her. When the two faced Chandi, her rage turned into Chamunda, who slew Chanda and Munda. The goddess then slew Shumbha and Nishumbha as they tried to murder Chandrika. The Chandi Devi temple was built here to commemorate the legend when Chandrika slept for a time atop the Neel Parvat after defeating the two demons. In honor of the demon kings that were killed, the mountain range’s two summits are known as Shumbha and Nishumbha.
Architecture and View of Chandi Devi MandirÂ
Visitors often hike uphill to the stunning temple perched atop the hill, which is a trekker’s paradise. Take a ride on one of the several cable cars that have been lately erected here for the convenience of the devotees if you would like to have an aerial perspective of the entire city of Haridwar. A breathtaking view of the valley below can be seen as the automobile climbs towards the shrine. The architecture of the temple itself is a representation of modesty and simplicity. Every year, millions of devotees flock to the Chandi Devi temple, which has a flag on its plain exterior.
Trek to Chandi TempleÂ
Because Chandi Temple is situated in the Himalayan foothills, it is the ideal place to go hiking. Chandighat is the starting point for the roughly three-kilometer hike to the temple. At an easy to medium difficulty level, the trip to Chandi Devi temple is also an odd destination for hikers. It is quite steep and has some obstacles along the route, but the landscape of the area makes it worthwhile.
Chandi Devi Temple RopewayÂ
A ropeway ride is a practical way to go to the summit of the Chandi Devi Temple. It travels roughly four to five kilometers across the mountains and offers a picturesque path that allows you to see the area’s splendor up close. A journey through the same, called the Chandi Devi Udankhatola, costs roughly INR 84 per person.
