Visit to Dharamshala, Kangra Fort, Jwalamukhi, Chamundadevi on 28-30 Mar 2017

With two days of stay in Dharamshala we visited Chamundadevi Temple, Jwalamukhi, Kangra Fort, Jain Temple, McLeod Ganj and HPCA Cricket Stadium. Also could see a tea garden on the way from Manali to Dharamshala.

With Sadhana in the background of tea garden near Dharamshala

Chamunda Devi Temple This ancient temple dates back to the 16th century. The temple is dedicated to Chamunda Devi, who is a form of Durga / Shakti. Chamunda Devi Mandir is believed to be the abode of 'Shiva and Shakti'. Due to this reason, it is also known as 'Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham'. The term 'Chamunda' has been derived from two words, 'Chanda' and 'Munda' two demons slained by the Godess.

On the way to Dharamshala in the Tea Garden Estate, Near Palampur

Brijeshwari Temple, one of the Shaktipiths, is located in the town of Nagarkot, Kangra district,The original temple was built by the Pandavas at the time of Mahabharatha. Md Gaznavi looted this temple at least 5 times, in the past it used to contain tonnes of gold and many ghantas made of pure silver. In 1905 the temple was destroyed by a powerful earthquake and was subsequently rebuilt by the government.

Bagalamukhi or Bagala is one amongst the 10 mahavidyas (great knowledge goddesses) in Hinduism. She is additionally called Pitambara Maa in North Bharat. Bagalamukhi Devi is one amongst the 10 Hindu Goddesses of power. The temple of Bagalamukhi is found at the doorway of Kotla Fort close to Kangra.

Jawalamukhi Temple means the deity of flaming face and it is worshiped in the form of flames which come out from the crevices of the rock in the sanctum of the temple. This is one of the Shakti_Peetha of the godesses.

Kangra Fort The Kangra Fort was built by the royal Rajput family of Kangra State (the Katoch dynasty), which traces its origins to the ancient Trigarta Kingdom, mentioned in the Mahabharata epic. It is the largest fort in the Himalayas and probably the oldest dated fort in India.  

Adjoining the Fort is the Maharaja Sansar Chand Katoch Museum run by the Royal Family of Kangra. The Museum also provides audio guides for the fort and the museum and has a cafeteria.

Shree Adinath Jain Temple near the Kangra Fort : 

Namgyal Monastery in McLeod Ganj also known as Dalai Lama Temple the personal monastery of the 14th Dalai Lama