Which five temples?
The classic Himachal 5 Devi yatra, the one most families from Punjab, Haryana and Delhi ask for, is Naina Devi, Chintpurni, Jwalamukhi, Brajeshwari and Chamunda. Starting from Kangra, many locals swap Naina Devi for Baglamukhi, which is much closer. We do either version, or all six with one more day.
- Shri Naina Devi, Bilaspur. On a hilltop above the Gobind Sagar lake, about 20 km from Anandpur Sahib. The first stop when coming from Chandigarh or Punjab.
- Shri Brajeshwari Devi, Kangra town. Also called Nagarkot Dham, about 18 km from Dharamshala.
- Chamunda Devi. On the banks of the Baner river, about 15 km from Dharamshala on the Palampur road.
- Maa Baglamukhi, Bankhandi. Around 25 km from Kangra towards Dehra. Devotees traditionally wear yellow here.
- Jwalamukhi. The temple of the eternal flame, about 35 km from Kangra.
- Chintpurni. In Una district, about 40 km beyond Jwalamukhi.
From Chandigarh, Punjab or Delhi: 3 days with Naina Devi
Day 1: Pickup in Chandigarh (or Delhi the night before), Naina Devi, then on to Chintpurni. Night at Chintpurni or Jwalamukhi.
Day 2: Jwalamukhi, then Brajeshwari Devi in Kangra. Night in Kangra.
Day 3: Chamunda Devi, then drive back to Chandigarh, or to Pathankot for the train.
From Kangra or Dharamshala: 2 days with Baglamukhi
Day 1: Chamunda Devi, Brajeshwari Devi and Baglamukhi. Night at Jwalamukhi or Kangra.
Day 2: Early darshan at Jwalamukhi, then Chintpurni. Drop back home, or carry on to Chandigarh or Delhi.
Arriving by train? Pathankot is about 2.5 hours from Kangra, and we pick up at the station.
Tips for a smooth darshan
- During the Navratri melas (Chaitra in March–April, Shravan in July–August, Sharad in September–October) the queues are long. Leave early and book the vehicle a few weeks ahead.
- Carry a light shawl for early mornings, even in summer.
- Some temples have a walk or steps from the parking. We drop you as close as vehicles are allowed and keep your bags locked in the luggage space.
- Add Baba Balak Nath with one more day; it is close to Chintpurni.
