The Naina Devi Temple is a symbol of adoration and heavenly grace. The temple is situated amidst the magnificent hills of Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. The temple commands a breathtaking view of the valley below. This captivates visitors with its serene aura. Its long history is woven into a tapestry of myths and traditions that date back to antiquity and have enthralled many worshippers over the ages.
The Naina Devi Temple is a voyage of self-discovery and spiritual awakening rather than merely a site of worship. You will be amazed by the lovely melody of the bhajans resonating through the temple walls. Besides this, there are so many things to do in Naina Devi.
So, Let’s Discuss the Top 10 Things to Do in Naina Devi.
#1. Gobind Sagar Lake (17 kms from Naina Devi)
One of the best things to do in Naina Devi is to visit Gobind Sagar Lake. This man-made lake was created for the Bhakra Nangal Dam. Surrounded by hills, it provides a peaceful and serene atmosphere. You can enjoy various water activities like kayaking, boating, zorbing, and motorboat racing. The water level is highest in October and November. Also, during these months, the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department arrange boat races. You can also go fishing here and fishing is a popular activity at the lake.
Best time to visit: The best months to travel are October and November.
Distance from Naina Devi Temple: 17 km.
Highlights:
- Public transportation is accessible from Naina Devi and Nangal.
- There are restaurants close by.
- The lake offers boating attractions.
Location: River Sutlej,
Near Bhakra Dam,
Bilaspur, Himachal
#2. Bhakra Dam
The Bhakra Dam is in the Bhakra village of Bilaspur. The world’s highest straight gravity dam is this one. To support the dam, the Gobind Sagar Lake was created. The lake covers an area of 90 km, with 10 per cent in the Una district and the remaining 90 per cent in Bilaspur. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru dedicated this dam to India. The dam and its green surroundings are truly a sight to behold and a delightful experience for everyone.
Best time to visit: The best months to travel are October and November.
Timings: From 8:00 am to 3:20 pm
Time required: Approximately 1 hour
Entry fee: Free
#3. Vyas Cave (44 km from Naina Devi temple)
Vyas Cave is named after the Sage Vyas. It is in a new town. Long ago, Sage Vyas meditated in this cave. People believe that the town of Vyaspur got its name from this cave. Sage Vyas wrote the famous story of Mahabharata. Many people visit this cave as a sacred place. This is another outstanding thing to do while visiting Naina Devi temple. The Vyas Cave is a beautiful and ancient religious place in Bilaspur, located beside the River Sutlej.
It sits at a height of 610 meters above sea level and is surrounded by pine and Juniper forests. Nearby, you can find attractions like Kali Mandir, Kalapani Spring, Gunji, and Budhi. The place offers stunning views of snow-covered mountains. In addition, here visitors can also enjoy exciting activities like hand gliding, rock climbing, trekking, and paragliding. It’s a wonderful destination to visit and explore.
Best time to visit Vyas Cave: Winter is the ideal time to visit.
Distance from Naina Devi Temple: 44 km
#4. Sariun Fort (Approximately 60 km From Naina Devi temple)
This fort is far away, about 58 kilometres, from the town of Bilaspur. It sits high up at 1500 meters above sea level. Sarium Fort is around 12 meters tall and made of stones. The people who live nearby have some beliefs that the stones used in the fort should never be used to build houses because of superstitions. This building is very strong and has thick walls that are about two meters wide. It has two floors. The second floor is supported by many tall stone pillars.
On the second floor, there are window-like openings with small holes where the people inside could look out and shoot at enemies if necessary. Nowadays, most of these openings have been closed with cement or iron mesh.
Inside the building, on the upper floor, there is a small temple dedicated to Naina Devi. And also, there is a stone idol of her. This is one of the best things to do in Naina Devi.
Best time to visit: From October to March.
Distance from Naina Devi: Approximately 60 km.
#5. Fort Bahadurpur (42 km Approximately From Naina Devi temple)
Bahadurpur Fort was a beautiful and grand fort located in the Bilaspur district. Today, all that remains are the ruined walls, and it’s hard to recognize what it once was. However, people still call the place Bahadurpur Fort.
The fort used to stand on top of Bahadurpur Hill. It is at a height of 6200 feet, near a village called Tepra. Tepra is about 40 kilometres away from the town of Bilaspur. Even though the fort is gone, the spot is still popular among tourists. Ban and Deodar trees are among the abundant natural vegetation in the area. Bahadurpur Fort is the ideal destination for individuals looking to get away from the hectic pace of the city. It is because the rest home is surrounded by beautiful natural scenery.
It is frequently thought of as a lovely picnic location because of its proximity to the town. Periodically during the winter, snow also falls in the area. The snow coats the fort’s surrounding peaks and hilltops in a blanket of snowy perfection. This is unquestionably one of the best places to visit while visiting the Naina Devi temple.
Best Time To Visit
September through March is the best time to go there. In February, the high and low temperatures are still 22 degrees Celsius and 10 degrees Celsius, respectively. The highest and lowest temperatures in March are 28 degrees Celsius and degrees Celsius, respectively.
Distance from Naina Devi temple: Approximately 42 km
Read Also: Beautiful Festivals and Fairs Celebrated in Himachal Pradesh
#6. Koldam Dam (Approximately 50 km From Naina Devi Temple)
The Koldam Dam Hydropower Project is also known as KolDam. It is a famous attraction in Bilaspur that attracts many tourists from different parts of the country. Although the building was supposed to commence in 2000, it didn’t until 2004. The dam is situated alongside U.S. Route 21 on the Sutlej River.
The Koldam Dam offers breathtaking natural beauty, making it a wonderful place for picnics and enjoyment. Tourists love visiting this spot to admire its scenic surroundings. Additionally, some people find it fascinating to see the large machinery and equipment used for generating electricity at this massive project.
Timings: From 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Time required: Approximately 1 hour
Entry fee: No entry fee is required.
#7. Laxmi Narayan Mandir (60 km Approximately From Naina Devi Temple)
In the Himachal Pradesh city of Bilaspur stands the well-known Laxmi Narayan Temple. It was constructed in a distinctive architectural style known as Shikhar Shaily and is close to the bus stop. Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi are the two primary deities in the temple. Other deities include Lord Shiva, Maa Durga, Rangnath, and Baba Bangali, among others. Many visitors, devotees and pilgrims come to this temple to receive blessings from Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi.
An idol of Rangnath that was transported from Bilaspur’s historic centre is housed at the temple. The temple celebrates Janmashtami and Shivratri with great festivities, and many tourists come to join the events. Old Bilaspur was home to the first Laxmi Narayan Temple. But it got submerged in the Gobind Sagar Lake after the Bhakra Dam was built. Now, a new Laxmi Narayan Temple has been constructed.
Best Time To Visit
Throughout the year, a great crowd of people visit this temple. But since it is crowded the rest of the day, early in the morning is the best time.
Distance from Naina Devi temple: Approximately 60 km.
#8. Rukmani Kund (Approximately 66 km From Naina Devi)
This remote Rukmani Kund is in Himachal Pradesh’s stunning Bilaspur area. Rukmani Kund is located 28 kilometres from the district of Bilaspur amid the Shivalik Hills’ beautiful woods. A Mela (Fair) is held here in honour of Rukmani’s sacrifice. Because people regard this place as a particularly holy location. For the time being, this kund serves as a source of water for the nearby settlements.
People from Himachal also travel here to watch and take baths since the pool’s water is so beautiful and blue. You should go here to experience the immolation of the queen; it is a must-see location. Visiting this place is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Naina Devi
Timings: From 6:00 am to 6:00 pm
Distance from Naina Devi Temple: 66 km approximately.
Read Also: 10 Best Tourist Places in Bilaspur
#9. Kahlur Fort (Approximately 100 km From Naina Devi):
Kahlur Fort is in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. The fort holds significant popularity as one of the well-known forts in the region. It was constructed by Raja Bir Chand during ancient times to serve as his residence. Although the fort is now in a state of decay, it remains a favoured destination for picnics. Explorers can observe the remnants of the fort’s stone structure and stroll through the narrow corridors.
Best Time to Visit
June through September will be the ideal period for travel. Rainfall during these months enhances the beauty of nature and covers the mountains in a thick layer of vegetation. Any person’s heart might be warmed by the natural beauty throughout these months.
Distance from Naina Devi temple: Approximately 100 km.
Read Also: Top 6 Dams in Himachal Pradesh that You Can Visit
#10. Markandeya Rishi Temple
The area around Markanday is very beautiful, and you should visit it when you go to Bilaspur. The Markandeya Ji Temple there is very special, especially for couples who don’t have children. It’s named in honour of Rishi Markanday. He was a well-known sage who formerly resided and practised meditation here. The temple is conveniently accessible by bus or private vehicle and is about 20 kilometres from Bilaspur. People travel here to ask Markandeya Ji for the blessing of a long and healthy life for their children.
A sizable fair is conducted here annually on the day of Baishakhi, attracting a sizable crowd of pilgrims and tourists hoping to obtain Markandeya Ji’s blessings for the welfare of their children. According to legend, there is a tunnel nearby that connects Markandeya and Vyas caverns, and the sages formerly travelled through this tunnel to see these caverns.
Some individuals believe that if a childless person puts kajal in one eye of the Markandeya Ji statue, they must put it in the other eye when they are blessed with a child. The nearby sacred spring is claimed to treat newborn illnesses and sterility
. It is also open to tourists.
Timings: From 6:00 am to 7:00 pm
Time required: Around 2 hours
Entry fee: No entry fee is required.
Read Also: 10 Things To Do in Nainital
Conclusion
So, here we have discussed the top 10 things to do in Naina Devi. Each of these locations has unique importance. And, you will fall in love with each of these places. So, if you are planning your trip to Naina Devi temple, don’t forget to add these places to your bucket list.
FAQs:
Q. How long is Naina Devi Ropeway?
The Mata Naina Devi ropeway is roughly 500 meters long from its lowest to its highest terminal point. The Mata Naina Devi Ropeway is a unique example. In addition, it is the only ropeway in Asia to run through such rugged terrain.
Q. What is the Dress Code for Naina Devi Temple?
Shri Naina Devi is also known as Goddess Shakti. The temple is honoured at the sacred and unique Naina Devi Temple. Summertime is the ideal season to visit the shrine. May through July and September through October are the ideal times to visit. When you visit the temple as a man, you should dress conservatively in Indian attire like a dhoti or pyjamas. Also, you can wear an over garment.
Q. What Is The Time of Aarti at Naina Devi Temple?
Live Aarti and Darshan are performed between the hours of 2:00 AM and 12:00 AM on Navratras. Also, from 4:00 AM to 10:00 AM on other days. Many pilgrims visit Shri Naina Devi ji’s temple on Shravan Ashtami and throughout the Navratras of Chaitra and Ashwin.
Hope that you will find this blog to be useful, helpful and informative to you. You can share your valuable thoughts regarding the blog in our comment section. And also, for more such blogs, please keep your eyes on our page. Thank You.
Leave a Comment