Bagalamukhi or Bagala is one of the ten mahavidyas (great wisdom goddesses) in Hinduism. Bagalamukhi Devi smashes the devotee's misconceptions and delusions (or the devotee's enemies) with her cudgel. The word Bagala is derived from the word Valga (meaning – bridle or the rein that we put in the mouth to control the movements of tongue and direction) which, became Vagla and then Bagla, Thus, the name means one whose face has the power to capture or control. She thus represents the hypnotic power of the Goddess. Bagalamukhi is commonly known as Pitambara Maa in North India, the goddess associated with yellow color or golden colour.

Bagalamukhi is one of the ten forms of the wisdom goddesses, symbolising the potent female primeval force. Bagulamukhi means the back side of Shiva.

Jwala Ji is a Hindu Goddess. Alternative spelling and names for Jwala Ji include Jawala Ji, Jwala Devi and Jwalamukhi Ji. The physical manifestation of Jwala Ji is always a set of eternal flames and the term Jwala means flame and Ji is an honorific used in the Indian subcontinent.

Jwalaji/jawalaji (flame) or Jwala Mukhi (flame mouth) is probably the most ancient temple discussed here besides Vaishno Devi. It is mentioned in the Mahabharata and other scriptures. There is a natural cave where eternal flames continue to burn. Some say there are nine flames for the nine Durgas. Several schools of Buddhism also share the symbolism of a seven-forked sacred flame.

When Lord Shiva heard of his wife’s death his rage knew no bounds and holding Sati’s body he began stalking the three worlds. The other gods trembled before his wrath and appealed to Lord Vishnu for help. Lord Vishnu let fly a volley of arrows which struck Sati’s body and severed it to pieces. At the places where the pieces fell, the fifty-one sacred 'shaktipeeths' came into being. "Sati’s tongue fell at Jawalaji (610 m) and the goddess is manifest as tiny flames that burn flawless blue through fissures in the age-old rock".

It is said that centuries ago, a cowherd found that one of his cows was always without milk. He followed the cow to find out the cause. He saw a girl coming out of the forest who drank the cow’s milk, and then disappeared in a flash of light. The cowherd went to the king and told him the story. The king was aware of the legend that Sati’s tongue had fallen in this area. The king tried, without success, to find that sacred spot. Again, some years later, the cowherd went to the king to report that he had seen a flame burning in the mountains. The king found the spot and had darshan (vision) of the holy flame. He built a temple there and arranged for priests to engage in regular worship. It is believed that the Pandavas came later and renovated the temple. The folk song that "Panjan Panjan Pandavan Tera Bhawan Banaya" bears testimony to this belief. Raja Bhumi Chand first built the temple.

Jwala Ji is a Hindu Goddess. Alternative spelling and names for Jwala Ji include Jawala Ji, Jwala Devi and Jwalamukhi Ji. The physical manifestation of Jwala Ji is always a set of eternal flames and the term Jwala means flame and Ji is an honorific used in the Indian subcontinent.

Jwalaji/jawalaji (flame) or Jwala Mukhi (flame mouth) is probably the most ancient temple discussed here besides Vaishno Devi. It is mentioned in the Mahabharata and other scriptures. There is a natural cave where eternal flames continue to burn. Some say there are nine flames for the nine Durgas. Several schools of Buddhism also share the symbolism of a seven-forked sacred flame.

When Lord Shiva heard of his wife’s death his rage knew no bounds and holding Sati’s body he began stalking the three worlds. The other gods trembled before his wrath and appealed to Lord Vishnu for help. Lord Vishnu let fly a volley of arrows which struck Sati’s body and severed it to pieces. At the places where the pieces fell, the fifty-one sacred 'shaktipeeths' came into being. "Sati’s tongue fell at Jawalaji (610 m) and the goddess is manifest as tiny flames that burn flawless blue through fissures in the age-old rock".

It is said that centuries ago, a cowherd found that one of his cows was always without milk. He followed the cow to find out the cause. He saw a girl coming out of the forest who drank the cow’s milk, and then disappeared in a flash of light. The cowherd went to the king and told him the story. The king was aware of the legend that Sati’s tongue had fallen in this area. The king tried, without success, to find that sacred spot. Again, some years later, the cowherd went to the king to report that he had seen a flame burning in the mountains. The king found the spot and had darshan (vision) of the holy flame. He built a temple there and arranged for priests to engage in regular worship. It is believed that the Pandavas came later and renovated the temple. The folk song that "Panjan Panjan Pandavan Tera Bhawan Banaya" bears testimony to this belief. Raja Bhumi Chand first built the temple.

The Chinna Mastika Devi is a divine embodiment of self-sacrifice and there by the Chintpurni shri is considered as a Shakti Peetha. The mythology of Daksha yaga and Sati's self-immolation is the mythology liked to the Shakti Peethas. Shakti Peethas are holy shrines of Shakti associated with a mythology that says about the falling of body parts of the corpse of Sati Devi, when Lord Shiva carried it and wandered in sorrow. There are 51 Shakti Peeth associated with the 51 alphabets in Sanskrit. It is believed that Sati Devi's feet fell here.

The temple dedicated to Mata Chintpurni Devi is located in District Una of Himachal Pradesh. Mata Chintpurni Devi is also known as Mata Shri Chhinnamastika Devi.

Devotees have been visiting this Shaktipeeth for centuries to pray at the lotus feet of Mata Shri Chhinnamastika Devi

They bring with them their worldly concerns and seek blessings from the Devi.

It is believed that if you ask something from the Devi with a honest heart, your wish will be granted.

Apart from the holy shrine, some very picturesque places for sightseeing, indoor and outdoor activities are situated in and around Chintpurni.

There are other attractions:

(You can choose which place you would like to visit, instead of other mentioned places in the list)

Maharana Pratap Sagar / Pong Lake / Pong Dam

Maharana Pratap Sagar, also known as Pong Reservoir or Pong Dam Lake was created in 1975, by building the highest earthfill dam in India on the Beas River in the wetland zone of the Siwalik Hills of the Kangra district of the state of Himachal Pradesh. Named in the honour of Maharana Pratap (1572–1597), the reservoir or the lake is a well-known wildlife sanctuary and one of the 26 international wetland sites declared in India by the Ramsar Convention.

Length: 42 km

Area: 240 km²

Width: 2 km

The reservoir was declared as a bird sanctuary in 1983. A 5-kilometre (3.1 mi) belt from the periphery of the lake has been declared as buffer zone for the management of the bird sanctuary. The number of birds reported, particularly during the winter period of November to March, has steadily increased over the years. The recent records indicate a water fowl count of 130,000 in 2004 and 142,000 during 2005 migratory birds – a major increase from the average annual count of 18,887 for the period 1988–1995.

Aghanjar Mahadev Temple, Khaniyara

The Aghanjar Mahadev Temple has a gorgeous location near the scenic Khaniyara village surrounded by forests, mountains and a charming stream that flows right next to it.

It is believed that once upon a time when Arjuna, one of the Pandavas from the Mahabharata, was on his way to the Kailash Mountains, Lord Shiva appeared in front of him at this spot and blessed him with the boon of victory over the Kauravas.

Chinmaya Tapovan, Sidhbari

In the lush Kangra valley, at the feet of the Dhauladhar mountain range, nestles the small hamlet of Sidhbari, named as 'the abode of the siddhas, or Self-realized masters.' According to ancient scriptures, this mystical place was home to numerous great saints and seers, who, through their austerities, sanctified all the earth they walked on.

In 1977, Swami Chinmayananda came across the barren, hilly landscape and instinctively knew that it was hallowed space. There he founded Chinmaya Tapovan Trust (CTT) and the ashram it now administers. The once barren countryside of grazing grounds was transformed with the ashram's new temple, cottages, and satsang halls, providing a panoramic view of Nature's splendour.

Tatwani Hot Spring

Tatwani is situated at a distance of about 35kms from Dharamshala and is one of the major attractions for tourists in this area. The place is also known for Shiva Temple and a shallow river that flows at a short distance. There are two separate baths for men and women, where the men can take bath in an open area, for women a large room is built. The water of the hot spring is believed to have natural healing properties. The water can cure many ailments like muscle ache, poor blood circulation, and even arthritis. After the bath in the sulphur spring, a dip in the nearby river provides a perfect way to cleanse the skin impurities.

Trilokpur Cave Temple, Dharamshala-Pathankot Hightway

Trilokpur is famous for its famous old temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Trilokpur is 41 km from Dharamsala and can be approached by road. High on the ridge of the cave are ruins of a palace and baradari (audience hall) of Lehna Singh Majitha, Governor of Kangra hills during the Sikh rule.This is situated at Pathankot Dharamsala main National Highway just after Kotla. Kotla is 45km from Pathankot. After about 5km from Kotla, there comes Trilokpur.

A Natural cave temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is famous for its stalactite and stalagmite formations. Here is natural cave at the base of hill, photography inside is prohibited. The cave has natural lime formations of centuries old and a temple of Lord Shiva is established since long time. Outside, the water stream which flow very strong in rainy season, has cut the stones in very magical shapes. The point is interesting and holy.

Norbulingka Institute, founded in 1988 by Kelsang and Kim Yeshi at Sidhpur, near Dharamshala, India, is dedicated to the preservation of the Tibetan culture in its literary and artistic forms.

The institute is named after Norbulingka, the traditional summer residence of the Dalai Lamas, in Lhasa, Tibet. The ground plan is based on the proportions of Avalokitesvara, the thousand-armed god of compassion, with the temple as the head.

Visitors will be able to observe Tibetan artisans and their apprentices as they practice the ancient Buddhist art forms of statue-making, thangka painting, thangka applique, as well as the decorative arts of woodcarving, wood painting, tailoring, and weaving.

Losel Doll Museum

The Losel Doll Museum houses a collection of over 150 dolls dressed in traditional costumes from various regions of Tibet. The costumes, meticulously researched, and made from the same materials as the originals would have been, show the richness and diversity of life on the Tibetan Plateau.

Shop

Norbulingka’s flagship shop offers the complete range of products created within our workshops—from thangkas to hand-carved furniture to Norbulingka's soft and elegant line of clothing. The quality of our materials and craftsmanship is unmatchable and we pride ourselves in our commitment to practice and preserve traditional arts in their pristine forms.

Temple

At the end of the tour, visitors can pay a visit to our temple, Deden Tsuklagkhang, a magnificent example of Tibetan religious architecture, displaying some of the finest work done by Norbulingka artists, and the perfect place for prayer and reflection. Adorning the walls are thangka frescoes depicting the deeds of the Buddha, the Fourteen Dalai Lamas, and other great Buddhist masters. An applique thangka, over two stories high, hangs from the ceiling, displaying the Buddha and the 16 arhats, the work of dozens of artists and thousands of hours of dedicated labor. The centerpiece of the temple is a 14ft gilded statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, the largest of its kind outside Tibet, lovingly crafted by Norbulingka artists from hand-hammered copper sheets.

Hummingbird Café

Set amidst the beautiful gardens of Norbulingka, Hummingbird Café is open year-round from 7am to 9pm. We serve all vegetarian international cuisine, ranging from Tibetan thukpa to cheese pizza to hummus and fresh-baked pita bread. We also have a wide variety of seasonal juices and smoothies, as well as specialty coffee drinks. For dessert, our homemade cakes are a real treat.

One of the most famous monasteries in Tibet, the Gyuto Monastery is known for its study of Tantric meditation, Tantric ritual arts and Buddhist philosophy. It was founded in Tibet in 1474 by the main disciple of the first Dalai Lama, Jetsun Kunga Dhondup. After the communist Chinese invasion in 1959, the monastery was re-established in India.

It is the abode of Karmapa, the Head of the Kagyu Tibetan Buddhism. Karmapa means the one who carries out buddha-activity or the embodiment of all the activities of the Buddha. Also called TCV School, the main chamber of the monastery has a majestic statue of the Buddha and with the backdrop of the snow-clad Dhauladhar Mountains. Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje houses nearly 200 monks who practice the major Tantric texts including Guhyasamaja, Chakrasamvara and Yamantaka. They have passed these lineages to the younger generation of monks for more than 500 years.

Gopalpur Zoo is situated in Gopalpur village, en route the Dharmshala – Palampur road. It is surrounded by Dhauladhar Range of the Himalayas. The zoo is adorned with maple trees, horse chestnut trees, chil and greenery.

The major attraction of the zoo are: leopard, Himalayan black bear, sambar deer, barking deer, ghoral, wild pigs, Indian crested porcupine, Bhutan Grey Peacocks, Cheer Pheasant, Red Jungle Fowl peacocks, vultures, eagles, etc.

This is a very important Hindu shrine with the temple of Goddess Chamunda. Thousands of devotees from all over India visit the temple and offer prayers. There is nothing extra-ordinary about the architecture of this temple, but the divine aura spell bounds the devotees with its spiritual appeal.

Chamunda Devi, also known as Chamundi, Chamundeshwari and Charchika, is a fearsome aspect of Devi, the Hindu Divine Mother and one of the seven Matrikas (mother goddesses). She is also one of the primary Yoginis, a group of sixty-four or eighty-one Tantric goddesses, who are family and friends of the warrior goddess Durga.The name is a collaboration of Chanda and Munda, two monsters whom Chamunda killed. She is carefully related with Kali, another fierce aspect of Devi.

Palampur is an important town located in Kangra Valley. Countless streams and brooks crisscross the landscape and in their intricate mesh, hold tea gardens and rice paddies. The town of Palampur came into being when Dr. Jameson, Superintendent of Botanical Gardens, introduced the tea bush from Almora in 1849. Since then, the Kangra tea of Palampur has been known internationally. The lush plantation with the backdrop of gorgeous Dhauladhar Mountain Range adds to the beauty of Palampur.