The greatest way to appreciate Chandi Devi Temple’s historic splendour is to trek your way up to the peak. You will undoubtedly sense the presence of the divine about you due to the lush flora in the area. This temple, one of Haridwar’s most respected and ancient, receives a lot of visitors each year. The Chandi Chaudas, Navratra, and Kumbh Mela festivals, which are celebrated here, as well as Navratra, are some of the most joyful times. It is essential to visit this temple in Haridwar during the festival season.
Significance of Chandi Devi Temple, Haridwar
The Chandi Devi Temple is significant because it is one of India’s oldest temples. It is a Siddha Peeth in addition to being one of the Panch Teerth of Haridwar. Visitors hold this ancient sanctuary in the highest regard, especially during holidays like Navratri. Adi Shankaracharya is credited with laying the Chandi Devi Temple’s foundation stone in Haridwar sometime in the eighth century. He is also thought to have personally set the Goddess’s idol there.
The temple gained notoriety as a respected shrine of Chandi Devi after Kashmiri king Suchat Singh constructed an official shrine there in 1929. Goddess Chandi’s wrath gave birth to Goddess Chamunda, the Munda and Chanda’s slayer. Shumbha and Nishumbha engaged in combat with Goddess Chandika after learning about what had happened to Chanda and Munda. She destroyed them and then sat atop the Neel Parvath, which is now home to the Chandi Devi Temple.
History and Legends
According to mythology, the dominion of Lord Indra was taken by the demons Shumbh and Nishumbh. Demon Shumbh desired to wed Goddess Parvati because he was drawn to her beauty. Shumbh sent his two commanders Chand and Mund to battle Goddess Parvati after being rejected. Goddess Chandi, often referred to as Goddess Chandrika, is the presiding deity of the Chandi Devi Temple.
According to legend, god-king Indra and the other gods were exiled from the kingdom of Heaven long ago by the demon kings Shuhnmbha and Nishumbha. All the gods, seeing no way out, appealed to Goddess Parvati, who took the form of Chandi, a very beautiful woman. Chandika is a strong goddess that the Goddess made to slay demons. Chand Mund and Shumbh Nishumbh were both killed by Chandika Devi. Neel Parvat was the site of every fight, hence a Chandi Devi shrine was erected there.
When Chandi paid the demon rulers a visit, Shumbha was enchanted by her beauty and made the decision to wed her. Chandi rebuffed him, infuriating Shumbha to the point where he dispatched the demon leaders Chanda and Munda to murder her. When Chandi was attacked by the two, Chamunda was born out of Chandi’s rage and killed Chanda and Munda. The goddess then slew Shumbha and Nishumbha when they tried to kill Chandrika. The Chandi Devi temple was built here to commemorate the legend after Chandrika took a break on top of the Neel Parvat after killing the two demons. The mountain range’s two summits are named Shumbha and Nishumbha after the two slain demon rulers.
Best Time to Visit Chandi Devi Temple, Haridwar
The best time to visit the Chandi Devi Temple is in the morning, between 8 and 10 o’clock. The finest months to visit the Chandi Devi Temple are February, March, August, September, and October, though you can go at any time of the year. Navratri and Kumbh Mela are the busiest times at Chandi Devi Temple. The summertime temperature is pleasant and ranges from 35 to 45 degrees Celsius. In the summer, cotton clothing is recommended. Winter weather can be quite erratic. The temperature ranges from 10 to 30 degrees Celsius. As a result, it is advisable to bring heavy, woollen clothing since the winters can be extremely chilly here.
Trek to the Chandi Devi Temple in Haridwar
Given that Chandi Temple is situated at the base of the Himalayas, trekking is an excellent activity there. The three-kilometer ascent to the temple’s location starts in Chandighat. The walk to Chandi Devi temple is an unusual destination for hikers as well, with an easy to medium difficulty level and a few obstacles along the way. However, the scenery of the area makes it worth a try. A trekker’s paradise, the lovely temple perched atop the hill is frequented by people who choose to ascend to the temple. Join one of the many cable cars that have lately been erected here for the convenience of the pilgrims if you want to get a bird’s-eye view over the entire city of Haridwar.
A breathtaking view of the valley below can be seen as the automobile ascends towards the temple. The simplicity and lowliness of the temple’s architecture are embodied in it. Millions of worshippers visit the Chandi Devi temple each year, which has a straightforward front holding a flag.
Ropeway to Chandi Devi Temple
A particularly well-liked means of transportation to the Chandi Devi Temple is the Udan Khatola. A well-known tourist destination in Haridwar, the city of temples, is the Udan Khatola. It provides a beautiful perspective of the entire city as well as the Ganga River. The distance to the temple is 4 kilometres, and it is located on the Neel Parvath at a height of 2900 metres. You can avoid the difficult hill climb by using Udan Khatola, and it just takes 5–10 minutes to get to the temple. Pregnant women, those with special needs, and senior folks all benefit greatly from this institution.
The Neel Parvath is a great location for trekking, and it takes around 45 minutes to go up to the temple. A ropeway ride is a quick and easy way to get to the top of the Chandi Devi Temple. It travels across the mountains for around 4-5 kilometres, taking you through a beautiful journey from where you may appreciate this location’s splendour up close. The Chandi Devi Udankhatola costs roughly INR 84 per person to ride through.
Festivals at Chandi Devi Temple
Navratri : is a combination of the Sanskrit words “Nava” and “Ratri,” which both indicate “nine” and “night,” respectively. Navratri or Durga Puja: It is a famous festival in haridwar, celebrated as a symbol of victory of good over evil. As per legend, Goddess Durga defeated the demon king Mahishasura to save the world and restore Dharma. Navratri, a festival celebrated across India for nine days is dedicated to Maa Durga. Celebrations in the temple include stage decorations, recital of the legend, enacting of the story, and chanting of the scriptures of Hinduism.
Chandi Chaudas : The mahant of Chandi Devi Temple claims that this is the day on which all of the other manifestations of Goddess Bhagwati arrive at the temple to visit Goddess Chandi. They make special prayers and offerings before departing for their individual homes. Homemade prasad is prepared by women and given to Goddess Chandi called Bhog.
Admission
The Chandi Devi Temple offers free admission. All tickets include the return trip as well and must be maintained up until the trip’s conclusion.The three-day validity of the combination ticket. Children under the height of 110 cm can ride for free without needing a ticket. Specially abled people and the widows of Indian Defense troops are eligible for discounted tickets. At the ticket desk, the proof of the same must be presented.
How to Reach Chandi Devi Temple in Haridwar
The closest train station to Chandi Devi Temple is Haridwar (4 km) away, while Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the closest airport (37 kms). The closest station to the main city is Haridwar. Only 600 metres and 3 minutes separate the Maya Devi Temple from the railway station. Road: The distance between the bus terminal and the temple is only 2.5 km, and buses to Haridwar are available from Delhi’s ISBT Kashmere Gate.
It can also be accessed in two different ways: by foot or by cable cars. From Chandi Ghat, one can hike the three kilometres to the temple, where they can then ascend the steps to the shrine. The other choice is to use the recently launched ropeway service to get there.
