Hidimba Devi Temple (Dhungari Temple)
Regency Road, Siyal, Manali, Himachal Pradesh
Manali’s Hidimba Devi Temple (also locally called Dungari Temple) is a must-see attraction in the Himachal Pradesh town. The walk to the temple is calm and atmospheric, situated deep in a forest and surrounded by towering cedars. It’s always busy with Hindu devotees, both locals and from around India, but anyone is welcome to visit.
Travelers who have visited Hindu temples elsewhere in India may be surprised by Manali’s 16th-century Hidimba Devi Temple. It’s an unusual four-story pagoda with natural wooden beams and carved porticoes. It’s built on a single enormous rock that’s worshipped as a manifestation of the goddess of the earth and is named after a deity in the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. The Hidimba Devi Temple is one of Manali’s star attractions for both domestic and foreign travelers, and most people visit independently while exploring Manali.
The temple has no entry fee, and anyone is welcome to stroll through the woods and visit.
Visitors should remove their shoes before entering the temple and leave them outside in the designated place. This traditional custom shows respect and helps keep the temple clean.
At busy times like summer, you can find vendors selling snacks, drinks, souvenirs, and even photo ops with dressed-up yaks on the temple grounds.
The temple is around 1.25 miles (2 kilometers) from central Manali, along the gradually uphill main road to Old Manali. You can get a taxi to the entrance to the woods and walk a short way through the forest to reach the temple, but if you can walk, it’s best to do so. The road between Manali and Old Manali can get very congested, especially in summer, so avoid adding to the traffic problem where you can.
The temple is open from 8am to 6pm every day of the week. Manali is a popular year-round destination, so you can expect many other visitors at the temple throughout the year. However, it gets busier in summer when visitors from lowland India travel to Manali to escape the summer heat.
The architectural style of the Hidimba Devi Temple is so unusual that it’s only shared with one other temple, the 11th-century Sundari Temple in nearby Naggar. Naggar’s temple is larger and much more peaceful than Manali's, so it’s worth the detour. Naggar is a lovely hillside village with an old wooden castle and the impressive Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery and Museum.
Travel Like an Expert with AAA and Trip Canvas
Get Ideas from the Pros
As one of the largest travel agencies in North America, we have a wealth of recommendations to share! Browse our articles and videos for inspiration, or dive right in with preplanned AAA Road Trips, cruises and vacation tours.
Build and Research Your Options
Save and organize every aspect of your trip including cruises, hotels, activities, transportation and more. Book hotels confidently using our AAA Diamond Designations and verified reviews.
Book Everything in One Place
From cruises to day tours, buy all parts of your vacation in one transaction, or work with our nationwide network of AAA Travel Agents to secure the trip of your dreams!