Lakshana Devi Temple, Bharmour, Himachal Pradesh

Lakshana Devi Temple, Bharmour, Himachal Pradesh

Lakshana Devi Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to goddess Durga located in Bharmour Town in Bharmour Taluk in Chamba District in Himachal Pradesh, India. This temple is situated inside the Chaurasi Temple Complex and is considered as the oldest temple in the Chaurasi Temple Complex. The temple is considered as one the oldest surviving wooden temples in India. Bharmour is famously known as Machu Pichu of Himachal Pradesh. It is situated at an altitude of 2,100 metres in the Budhil valley. It is located between the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar range with Ravi and Chenab rivers flowing on both sides. Bharmour is mostly inhabited by Gaddis and is popular as a base town for the Manimahesh Kailash pilgrimage.

History

The temple was built in 7^th century CE by King Meru Varman, the founder of Chamba State. An inscription of King Meru Varman can be seen engraved on the pedestal of bronze image of goddess Durga in its sanctum. The inscription records Meru Varman, three of his ancestors and the sculptor Gugga. Alexander Cunningham was the first archaeologist to visit the Lakshana Devi temple in 1839, who published his comparative analysis in Archaeological Survey of India report. Jean Vogel visited the Chamba state in the 1900s and wrote about the temple in his Antiquities of Chamba State in 1911.

Bharmour was called as Bharmaur / Barmawar / Brahmor / Brahmpura during ancient times. King Meru Varman belonged to the ruling family of Ayodhya. He along with his son, Jaystambh invaded the upper mountainous region of Himalayas through the Ravi valley. He defeated the Ranas, local rulers of Bharmour region and settled in Bharmour. He made Bharmour as the capital of his newly founded Chamba state in 7^th century CE. The successive rulers ruled Chamba state from Bharmour till Sahil Varman. Sahil Varman conquered the lower Ravi valley and made Chamba as its new capital in 10^th century CE.

The Temple

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2023/03/lakshana-devi-temple-bharmour-temple.html

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 2 Kms from Bharmour Bus Stand, 23 Kms from Manimahesh, 60 Kms from Chamba, 103 Kms from Dalhousie, 164 Kms from Pathankot Junction Railway Station and 168 Kms from Pathankot Airport. Bharmour is situated on Chamba to Manimahesh route.

Location