Naina Devi Temple is one of the most famous temples of 9 divine powers in Himachal Pradesh. Naina Devi Temple is a holy shrine that is dedicated to Shri Naina Devi, one of the forms of Goddess Shakti. Located on the top of a hill in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh, Naina Devi Mandir is one amongst the fifty two Shakti Peeths.
Naina Devi Temple is a sacred place especially for the Hindus. Pilgrims come to visit this temple to pay their homage to the Goddess. According to the legends, the different body parts of Sati fell on the earth during the time of self-sacrifice.
It is believed that Sati’s eyes fell at this point and subsequently, a temple was built here to commemorate the goddess. The term ‘Naina’ suggests ‘eyes’, so the goddess came to be known as Naina Devi.
In the Naina Devi Temple complex, there is huge Peepal tree that is acclaimed to be present from past many centuries. On the right side of the entrance to the main shrine, idols of Lord Hanuman and Lord Ganesha are placed. After crossing the main gate of the shrine, two striking statues of Lions are visible. The main shrine reveals the images of three deities. Goddess Kali can be traced on the extreme left. In the centre, image of Naina Devi is visible, while Lord Ganesha is on the right side.
The Naina Devi Temple is perched over a small yet scenic hill. From the suburbs of the temple, one can spot the picturesque Govind Sagar Lake. Close to the main shrine, there is a small cave, which is known as Shri Naina Devi Cave. In the earlier days, people used to trek the steep path of 1.25 kms to reach the temple at the hill-top. Now, the facility of cable car has been launched to make to journey easy and enjoyable.
It is about 1177 Mt. height from sea level. The temple of Naina Devi is situated on the top of a triangular hill commanding and unparalleled view of the Holy Anandpur Sahib Gurudwara on one side and Gobind Sagar on other. The Govind Sagar Lake and Bharka Dam is situated near this temple. The popular hill resort located in Himachal Pradesh known by the name of Nainital has been named after the famous Naina Devi Temple.
