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Shimla is not only popular for the beauty of nature. Additionally the temples found in Shimla have beautiful sights too. For every tourist the sightseeing places in Shimla bring with it some thrill and adventure. Among them the Tara Devi Temple Shimla definitely holds a special spot. What makes this temple more special is definitely the height that it is situated on. Along with it the beauty of the place, the story attached and the importance of the Goddess all makes up for an amazing experience.
For the devotees Tara Devi is a powerful Goddess. And on a regular basis many people visit here to pay their visit to the deity. Additionally this one is an ancient temple that has been here for a really long time. So definitely it also reflects the heritage and the culture of the location as well. This is one of the major sightseeing spots in Shimla that you need to visit for sure. You can also check out the Tara Devi Temple photos to know why this location is a must visit. Keep on reading this article to know everything about the Maa Tara Devi Temple. Here I will mention all the information that you might need about this temple.
Tara Devi Temple Shimla
Tara Devi Temple location: Shoghi Bypass, Taradevi, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
Timings of Tara Devi Temple Shimla: 7 am to 6:30 pm on all days
Entry fee of Tara Devi Temple Shimla: No entry fee
How to reach Tara Devi Temple Shimla
By air
The nearest airport to reach this temple is Jubbarhatti Airport and it is about 22 km away. However, the nearest major airport is the Chandigarh airport that is about 115 km away from the temple and it would take around 3 hours and 30 minutes to reach there. From there taxis are available or you can also hire a car to reach there.
By train
Shimla railway station is the nearest railway station to reach the temple. However people who are travelling from Chandigarh or nearby can also avail the Kalka Shimla toy train ride as well. From Shimla railway station the temple is around 17 km and you can reach there in 37 minutes.
By road
This temple is connected well to major cities. You can drive through your own city to reach here as well or else you can also hire a car. Buses are also available on this route. You can reach here from Shoghi as well. Shoghi is mostly well connected and you can get buses there.
Best time to visit Tara Devi Temple Shimla
The ideal time to visit the temple would be during summers. During this time the temperature here remains bearable. As the temple is located at a very high altitude normally the temperature is on the cooler side. Summer time is the peak time for visiting here according to comfortable weather. You will be able to explore the temple complex peacefully and comfortably. However you can also visit here during the times of festivals like Durga Ashtami and Dussehra. But keep in mind that there is a huge crowd during this time too. So you need to be ready to face a lot of people. There is an arrangement of a grand feast during this time that a lot of people attend.
Moreover, it gets extremely tough to visit here during the monsoon season as well as during snowfall. Both the road conditions as well as the weather are not at all favourable. So do keep that in mind before planning a trip here.
Overview of Tara Devi Temple Temple Shimla
The Tara Devi Temple Shimla is one of the most popular sightseeing spots in Shimla. Not just that it is also one of the revered Shakti shrines in Shimla and one of the most visited temples in Shimla as well. On weekends this temple records a total footfall of about 12, 000 to 15, 000 visitors. This temple is located on the western side of Shimla which offers a mesmerizing atmosphere. It is a stunning location amidst valleys and mountains that further makes it a picturesque spot. The temple is located on top of 7200 feet above sea level.
Moreover the temple is located only 11 km away from the main city center. It is nestled at a stunning height that makes the backdrop of this temple beautiful. You can enjoy an all encompassing view of the whole region from here. The temple is surrounded by massive mountains, lush greenery and pine forests. It can be one such location that will truly win over your heart with its tranquility.
What’s more?
Furthermore this temple is also one of the ancient temples in Shimla that holds a lot of spiritual values for the devotees. Goddess Tara is a powerful Goddess and people from all over come here to pay their visit here. According to popular beliefs for people visiting here with unwavering faith, the Goddess will make their wishes come true. Goddess Tara is one of the 10 forms or Dasamahavidya or 10 wisdoms. Moreover according to beliefs the Goddess is the source of all energies. The word Tara came from Sanskrit word that meant to cross. Also in other languages Tara also means star. Therefore according to beliefs the Goddess here is the Goddess of stars. Hence she is looking upon everyone and showering her blessing on her devotees from up above the skies.
The temple gets decked up in its liveliest form during the festivals of Dussehra and Durga Ashtami. These are the main festivals of the Sen Dynasty as well which now have taken a much larger form. Many devotees from all over the world specifically visit the temple during this time.
If you are looking for a peaceful place in Shimla that can soak away all your worries you need to visit this temple for sure. Additionally the spiritual element and the faith of the devotees makes this a location of utter importance. So make sure you are visiting here.
Read More: KALI BARI TEMPLE SHIMLA TIMINGS, HISTORY, LOCATION, DISTANCE
History of Tara Devi Temple Shimla
The Tara Devi Temple Shimla is located at a mesmerizing height of 1851 above sea level. The construction of this temple however goes back to 250 years back. A very interesting mythological Tara Devi Temple Story makes the temple even more interesting. According to popular beliefs the idol of the Goddess Tara Devi has travelled all the way from West Bengal to Himachal Pradesh. Once there was a king from the Sen Dynasty, Bhupendar Sen who visited this area along with his family deity which was in the form of a small gold locket. The king used to always keep it close to him by wearing that on his upper arm.
However one day the king went deep inside the jungle of Juggar for hunting. But he soon lost his way and was unable to get back home. Then he fell asleep at that spot and had a dream. In this dream Tara Devi appeared along with two of her gatekeepers Lord Hanuman and Bhairav. She requested him to unveil her to the people on a large scale. According to the dream the king decided to fulfill the desire of Tara Devi. He immediately donated 50 bighas of land to the temple to construct the temple of Tara Devi. Later a wooden idol of the deity took place here and people started visiting this temple to seek the blessings of the Goddess.
What’s more?
After a few years again another king of the Sen Dynasty, Balbir Sen himself saw a similar kind of vision. Here he saw that Tara Devi wished to be on top of a hill Tarav Parvat. Soon the temple of Tara Devi got shifted and this time everything was magnificent. In a grand ceremony the installation of the idol of Tara Devi made of Ashtadhatu took place in 1825. From then on, the members of the Sen Dynasty are still following rituals of worshipping Tara Devi on the day of Ashtami each year.
Architecture of Tara Devi Temple
The Tara Devi Temple Shimla reflects an architectural brilliance. A very distinct Pahari style of architecture is very evident in its structure. The temple was completely built in wood. Inside the temple there are big doors and wooden structures. Furthermore these wooden structures have intricate designs of miniature Goddesses that look splendid. Along with that the heavy use of gold and silver also is present here. However, very recently this temple has been rebuilt completely. The wood that was used in the construction of this temple had changed its texture totally due to long hours of exposure in such weather and air.
It took 3.5 years of extreme hard work to get the temple back to its old glory. More than one and a half dozen skilled artisans worked tirelessly to bring back the old charm. These artisans used many old techniques to work on the wood carvings. Kinnauri artisans specially worked on the silver work. In total the construction cost was more than 6 crore rupees. Finally in July 2018 the idol of Devi Tara was reinstalled here. 90 priests together performed all the rituals and therefore the temple got back to its old form. At present the temple has idols of Maa Kali, Maa Saraswati and Maa Bhagwati.
Nearby places to visit from Tara Devi Temple Shimla
Dorje Drak Monastery
Kali Bari Temple
Jakhoo Hill
The Mall
Kalka-Shimla railway
Kufri
Christ Church
Wrapping Up!
Factors that make a temple more powerful is the faith and belief that the devotees have on the presiding deity. Undoubtedly the devotees consider Goddess Tara Devi as very powerful. They visit here with a lot of faith and belief that the Goddess will listen to their problems and solve them. Moreover the gorgeous location of the Tara Devi Temple Shimla, the construction as well as the stories attached makes this an interesting spot to visit. This temple has the capability to wash away all your troubles and you can enjoy a burst of serenity here. So whenever you are visiting Shimla make sure that you are including this temple in your itinerary. Your mind will feel relaxed and your soul will feel rejuvenated for this experience. Enjoy a blissful experience here and let me know if this article is helpful for you in planning a visit to this temple.
