Shiv Boudi, "The holy water spring at Bachhretu, near Baba Balknath tapasthali Shahtalai, district Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. "

 Himachal Pradesh is a land of goddess and gods and is called "Dev-Bhumi " Rishi-Munies have done meditation on this land for ancient times. Here every district has  several places where ancient temples, austerity shathals of Rishi-Munies  and sacred lakes, water springs ,boulies  of religious importance are existing and lacs of pilgrims used to visit every year.

 

         Shiva Boudi at Bachhretu, near Shahtalai

             

               district Bilaspur Himachal Pradesh

District Bilaspur is very much famous for places of religious importance, the famous Shakti- peeth Shri Naina Devi ji  , Baba Nahar Singh temple Dholra at Bilaspur town, Kala Baba austerity shathals at Bilaspur town, Maharishi Markandeya austerity shathal Markanda, Shohni devi temple , Rukamni Kund near Gehrein ,Guga mandir Kot Malhot , Guru ka Lahore near Bassi, Kaula wala Tobba near Anandpur (Punjab), Shri Narsingh temple Rang on the left bank of Govindsagar  near Bhakra Dam,Baba Balknath austerity shathal Shahtalai and Shiva Bouli at Bachhretu are major religious places existing in district Bilaspur Himachal Pradesh. 

Shiva -Bouli Bachhretu is very much famous sacred place where lacs of pilgrims used to visit and take bath in its holy water and offer prayers to Lord Shiva in the ancient Shiva temple just adjoining to Shiv Bouli during a fair which is held every year from 13 th March to 14 April . 

   

                     Lord Shiva Temple Bachhretu 

                     Lord Shiva temple Bachhretu

                         In side  View of Temple 

The sacred place Bachhretu is 4 Km from Shahtalai on Ghumarwin Talai Bhakra road,where Baba Balknath has remained for 12 years as son of Mata Ratno, grazed her cows and meditated under Bodhi briksh and Gurna Jhari before  disappearance at Deot Sidh which falls in district Hamirpur  at a distance of 4 Km from Shahtalai on the boundaries of Bilaspur and Hamirpur. 

       View of Shahtalai & Baba Balknath Temple

The Lord Shiva temple at Bachhretu is built up during, 9 th century and the holy water of the spring here is sacred like waters of Ganga . Lacs of people used to take shower of this holy water from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal and abroad every year. 

                          Video of Bachhretu

Pilgrims visiting Balknath temple also visit Shahtalai temples  and Shiva temple at Bachhretu. All these temples are maintained by a trust framed by the Government. The facility of lunger is provided by the trust and also by other devoteet to the pilgrims. The Baba Balknath is a famous Sidh Peeth in North India. Near Bachhretu there is a historic fort which can be developed  from tourism point of view. 

                           View of Bachhretu Fort

The Shiva Bouli is about 51 Km from Hamirpur, 34 Km from Ghumarwin, 51 Km from Bilaspur 64 Km from Una and is well connected with road facility. 

The  panoramic view of Govindsagar lake and Shri Naina devi ji temple is enjoyable from Bachhretu. 

                 Beautiful View from Bachhretu

                      Video shoot at Bachhretu

Fair at these places are held during 13 March to 14 April on Vashakhi festival and during Shavan Navratras but in addition to this every Saturday and Sunday through out the year heavy rush can be seen. There is complete facility for parking of vehicles and staying at Shahtalai and Deot sidh both Government and private. 

   

                      Video Shoot at Bachhretu

 

         photography by :-  Rakesh Kumar

                                           Pawan Kumar

 

                                    By :- Er R C Verma