An Overview of Himachal Pradesh district Bilaspur Part III

 An Overview of Himachal Pradesh

Bilaspur Outer Part III

In this part we will cover the places of Tourists importance out of district headquarters.

Markandeya :- 

Markandeya Temple 

This holy place is situated in Jukhala valley about 20 Km from Bilaspur Town .  A holy natural water spring is flowing from hill in which pilgrims used to take bath . The name of this place is kept Markand on the name of Markandeya Rishi . The road to Markand biffurcates from Ghagus Brahmpukhar highway near Gassor village .

According to Puranas ,it is said to that Mrikundu Rishi with his wife were residing at this place  but they had no  child thus Rishi Mrikundu pleased  Lord Shiva with his austerity .

Lord Shiva appeared before him and asked to express his wish. On this Rishi Mrikundu  prayed before Lord Shiva to bless him with a son . Lord Shiva said you will be blessed with a son but he will be shot lived , he will have the age of 12 years and disappeared . After this some time the wife of Rishi Mrikundu gave a birth to a son . 

The son of Rishi Mrikundu was growing day by day but the anxiety of Rishi Mrikundu was growing simultaneously about the short life of their child . One day some how their child came to know about his short life , then  on this 3 days before 12 years ,the child made a Shivling of sand and done the austerity of Lord Shiva  . On the day of completion of 12 years the death angels came but the child embraced the Shivalinga and Lord Shiva appeared from the Shivalinga and said to death angels to go back. 

This way the child blessed with long life with the austerity of Lord Shiva . This child  was Maharishi Markandeya who gave the divine Mantra to the world .

" Mahamrityunjay Mantra   "

This is a divine Mantra to overcome all difficulties like ailments , shot life  etc . Chanting of this Mantra in routine every day during worship certainly gives best wishes to all .

So from this miracle happened on the holy land of Markand , this beautiful place became a sacred place and since then a fair is celebrated here on Baishakhi every year .  The temples and holy water here are centre of faith.

So People from  different parts of state as well as country used to come to visit and take blessings of Lord Shiva and Maharishi Markandeya  throughout

 the year .

Shree Naina Devi ji Temple :-

Shree Naina Devi ji Temple 

The sacred temple of Shree Naina Devi ji is one of the 51  Shakti Peeths where the eyes of Adi Shakti Mata Sati , the consort of Lord Shiva fell on this spot.

View of the temple 

The Shree Naina Devi temple is situated on the top of a hill in Shivalik range of hills at Naina Devi  in district Bilaspur Himachal Pradesh at an altitude of 1177 metres above mean sea level . 

The temple is about 65 Km from Bilaspur Town. It is well connected with roads . From Anandpur (Punjab) Shree Naina Devi ji is about 18 Km , from Swarghat on National Highway 21 it is about 25 Km  and from Nangal the distance of Shree Naina Devi is about 32 Km . 

Shree Naina Devi ji Temple 

Shree Naina Devi ji is easily accessible through Buses , private taxi and personal vehicles from Anandpur , Nangal ,Una and Bilaspur . 

There is a ropeway facilities by Ganpati Ropeway  from Ghawandal to temple  , the pilgrims also used to enjoy the same to reach near the temple .

The temple is under the control of Government , during Navratri the lacs of people from different parts of the country used to come to offer their prayers to Mata Shree Naina Devi ji ,who is the Incarnation of Maa Durga. 

The devotees of Maa Shree Naina Devi ji come to this holy Shakti Peeth throughout the year but specially during Shraavan ashtmi, Chetr and Ashwin Navratre huge crowds of devotees can be seen . 

Devotees at Temple 

 The Shree Naina Devi ji Temple is one of the most worshipped beautiful temple having  white marble cladding  which looks very appealing to the surrounding.  On the one side the temple overlooking Gurdawara Anandpur Shahib and on the other side the  Govind Sagar is a charm for tourists and pilgrims enjoy the journey by boat to Baba Balak Nath temple at Shahtalai and Deot Sidh .

Baba Balak Nath templesbat Shah Talai  :-

The  holy place where Baba Balak Nath  had done austerity of Lord Shiva during grazing of cows of Mata Ratno  and  done various miracles is Shah Talai which is in district Bilaspur , 4 Km from Deot Sidh which falls in the jurisdiction of district Hamipr ,the main temple of Baba Balak Nath ji .

View of  Baba Balak Nath austerity Place Shah Talai 

Shah Talai is a small town where Baba Balak Nath   as a child had been grazing  the cows of Mata Ratno and simultaneously doing meditation , when  Balak Nath was doing meditation , the cows destroyed and grazed the fields of wheat  on this the land lord got angry with Mata Ratno then Mata Ratno said to Baba Balak Nath , "I had been offering Roti and Lassi to you since 12 years and you got done the loss of harvest ."

On this  Baba Balak Nath pointed out towards cavity in  the Banyan tree where Baba had been doing meditation and a pond below the tree and said ," Oh Mother take back your Roties and Lassi which you had been offering to me since 12 years and now I am going . "  Then Baba Balak Nath flew away on riding a peacock and entered in a cave at Deot Sidh, where the temple of Baba Balak Nath is existing today .

Baba Balak Nath had also done meditation at Garna Jhari just 400 metres from Banyan tree , here is also a temple .

Garna Jhari Temple at Shah Talai district Bilaspur Himachal Pradesh 

Devotees of Baba Balak Nath from Punjab , Himachal , Rajasthan Delhi and abroad used come  for taking blessings of Baba during one month long fair in Chetra Month ( from 13 th of March to 14 April ) every year .

It has been the truth that Baba fulfill the wishes of his devotees . Great crowd of devotees can be seen on every Sunday and during fair in both Shah Talai and Deot Sidh temples . 

The holy place Shah Talai is well connected with roads all around with Hamirpur , Bilaspur and Una . It is about 60 Km from Una , 50 Km from Bilaspur and 47 Km from Hamirpur .

Lord Shiva temple and Shiv Bowali at Bachhretu  :-

Just about 3 km from Shah Talai there another ancient Lord Shiva temple at Bachhretu  which also a centre of pilgrimage. In front of the temple there is a water body which is as holy as Ganga water . The people used to take bath from this holy water . Lacs of people used to visit this beautiful temple to pay their worships and to blessings of Lord Shiva . Those who comes to Baba Balak Nath they also visit this place. 

The Bachhretu fort which was constructed during  14 th century by Raja Ratan Chand of Bilaspur is also very near to the Lord Shiva temple .

Gugga Temple Gehrwin :-

Gugga Temple at Gehrwin is one another elegant shrine which is dedicated to folk deity Gugga Jahar peer.

Gugga Jahar peer is a centre of devotion and honour as Gugga Rana has fought many battles . Gogga Rana was born in Bikrmi 1003 in Churu district of Rajasthan in Duttkhera village ina reputed Rajput family  .  Gugga was a disciple of Guru Gorakhnath .

Gugga is a Rajasthani Devta but mostly worshipped in Himachal Pradesh also .

In rainy season the legendary tales known as Jhera of Gugga are recited by Gugga Mandli house to house from Raksha Bandhan to Gugga Navmi . It is a deep belief that Lord Gugga protects his devotees from snake bites .

Gugga Gehrwin is about 36 Km from Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh .

Some Important temples in Bilaspur district :-

Badoli Devi temple : -

Badoli Devi temple is situated on Gehrwin Thurahan road about 4.5 Km from Gehrwin on a hill in Badol Village .

It is temple of Maa Durga built by  Younger Queen of Bilaspur . People visit  to take blessings of Maa Durga from various parts of the district throughout the year . Badol is a very beautiful place .

Rukmani Kund :- 

The another sacred place Rukmani Kund , the holy water is situated about 6.5 Km from Gehrwin on Gehrwin Slashi Rukmani Kund road in Shivalik hill range .

 It is about 27 Km from Bilaspur and 3 Km from Auhar  on Auhar  Gehrwin road .A fair is held here on Baishakhi festival every year .

Nersha Devi Temple :- 

It is also one of the oldest temples in Bilaspur district situated between Samoh and Gehrwin  in village Nersha . A link road to village Nersha connects the temple .

It a  temple of Bhagwati Durga constructed by Raja Kalayan Chand , at that time between 1600 to 1636  the capital of Bilaspur was at Sunahni village near Berthin  on the bank of Seer Khad. 

The is about 550 years old .  The temple is on  Shivalik hill on Baroha village .

Thakurdwara  At Jhandutta :- 

It also a beautiful temple near Block Development Office Jhandutta . The people of surrounding areas take blessings and have  deep religious  faith .

Temple of Modern India

Bhakhara Dam & Govind Sagar Lake :- 

The highest gravity Dam in the world 226 metres high is located in Bhakhara village of district Bilaspur on river Satluj .

View of Bhakhara Dam 

The dam is founded by our  beloved first Prime Minister of India and also dedicated to the nation by him on 20 th November 1963 who described it as ," New Temple of Resurgent India."

Govind Sagar Lake 

The dam resulted a 90 Km long Govind Sagar Lake over 168 square Kilometres . The Lake is providing hydro power generation , fishing Activities and irrigation water to Punjab and Rajasthan . It  has a huge Tourism potential .

Kandrour Bridge :-  

The Kandrour Bridge is located on Bilaspur Hamirpur National Highway just  at a distance of 9 Km from Bilaspur over river Satluj near Kandrour village .

View of Kandrour Bridge 

It was constructed by Gamon India private limited under the control of Himachal Pradesh Public works Department . It was once highest bridge in Asia of this type at a height of 80 metres . It is still highest in Asia of this type and also highest in the world .