The Jwala Mukhi Temple Dharamshala is also known as the Jwala Devi Temple. It is situated 30 km south of the Kangra valley. And about 60 km from Dharamshala. This temple is dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Jwala Devi. It is believed the goddess spits fire from her mouth and hence her name is Jawala Mukhi. Another attraction of this place is the pipe made of brass through which natural gas is flowing. The temple has flames dedicated to six other fire-spitting goddesses, such as Maha Kali Annapurna, Chandi, Bindya Basni, Maha Lakshmi Saraswati, Ambica and Anji Devi.
According to Hindu mythology, the Sati Devi has a significant place. In this Jwala Mukhi temple Dharamshala, the fire is oozing from the mountains. And also, it is believed that the goddess is present in the temple even today. The temple was built at the place where the tongue of the Goddess Sati fell. It is also told that the valiant king of kings Ashok was a firm believer and complete faith in the goddess, and he often came here to visit and pray to the goddess.
Emperor Ashok was very much impressed by the flames of the fires coming out of the goddess’s mouth. It is also a well-known fact that king Ashok because of his unfathomable faith in the goddesses gifted her a golden umbrella, which even today protects the flames from water.
The local people believe that anybody who prays to the goddess, their wishes and desires will be granted. Several devotional songs that are composed in the name of the goddess and are sung as the devotees walk towards the temple.
The Jwala Mukhi temple Dharamshala was constructed by the king of Sikhs Raja Khadak Singh. The temple is decorative and heavily ornated with a glittering dome. Several kilos of gold are used to decorate the pinnacles. The doors of the temple and made of pure silver and look very attractive which leaves the tourists in awe. There is a canal that channels the spring waters that come from a separate source around the backside of the temple. According to locals, it is said that it was the Mughal ruler Akbar who built the canal in an attempt to extinguish the flames in the temple. But the attempt was foiled and King Akbar himself became a staunch devotee of the temple.
One of the local songs for the women, the lyrics describe how Akbar visited the Jwala Mukhi temple Dharamshala and placed his gold crown in Infront of the flames. The Goddess turned the gold crown into copper. Two huge fairs are organized at the temple, one is held in April and the other in the mid-October during Navaratri, which all the tourists participate in. This is a temple worth visiting if only for the legend that surrounds it.
Jwala Mukhi Temple Timings 6:00 AM -7:00 PM
Jwala Mukhi Temple Entry Fees: Nil
