Brajeshwari Temple is in Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh.
The temple is a mystical experience due to its incredible architecture. It is an important attraction in Kangra as it’s one of the 51 Shakti Peeths of India. Legend has it that the temple was constructed by the goddess herself in a spot where a famous horse-sacrifice once took place.
Located behind a cricket field and numerous food stalls, the temple stands tall and proud with the echoing sounds of its huge bells. The annual Makar Sankranti festival is celebrated here with great pomp and show, where ghee is applied to the goddess’ idol and water is poured 100 times. And don’t forget the flowers, which decorate the idol for a week!
The temple’s main gate entrance has a Nagarkhana or drum house and is built like the Bassein fort entrance, surrounded by a stone wall like a fort. Inside, you’ll find the goddess Vajreshvari in the form of Pindi, along with a small temple of Bhairav and an idol of Dhayanu Bhagat in front of the main temple.
It wasn’t originally known as the Bajreshwari Devi Temple, and in fact, it was attacked and ruined by Mohammad Ghazni in 1009. It was later reconstructed but destroyed again in a 1905 earthquake. Thankfully, it was reopened to the public in 1920 and stands as one of the few remaining temples from Kangra’s glorious past.