Baijnath Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the Baijnath town of Kangra district. The temple is considered to be one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of India, which are believed to be the holiest abodes of Lord Shiva. The temple is also famous for its big water tank “Baijnath Kund“. Which is believed to have medicinal properties and is considered holy by the devotees.
Baijnath Temple Kangra
Baijnath temple Kangra was built in the 13th century by two local merchants named Ahuka and Manyuka, who were believed to be great devotees of Lord Shiva. The temple is built in the Nagara style of architecture, with intricate carvings and sculptures on its walls. The main deity of the temple is Lord Vaidyanatha, which means “Lord of Physicians”. According to Hindu mythology, the temple was built at the place where Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati used to do their daily meditation. There is a shikhara in the temple complex which rises to a height of about 30 meters, the shikhara is decorated with various ornamental designs and motifs. There are also small shrines of Lord Ganesha, Goddess Parvati, and Lord Kartikeya in the temple complex.
Architecture and Festival
Baijnath Temple is also known as Devanagari. The temple of Lord Shiva is believed to have existed before the construction of the present structure. There is a Shivling in the inner sanctum of the temple. Further images are carved on the walls and in niches on the exterior. The main hall has two long inscriptions carved on stone slabs. These inscriptions are written in Sharada script in Sanskrit and Takri script, the local Pahari language. These inscriptions include the names of the present ruler, King Jayachandra, and the architects at the time of construction, in addition to the praise of Lord Shiva. Devotees and tourists come here in large numbers during the Shivratri festival.
Near Places in Baijnath Temple Kangra Himachal
Some place around Baijnath Temple is Dharamshala situated 50 km away from the temple. Kangra Fort is situated at a distance of about 18 km from the temple, it is a historical fort. Masroor is a group of 15 monolithic rock-cut temples located about 25 km from the rock-cut temple. Palampur is a beautiful town located about 35 km from Baijnath Temple. Palampur is famous for its tea gardens, temples, and natural beauty. The temple is situated in a picturesque location surrounded by the Dhauladhar mountain range and is easily accessible by road from nearby cities like Dharamshala and Kangra.
