The Renuka Ji Sanctuary is situated in the Sirmaur district in Himachal Pradesh. The sanctuary is well connected by a network of motorable roads. The total area of the sanctuary is about 4.028 square kilometers. The entire sanctuary is Renuka Ji Reserve Forest and has been declared as Abhayaranya. An area of roughly about 3 square kilometer that lies outside the sanctuary has been declared as a buffer belt The RenukaJi Sanctuary.
The area is well recognized by its religious, aesthetic and cultural value. Renuka is an abode of temples of the mother-and-son duo of Renukaji and Lord Parshuram. Mythologically Renukaji is an incarnation of Goddess Durga. She was the wife of Rishi Jamadagni. Parshuram believed to be the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He was the youngest of the five sons of the couple. It is believed that in order to obey the command of his father, Parshuram had to serve the head of his mother. After killing his mother, he begged his father to pressure life in his mother, for which the Rishi agreed. Renukaji was considered extremely beautiful. Sahastarvahu, the emperor, wanted to marry her and once when Parshuram was away, he killed Rishi Yamdagini and his four sons to marry Renukaji.
