Chandi Devi Temple in Haridwar

The temple is abode by goddess Chandi or also known as Chandika. According to the legend, there were two demon kings Shumbha and Nishumbha who had captured the kingdom of the god king of heaven- Indra and they had started throwing the gods from heaven. After an ardent praying session by the gods, goddess Parvati assumed the form of Chandi who was extremely beautiful. Mesmerised by her beauty shumbha asked t marry her and on refusal, he planned to kill her. The goddess first killed chand unda the army chief of the demons. Shumbha and Nishumbha were both killed by chamunda who originated from chandika’s anger.

The whole battle took place on the spot on the Neel Parvat. Goddess Chandi rested on this spot on the Neel Parvat and later a temple was built to testify the legend. The two peaks located in the mountain range are known as Shumbha and Nishumbha. The temple was constructed in 1929 by Suchat Singh who was reigning king of Kashmir. However, it is believed that the idol of Chandi Devi was installed late in the 8th century by a great Hindu priest Adi Shankaracharya.

Chandi Devi Temple in Haridwar is highly preached by the devotees and is one of siddh peetha which is regarded as a place of worship where the desires and wishes of the devotees get fulfilled. It is one of the three Siddh Peetha located in Haridwar, the other two being Mansa Devi temple and Maya Devi Temple.

Chandi Devi and Mansa Devi are believed to be the two forms of goddess Parvati and therefore the two goddesses are always in close proximity to each other. This belief is found true in another case as the Mansa Devi temple in Panchkula, Haryana is located nearby to Chandi Devi Temple in Chandigarh.

Devotees from all over the world visit the temple during the festivals of Chandi chaudas, Navratri and Kumbh Mela to seek the blessings of the goddess. The temple is heavily decorated during these festivals and looks mesmerizing. The temple is run by the presiding priest known as Mahant. The view from the temple is enchanting as there is a dense forest surrounding the temple which gives you a scenic view of the holy river Ganga and Haridwar. This place is a must visit for all pilgrims visiting Haridwar to enrich their soul and find the serene closeness to the goddess Chandi Devi.