The Himachal Diaries - Jwalamukhi Temple

The temple town of Jwalamukhi is centred around the temple of Jwala ji, one of the 51 shaktipeeths.

The many steps leading up to the temple

The temple complex

The temple town is where one of the 51 parts of Goddess Sati's body fell, cut by Lord Vishnu's Sudarshana chakra, so people on earth could pray to the goddess. Jwalamukhi is where the tongue fell.

Idol of Lord Shiva on the hill

NP and I took an auto to the temple - standard rate of 100 bucks and the auto chap veered off the main road and went up a steep hill side that to my mind can only accommodate one auto. How they return is a mystery. 

Check out the lions

Anyway we walked up, went to the temple, with its many smaller shrines, found the main one, prayed to the blue flames coming out of the crevices in the walls, the main flame in the centre.

Better view of Lord Shiva

The route to the temple filled with shops on either side

Up above the temple is a huge idol of Lord Shiva on the hill side. We walked back to the main road through a typical street full of stores selling puja stuff. We bought a couple of Himachali caps and returned to the hotel.