Mata Mansa Devi Mandir, Hindu temple in Panchkula district, India
Mata Mansa Devi Mandir is a Hindu temple in Panchkula district, India, set on a hill of the Shivalik range. The complex consists of several interconnected buildings in white stone, with towers and entrances decorated with fine carvings and traditional motifs.
The temple was completed in 1815 after Raja Gopal Singh of Manimajra oversaw four years of construction work. He chose this hilltop site as an act of gratitude for divine favor granted to him during a difficult phase of his life.
The temple takes its name from Mansa Devi, a goddess considered the sister of the serpent deities, to whom believers entrust their wishes on small ribbons. Many visitors tie colorful threads to trees in the forecourt after their prayers, marking their hopes or giving thanks for fulfilled requests.
The temple opens early in the morning, at 4 AM during summer and 5 AM in winter, and closes at 10 PM throughout the year. The ascent to the hilltop is either on foot via broad steps or by cable car, both routes offering clear views of the surrounding landscape.
An underground tunnel roughly 3 kilometers (nearly 2 miles) long once connected the sanctuary with Raja Gopaldas's fort in the valley. Through this passage the ruler and his consort traveled daily for worship, shielded from view and weather.
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