Bhimakali Temple, Hindu temple in Sarahan, India

Bhimakali Temple is a shrine in Sarahan with multiple levels stacked vertically and connected by internal staircases. The building displays dark timber framing, carved pillars, and silver doors, with stone lower sections and wooden upper portions that create a layered appearance.

The temple was built in the 13th century as a shrine to Durga, worshipped locally as Bhimakali, and is revered as one of the 51 Shakta pithas. It was the kuldevi shrine of the Bushahr rulers, whose capital was at Sarahan. Raja Padam Singh contributed to rebuilding it in the 1920s. In the 1905 Kangra earthquake the main tower tilted, then straightened during a later tremor.

Bhimakali is the kuldevi, or clan goddess, of the former Bushahr rulers, and Sarahan was their capital before the seat moved to Rampur. The idol is kept as an eternal virgin on the top floor of the twin towers, with Parvati as the daughter of the Himalaya worshipped below. The complex also holds shrines to Raghunathji, Narsinghji and Patal Bhairav (Lankra Vir), guardian deities.

The site sits in the mountains at about 2150 meters elevation, so the air is thin and weather changes quickly. Comfortable shoes with good grip are important, as the paths between levels are steep and the interior staircases are narrow and winding.

The shrine combines Hindu and Buddhist architectural features in a single structure, which is uncommon in this region. This blend appears in the designs of different floors, where distinct religious traditions exist side by side.