Chandi Devi Temple, Haridwar, Hindu temple on Neel Parvat hill, Haridwar, India

Chandi Devi is a Hindu temple on the summit of Neel Parvat, a hill at the southern edge of the Himalayan range in Haridwar district, at an altitude of 884 metres. The complex is built against the rock face: a light pink pyramid-shaped tower topped by a tall red flag stands at the left, with a red-railed balcony and orange flags below it. To the right, an open gallery of white pillars and a cream cut-stone wall with dark gridded windows support the upper balcony.

The Skanda Purana records that the goddess Chandi killed the demon chiefs Chanda and Munda here, giving the site its name. Adi Shankaracharya is said to have installed the main murti in the 8th century CE. The present structure was built in 1929 by Suchat Singh, king of Kashmir. Local legend holds that the Mughal emperor Akbar granted the temple's land to the shrine.

The deity here carries the title Chandi, a form of divine power who stepped in against destructive forces and restored the gods to their realm. Pilgrims come seeking darshan and leave small offerings such as flowers or red cloth that you see tied to walls and railings.

You can reach the site either on foot via a three-kilometer uphill path or by cable car starting at a station near the Gauri Shankar Temple. The walk takes about one to two hours depending on your pace, while the cabin ride is much quicker.

The site forms part of the Panch Tirth, five sacred places in Haridwar that devotees visit during a pilgrimage circuit. Some visitors tie small cloth strips to the railings and speak wishes while completing the walk around the shrine.