Shri Chamunda Devi Mandir, Hindu temple in Kangra district, India.
Shri Chamunda Devi Mandir stands in the village of Chandreshwar, about 15 km from Dharamshala and 10 km from Kangra on the Dharamshala–Palampur road. The white multi-storey building rises on a terraced hillside above a wide pale sand and concrete area. Its central section has a red-trimmed roofline with a small tower and a stacked, pyramid-like upper structure; the lower level is painted red with a recessed entrance and an open terrace, and small statues stand at the terrace corners and centre.
The temple originated several centuries ago as a place of worship for the goddess who defeated the demons Chanda and Munda and thereby received her name. Over time, the sanctuary was expanded and is now part of the pilgrimage route of the nine goddesses in northern India.
The shrine is dedicated to Goddess Kali, who according to mythology received the name Chamunda after defeating the demons Chanda and Munda. Pilgrims from across northern India come here to participate in traditional rituals performed during early morning and evening hours.
The temple is located about 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) from Dharamshala and can be reached via a road that winds through the mountains. Ceremonies take place in the morning and evening, with exact times varying depending on the season.
The temple is not one of the 51 or 52 Shakti Peethas named in the Kalika Purana or Devi Bhagavata Purana, yet local tradition counts it among the five major Shakti temples of Himachal Pradesh, with Chintpurni, Jwalamukhi, Brajeshwari and Naina Devi. The older hilltop shrine, Aadi Himani Chamunda, is the original site.
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