Jai Leta Wali Mata Temple and Gaddi Shepherd temporary village

                                             Jai Leta Wali Mata Temple is located about 2 kilometers from Bhagsunag Waterfall at Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh.

The trek to Jai Leta Wali Temple is from Bhagsunag Waterfall and also from Shiva Cafe (above waterfall). The track is bit of tough, with steep curves and moderate trails. It takes you about 2 hours (leisurely trek) and 1 hours (fast trek) to reach Jai Leta Wali Mata Temple.

Trek to Jai Leta Wali Mata Temple

The Temple is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Lete. The temple is usually visited by the local village people (Gaddis) or trekkers while on their way to Triund Campsite from Bhagsunag Waterfall.

View from Jai Leta Wali Mata Temple of  Bhagsunag, Dharamkot and McLeod Ganj.

Gaddi.....
     The word 'Gaddi' have derived from the word 'Gaddar' a Hindi term for shepherd. Gaddis are found in the Dhauladhar Range of the Himachal Pradesh. The Gaddi tribe are Gypsies in true nature as they always travel to the pastures along their flocks. These particular tribes are not nomadic in strictest of sense as they already have villages where they reside.

Gaddi Shepherds (picture downloaded from internet)

Gaddi Shepherd (picture downloaded from internet)

The Gaddi shepherds mainly spend their winter in the low hills of shiwalik range. When the snow melted and the high passes were clear they moved on to higher mountain.

Stone huts used by Gaddi Shepherds

 Near Jai Leta Wali Mata Temple there are stone huts which are used by Gaddi Shepherds when they came here.

See also: Bhagsunag Temple | Bhagsunag Waterfall | Triund Campsite | Trek to Triund Campsite from Bhagsunag |

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Naddi

view of Dhauladar ranges from Naddi

Naddi is a Gaddi tribal village located about 12 kilometers from Dharamshala bus stand. Naddi is known for it  natural beauty.

Naddi

          The village has become one of the main tourist centre so many hotels and restaurants are opened.

Sahaja Yoga Ashram & meditation Center is situated in Naddi village.

The trek to Guna Devi temple starts from Naddi village and is a beautiful trek of around 4 kilometers.

See also : Trek to Dharmkot |
 
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Dharamkot: The Mini Israel..

Dharamkot village

Dharamkot is a small Gaddi tribe village situated on the crest of hill, near Mcleod Ganj, Upper Dharamshala. (also known as Mini Israel) The Village had a panoramic view of the Kangra valley and the Dhauladhar ranges and is surrounded by forests of  deodar and rhododendrons trees.

Israeli tourists have a special connection with this village. The influence of the Israelis on the village can be seen from the Hebrew wall writing on the many building of the village. There is also Chabad house (Jewish community center) in the village. 

There are many restaurants serving Indian, Tibetan, and Israeli delicacies in the village and many hotels.

Dharamkot have the Vipassana meditation centre, Dhamma Shikara, and the Tushita Meditation Centre.

See also:  Trek to Naddi | Gallu | Triund Campsite |

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Shaktipeeth Vajreshwari Devi Kangra

Shree Vajreshwari Devi temple is located in the center of Kangra town in Himachal Pradesh. Popularly known as Nagarkot Dham or Kot Kangra, the temple dedicated to Goddess Vajreshwari Devi is one of the most renowned shrine of northern India.

Shaktipeeth Vajreshwari Devi Temple

 It is famous Shaktipeeth where the left breast of Pauranik  Sati Parvati is stated to have fallen. The devi is worshipped in form of a pindi. (A legend says that after Goddess Sati sacrificed herself in the honor of Lord Shiva in her Fathers Yagya. Shiva took her body on his shoulder and started Tandav . In order to stop him from destroying the world Lord Vishnu divided the body of Sati into 51 parts with his Chakra. The left breast of Sati fell at this spot, thus making it a Shakti Peeth.)

A legend avers that the body of Demon King Jalandhara was buried at this place. According to another legend it is believed that in ancient times the Goddess has used butter to heal the wounds she got during the battle with the Demon Makishasur. The tradition still continues on the day of Makar Sakranti every year. (Makar Sakranti which comes on second week of January.) 

Butter idol on the Pindi of the Goddess, on Makar Sankranti...

Thousands of pilgrims from all over the country came for glimpse of the butter idol on the Pindi of the goddess, prepared for the Makar Sankranti festival. About 1,400 to 2,000 kilograms of butter is used and remains on the Pindi for one week. The butter, when removed, is distributed as prasada among the devotees. The butter is believed to treats chronic skin ailments and joint pains.

Though the exact date of the construction of this temple is not known but During the beginning of the 11th century the popularity of this temple had reached it zenith. It is the reason why Mohammad Ghazni invaded Kangra in 1009. Later in year 1360, Sultan Feroze Tughlaq damaged the structure and in earthquake of the year 1905 this temple was completely destroyed. Temple was completed in the year 1930. The three domes of this temple depict the architecture of religious places of Hindu, Muslims, and Sikhs which is unique in itself.

See also: Shaktipeeth Jwalamukhi Temple | 

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Kangra Fort

Situated on the outskirts of Kangra town, in Himachal Pradesh, the Kangra Fort is witness to thousands of years of grandeur, invasion, war, wealth and evolution.

Ruin of kangra Fort 

Built in the times when history was not recorded, local legends credit Rajanaka Susherma Chandra (234th ruler from the founder Rajanaka Bhumi Chandra), who after being defeated in the battle of Mahabharat (allies of Kauravs) retreated to the valley and built this fort (presently accepted by the Archeological Survey of India as to be one of the oldest dated forts in India).

Kangra Fort is considered to be the largest fort in the Himalayas and according to the Archaeological Survey of India it is 8th largest in the country - covering an area of 463 acres.

View of Banganga river from Kangra fort.

View of Majhi river from Kangra fort

The Kangra Fort is distinguished for it strategic location, strength and impregnability. Situated at the confluence of the Banganga and Majhi rivers on top of a hillock made of boulder conglomerate the Kangra Fort overlooks the vast Kangra valley and the hill forms a natural fortifications. The fortifications walls are 4 kilometers. In circumference and rises approximately 300 feet above the river bed which surrounds the hill in three directions leaving only a small stretch of land connectivity towards the old Kangra town.

Ranjit Singh gate

The fort complex can be entered through a small courtyard juxtaposed between two gates known as 'Phatak' during the Sikh occupancy of the area.

Ahani Darwaza-(Iron Gate)

Amiri Darwaza-(Gate of Nobles)

A narrow path leads one to the interiors of the fortress through the 'Ahani Darwaza' (Iron Gate) and 'Amiri Darwaza' (Gate of Nobles)  both constructed during the aegis of Nawab Saif Ali Khan, the first Mughal governor of Kangra. 

Jahangiri Darwaza

As one ascends 500 feet along with the path one reaches the 'Jahangiri Darwaza' commissioned during the time of Jahangir, the illustrious Mughal ruler.

Andheri Darwaza (Dark Gate)

Then the path leads to the first defense gate called the Andheri Darwaza (dark gate) - this was built in order to stop/slow down the charge of an enemy army - above the side walls are flat grounds which accommodated the Katoch army who defended these gates from the vantage point.

Darshini Darwaza

Further up on the hills is the 'Darshini Darwaza' (the gate of worship) a colossal gateway guarded by river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna on either side of the main entrance to the central palace and the temple complex of the fort.

Ambika Devi Temple inside the fort...

Laxmi Marayan Temple inside the fort.

Idol of Mahavir

Ruin of Temple

The central religious complex comprises of stone carved temples of Ambika Devi, Laxmi Narayan and Jain Temple (a point of pilgrimage for the Jains as it holds the original idol of Mahavir).

Resident building inside the fort.

The flight of steps between these Temples leads to the Palace complex. The palace complex comprises of several buildings  such as Sheesh Mahal, resident buildings etc. 

Mythology of Kangra Royal family

Idol of Ambika devi inside the fort.

In the days of unrecorded history it is believed that the founder of the Katoch kingdom was Bhumi Chandra, who was born from the perspiration of the Goddess Ambika. The story narrated that when the Goddess Ambika while fighting the demon Rakathber, who could replicate himself with every drop of his blood (which fell on the ground), got tired of killing all his re-incarnations and wiped her forehead of the sweat, a drop of which fell on the earth and created Bhumi Chandra. Bhumi Chandra helped the Goddess in destroying the demon. So pleased was the Goddess with Bhumi Chandra that she bestowed upon him a large kingdom (Kutch-Khadi-Multan which stretched all the from the Tibetan borders in the Himalayas to the sea - Rann of Kutch, an area upwards of 1,25,000 sq. miles). The Goddess also conferred upon him the title of Rajanaka (Supreme King) and Katoch (Sanskrit for the best in swordsmanship).
Even to this day the title of Katoch is used by the Royal family as their surnames. The Goddess Ambika is worshiped as their clan Goddess (the temple of Ambika Mata is situated in the Kangra fort and is the oldest Ambika temple in India).

Idol of God Ganesha inside it fort

The Kangra Fort was through built to be unconquered was over powered by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1009. It was seized again in 1337 by Muhammad Bin Tughlaq and his successor Flroz Shah Tughlaq the Sultans of Delhi. The fort was never under the rule of the Muhammadan rulers until 1622, when after a failed attempt by Akbar, his son and successor Jahangir captured it and appointed a Governor to control the turbulence of the hill states against the Mughals. However with the exception of possession of the Rajput Katoch rulers of Kangra, who claimed to be the descendents of the Trigarta tribe. In the 2nd half of the 18th century, the Mughal rule declined, Raja Sansar Chand Katoch II succeeded in recapturing their ancestral fort and with him began the golden phase of Kangra art. His ambitions led him to come into conflict with several other hill states including the Gurkhas and Raja Ranjeet Singh of Punjab, who finally captured Kangra Fort in 1809, with him the Sikh rule was established. The Sikh hegemony was dismantled by the British troops who occupied the fort, till 1905 when the fort was destroyed by a severe earthquake which shook the entire Himachal Pradesh. After this grave disaster the fort was never inhabited.

Hammam (a commual bathhouse) in Kangra fort

Archaeological Museum 
   There is also a small archaeological Museum inside the Kangra fort. The museum was opened to the public on 26th January 2002.(update soon)                     
Rani ka Talaab
A small pound situated in the fort forest area, is said to be used by the queen, as the name suggest 'Rani Ka Talaab'- Pound of Queen. It is about 20 to 30 minutes trek from fort to reach the pound. 

Trek to Rani ka Talaab

The trek from Fort to Rani Ka Talaab is surrounded by dense shrubby forest of Banyan trees. There is very less number of people, who go there, as the forest is little scary. But the main reason is wild animals. 

See also: Nurpur Fort | Sujanpur Tira Fort |

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