Nine eternal flames of natural gas burn from the earth with no fuel — the tongue of Sati, the Goddess Siddhida who grants all spiritual accomplishments.
Jwalamukhi temple in the Kangra Valley is unique among all Shakti Peethas: there is no idol. The tongue of Sati fell here, and worship is offered to nine tongues of natural flame emerging from cracks in the earth. These flames — fed by natural gas seeping through the rock — have burned for millennia. The Goddess is Siddhida ("she who grants all Siddhis/spiritual powers"), and the Bhairav is Unmat Bhairav (the intoxicated, ecstatic Bhairav).
The nine flames are named after nine forms of the Goddess: Mahakali, Annapurna, Chandi, Hinglaj, Vindhyavasini, Mahalakshmi, Saraswati, Ambika and Anjana. The Mughal Emperor Akbar famously tried to douse the flames with water and later with an iron canopy — neither succeeded. Humbled, he offered a golden canopy, but legend says it turned into another metal upon installation, representing the Goddess rejecting gifts offered in doubt.
By road from Kangra: 30 km. By bus from Dharamsala: 35 km. Nearest airport: Kangra (Gaggal) Airport, 35 km.
Year-round. Navratri (spring and autumn) draws the largest crowds. The temple is especially atmospheric at night when the flames glow orange in the darkness.
Night darshan at Jwalamukhi — watching the eternal flames in the darkness of the inner sanctum — is one of the most extraordinary experiences at any Shakti Peetha.
The Tongue of Goddess Sati fell at Jwalamukhi, consecrating this land as a Shakti Peetha. The Shakti here is Siddhida and the guardian Bhairav is Unmat Bhairav.
One of the 51 sacred Shakti Peethas — explore its unique significance in the divine circuit.
Explore →One of the 51 sacred Shakti Peethas — explore its unique significance in the divine circuit.
Explore →One of the 51 sacred Shakti Peethas — explore its unique significance in the divine circuit.
Explore →