The eyes of Sati on a hilltop above the vast Gobind Sagar reservoir — one of the most visually spectacular of all the Shakti Peethas.
Naina Devi temple stands at 1,177 metres in the Shivalik range above Bilaspur, marking where the eyes of Sati fell. The Goddess here is worshipped through her piercing, luminous gaze — "naina" meaning eyes — a form associated with clarity of vision and the power to see beyond illusion. The hilltop setting, with the immense Gobind Sagar reservoir (created by the Bhakra Dam) stretching below and the Shivalik and distant Himalayan ranges rising around, makes this one of the most breathtaking sacred panoramas in north India.
A cable car now carries pilgrims from the base to the hilltop temple, making the spectacular view accessible to all ages and abilities. Naina Devi is one of the five principal Himachal Shakti shrines, traditionally visited alongside Jwalamukhi, Chamunda Devi, Chintpurni and Brajeshwari Devi as part of the region's celebrated goddess pilgrimage circuit.
Nearest railway: Anandpur Sahib (25 km). By road: well connected from Chandigarh (90 km) and Bilaspur (10 km) via HRTC buses.
March–June and September–November are most pleasant. Navratri sees very heavy crowds — cable car queues can extend significantly.
Time your visit for sunrise — the view of the lake catching the first light below the temple is extraordinary and far less crowded than midday.
The Eyes of Goddess Sati fell at Naina Devi, consecrating this land as a Shakti Peetha. The Shakti here is Naina Devi (Mahishasuramardini) and the guardian Bhairav is Krodhish.
Shakti Peetha
One of the 51 sacred Shakti Peethas — explore its unique significance in the divine circuit.
Explore →
Shakti Peetha
One of the 51 sacred Shakti Peethas — explore its unique significance in the divine circuit.
Explore →
Shakti Peetha
One of the 51 sacred Shakti Peethas — explore its unique significance in the divine circuit.
Explore →