Bijli Mahadev an Ancient Temple of Kullu Valley
An ancient and historic temple of Lord Shiva, Bijli Mahadev temple of Kullu Valley, holds many secrets and stories about the Shivling of Desi Makhan (Butter), usually destroyed by lightning from the sky within 12 years. Once the Lightning hits the big Shivling of Makhan, it is reformed with the help of Makhan by the priest Pandit or Pujari of the temple. He collects all the (butter) Makhan from nearby villages, and everyone is willing to help the pujari to reform the destroyed Shivling. Once the Pandit reformed and arranged the Shivling into a powerful statue with mantras and puja hawan, everyone could come to perform their rituals and be allowed to watch and seek the beautiful darshan of Bijli Mahadev. The Temple is situated at the top of the hill in the Kullu Valley village of Kashwari. It is the best location for pilgrims and hikers to enjoy a 360-degree view of the valley and a pleasant walk towards the temple. The Temple hike starting point is approximately 25 km from the main Kullu Bus station and a 2 km hike from the last village near the temple.
If you are an advanced hiker, you can also visit nearby destinations, the Jana Waterfall and Naggar Valley, on the same day. There are also some more destinations in Kullu Valley.
Note:- Do not dispose of Plastic wrappers and water bottles underway. Keep them with you and dispose of them in a proper dustbin.
Contents
Where is Bijli Mahadev ?
District:Â Â Kullu
State:Â Â Â Himachal Pradesh
Country: India
Continent: Asia
Currency:Â Â Rupees
Languages:Â Pahari, Hindi, Punjabi, English
How do I reach Bijli Mahadev ?
By Air: From Delhi International Airport, you can book further flights to Bhuntar Airport, which is 15km from Kullu. Another option is Gaggal Airport, which is 180km from Kullu. Now, from the airport, you will easily find cabs/taxis and rental cars for your further journey towards Kullu or the hiking point of Bijli Mahadev.
By Train: From Delhi International Airport, you can take the metro to Delhi Railway Station and then to Jogindarnagar Railway Station, Mandi, which is 106km from Kullu. You will easily find Cabs or Taxis outside the railway station for your journey to Kullu or the hiking point of Bijli Mahadev.Â
By Road:- From Delhi International Airport, hire a Cab/taxi or book Rental Cars and Rental Bikes towards Kullu Valley. The Delhi to Kullu journey by road is 480km.
You can also travel on ordinary Buses and book Volvo tickets for an Overnight journey to Kullu from Kashmiri Gate (Majnu ka Tila). To reach the bus Station, you can take the metro, a local taxi, or an Autorickshaw.
Distance covered: Delhi to Kullu 480km via NH 44.
Bus Route:-Â From Kullu Bus Station, you can look for a shared taxi/cab or catch a bus (Note:- Limited buses with fixed timings). So you have to adjust your travel timing to catch further buses. After that, you have to travel up to the hiking point of Bijli Mahadev. You can start your hike toward Bijli Mahadev, and after spending some quality time there, you can head back to Kullu or nearby Villages.
What is the best time to hike Bijli Mahadev?
Summers are the most favorable time for all hikers, but because of heavy rain and snow, conditions get worse for beginners. You can’t even reach the starting point of the trek. You also have to stay alert to the wildlife of the hill area.
May and June are the best months for hiking. July is the rainy season, so avoid hiking or traveling in hilly areas.
From August to October, you can hike, but you must be prepared for cold conditions and uneven snowfall.
From November to April, you have to hike in the snow, and risky for every trekker.
What to Pack for Bijli Mahadev Hike?
- Small backpack
- Water bottle
- Sunglasses
- Sunscream/Lipbalm.
- Toilet paper/wipes.
- Personal Medical Kit.
- Dry fruits/ energy bars/electrols/Ors for trek.
- ID Proof
- Torch
What to Carry for Camping?
- Sleeping Bags with an extra inner layer of fleece.
- Tents
- 01 Backpack with rain cover.
- High Ankle trekking shoes
- Â Slippers/floaters.
- 01 Wind and water-resistant Jacket.
- 01 Full-sleeve sweater.
- 02 synthetic trek pants/01 lower.
- 2 T-shirts/01 Warm Shirt.
- Poncho/Rainwear
- Wollen cap/sun cap.
- Trekking Stick
- 01 wollen socks/3 pairs cotton socks.
- 01 pair of Gloves.
Do we need a guide for the Bijli Mahadev Hike?
If you are not a professional Hiker, I suggest you go with a local guide or in a group because you never know if you have to face wild animals and can’t survive the forest alone. Either look for a fellow hiker from the starting point of the hike. Avoid hiking alone.
Experience Travel Itinerary and Experiences
We started our journey from my hometown town Dalash(Kullu), and reached Badha03 km from the main bus station in Kullu. We took 02 days to reach Badha by Jalori Pass. It was a long trip and we all enjoyed the journey. The next day, early morning, we planned for Bijli Mahadev darshan, and a small hike with a small kid was a good option for us. Now we started our journey by cab from Badha to Bijli Mahadev up to the hike point where we parked our cab near small shops (parking charges Rs100/- per day) till 5:30 pm. After that, there is no one to look after the cabs. Then started our 2.5 km hike with unlimited halts on the way. It took 03hrs to reach the top, and then we enjoyed the 360-degree view and a blissful darshan of Bijli Mahadev, where we captured some fascinating pics and read some history of the Temple, and then headed back towards the parking station.
