Jawal-Ji Temple Complex

Top choice in Himachal Pradesh


Meaning 'honoured flame', Jawal-Ji is Jawalmukhi's main temple and raison d'être, enshrining natural eternal flames that are said to mark the legendary site at which Sati's tongue fell to earth.

Mentioned in the Mahabharata, the site is particularly ancient and, though from outside the current series of temples is a fairly forgettable mish mash, the experience of a visit is highly memorable. Join the throng climbing 600m of colourful covered bazaar from the bus station, then jostle through a partly caged queuing system for a glimpse of the golden-enshrined flame and, beside it, two more flames emanating from a small central pit from which temple guardians distribute blessings.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Himachal Pradesh attractions

1. Kangra Fort

15.19 MILES

At least 1000 years old, Kangra Fort's impregnable stone ramparts impressively buttress a high promontory of land between the Manjhi and Banganga Rivers…

2. Maharaja Sansar Chand Museum

15.27 MILES

Up a curling road, 200m from Kangra Fort ticket gate, this well-displayed one-room museum exhibits ornate palanquins, pashmina fly-whisks and silver…

3. Brajeshwari Devi Temple

15.96 MILES

Rebuilt after the 1905 quake, this highly revered temple has a centrepiece that's richly endowed with embossed silverwork. Four large bronze lions stare…

4. Masrur Temples

17.53 MILES

Rare for North India, Masrur's elaborate if severely eroded sandstone sikharas were hewn from living rock between the 8th and 10th centuries. With a…

5. Palampur Cooperative Tea Factory

18.87 MILES

This factory, 2km south of Palampur town, processes the leaves from numerous small local tea growers producing 300,000kg of tea for the Kangra and…

6. Wah Tea Estate

18.95 MILES

One of the Kangra Valley's oldest tea estates, Wah has been continuously cultivating since 1857. Half-hour visits let you walk through tea and herb…

7. Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery

20.74 MILES

In a serene spot along the delightful little lane that short cuts between Wah Tea Estate and Baijnath, this modern Drukpa-Kagyu nunnery is the base of…

8. Gyuto Tantric Gompa

21.69 MILES

Standing in for the 1474 Tibet original, this large monastic complex forms an attractive scene backed by mountainscape at Sidhbari village (7km from…