Sui Mata Temple, Chamba Overview

Located in the Saho district in Chamba, Sui Mata Temple was built by King Varman in the memory of his wife Queen Sui who sacrificed her life for her people. Situated on top of the Shah Darbar Hill, the shrine provides a spectacular bird’s eye view of the tiny township below. The temple complex has been divided into three parts which includes the main temple, a channel and a memorial dedicated to Rani Sui Mata. Considered as an epitome of sacrifice, Sui Mata Temple can be reached by alighting a flight of stairs paved along a pathway from the bottom of the base. The interiors have been tastefully done in beautiful paintings depicting the life and times of Sui Mata.

The temple is a local place of worship and is the most crowded at the time of the annual fair which is held in the months of April and May. Little girls and women dress up extravagantly to pay their homage to the sacrifice of Queen Sui. The festival is celebrated with a lot of fervour and zeal.

Legend of Sui Mata Temple

The legend behind the temple states that once there was heavy scarcity of water in the kingdom of Raja Varman. He prayed to the gods, gave away offering and tried every way to please the deities but to no avail. Disappointed and anguished, he considered the Brahmins and the religious priests and they told him about the extreme demands of the gods. In order to bring water to the town, the King would have to either sacrifice his son or his queen. Taking a very tough call, the king decided to sacrifice his son but the queen could not see this happen before her eyes and so she died instead.

Soon after there were heavy rains and the town was flooded with water. Later, a memorial was built for Queen Sui Mata for her colossal sacrifice.

Best Time To Visit Sui Mata Temple

The perfect time to visit Sui Mata Temple is during the annual fair in the months of April and May. The fair is celebrated to honour the sacrifice of Queen Sui Mata. Women and girls dress in dazzling clothes and ornaments and pay homage to the queen. The fair is a must visit occasion if in Chamba.

How To Reach Sui Mata Temple

Chamba is a small town well-connected through state run buses, cabs, autos and local rickshaws. However, Sui Mata Temple is located on a hill-top; you can avail public transport to reach the base of the hill and then trek to the top. Alternatively, you can drive down or hire a cab to take you through the concrete road to the temple.