Bijli Mahadev Temple, Kullu | Trek to Bijli Mahadev

Bijli Mahadev Temple, Kullu Overview

Located at an altitude of 2,460 m at a hilltop in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, across the Beas River, Bijli Mahadev Temple is one of the ancient and sacred temples in India. Bijli Mahadev has to be reached by a trek through a 3 km long path covered with pine trees. People who are religious and adventurous usually prefer to trek from Kullu while enjoying the pleasant weather.

As the name suggests, it is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is very popular for trekking. It is said that the Bijli Mahadev Temple houses a Shiva Linga which was broken into pieces by lightning, that was brought back together and bounded by a temple priest using butter. The word around is that this repeats itself every year.

The surroundings and the sceneries that one witnesses during the trek make it breathtakingly beautiful and refreshing rather than tiring. The Bijli Mahadev Temple has a mesmerizing view of the surrounding valleys of Kullu, Parbati, Garsa, and Bhuntar, which leaves everyone spellbound.

Legend of Bijli Mahadev

The reason why Bijli Mahadev Temple got prominence in India is due to the sacred Shiva Linga which is located inside the temple. As per sources, lightning and thunder strike at the Shiva Linga which results in breaking it into small pieces. The locals and priests apply cereal and pulse flour (sattu) along with unsalted butter on the pieces to restore the Linga in its original form.

Various sources have different beliefs as to why lightning strikes at the Shiva Linga. The locals believe that the strike of the lightning is sheer divine grace and the deity wants to protect the inhabitants from all forms of evil. Whereas, others believe that the lightning is itself a form of a deity which has supernatural powers. The origin and the actual story of the Bijli Mahadev Temple is still not known, but due to the above beliefs, it is regarded as one of the most worshipped temples in India.

How to Reach Bijli Mahadev Temple

To reach Bijli Mahadev, one has to take a route to Kullu and from there, they can journey towards the temple. People who live in Kullu usually trek to the temple via Chansari Village which is about 24 km away from Kullu. After reaching the village, one has to climb the stairs at the entrance of the village, which is approximately 3 km from the temple and covers about 1000 steps. It takes 45 minutes to 1 hour to reach there. Since the stairs directly lead the people to the temple, taking this route is easy. However, it is equally tiring because many steps have to be covered in order to reach the main temple complex.

Bijli Mahadev Temple Route — The path leading to Bijli Mahadev Temple
Source

Best Time to Visit Bijli Mahadev Temple

The months from March to September are considered as the ideal time to visit the holy Bijli Mahadev Temple due to the pleasant weather. In Winter, Kullu becomes covered with snow and incessant rainfall is also observed during that time. However, it is always recommended to visit the temple during Mahashivratri when it is decorated beautifully.