Murari Devi – that witnesses valleys, planes and peaks from a distance

A Manali trip is the first thing that comes to your mind when you plan your summer holidays in Himachal. Moreover, if you plan to take the road route, which is the wisest thing to do, you always halt at Sunder Nagar. Sunder Nagar is just 135 kilometers or 3 hours away from Manali.

Take a look at the small town called Sunder Nagar from a distance.

Sunder Nagar is famous for its lake and most of the tourists stop at the lakeside to enjoy the natural beauty and soothing sceneries. However, not much is known about the other places worth visiting in Sunder Nagar.  One such tourist destination is Murari Devi Temple, situated at the top of a hill that overlooks almost every part of the Sunder Nagar town. Not only the Sunder Nagar town but also one can see three other distant districts of the state from the temple on a bright and sunny day. Shikari Devi is the highest peak and gobind sagar is one the lowest places in the area that are visible from this peak.

You can enjoy fantastic winds here..

Rainy seasons are special in their own way.. If you happen to visit Murari Devi Peak on a bright sunny day, you can see far deep into valleys and planes from this place!

Check out the balh valley and snow laden peaks of Lahaul Spiti mountain ranges from Murari Devi.

One can choose the lakeside route, which goes through the villages of Sunder Nagar. This route will make sure that you do not have to walk more than few hundred steps to reach the temple. This route is suitable for people who come in a four vehicle. However, bikers absorb real beauty of the temple. Those who have been to Dharamshala will feel like moving through the curvaceous roads of Dharamshala towards Mcleodganj. During winters and rainy seasons, one will often find his bike literally moving on the clouds because mist and fog surround the roads, as if playing hide and seek with them.

The snaky road- Bikers Delight

The place is known for growing delicious cucumbers, which makes the hilly fields laden with cucumbers. Moreover, if you like to be adventurous, you can try stealing the cucumbers from the fields at your own risk. One rivulet flows through the region and divides the region into two halves. The terrain is easy and bikers will not find it difficult to navigate through the roads. The only problem is parking problem, which has become a universal phenomenon, so nothing new for those who come from cities. However, one can park bikes near the teashops and small dhabas and they never mind it. Not much is there to see except trees, mist and temples and bikers never mind seeing them again and again.

After parking the bike, there is uphill climb of approximately 2 Kilometers. On your way up, you will see many small temples local deities and universal gods like Lord Shiva and Hanuman Ji.

Below  you will find the Lord Shiva’s Temple.. Work on a cave is currently going on here.

Temple of Godadiya Siddha close to Murari Devi Temple.

As one reaches near the temple, the climb becomes tiring, as one has to climb inclined stairs. However, the sight and premises of the temple are worth all the trouble in world. One can see the seesaw board, traditional rope swing and other childhood playmates around the temple complex.

Temple of a deity

Walk with open eyes, there is so much to see… And if you are lucky enough to find sunlight around you, you can see the famous Govind Sagar Lake, Himalayan Range, Kamru Nag lake, Shikari Devi Temple and the Sunder Nagar lake looking like a shallow pond. Nearby lies ruins of the fort of the King of the region. The fort is in shambles but it is a great place for photographers to let their imagination run wild and create photographic masterpieces.

The legend says that the Paandava’s built this temple as they saw a natural Shiva Linga at this place. Road to the temple is made of tiles and concrete patches, which was built in 1993 by a retired forest ranger to pay homage to Mother Divine.

Where to stay?

There is an inn managed by the temple authorities and it has capacity of accommodating 18-20 people. The lunch and dinner is also provided in the langars. Those who are fond of Coca Cola and chips in dinner must get their stuff from the shops near the parking space. Otherwise staying hungry in the mystic land is not a bad option at all. Unlike Rohtang and other places in Lahaul and Spiti Valley, Murari Devi temple allows you to make use of any mobile connection you want because almost every company has put its tower on the top of hill.

How to Reach:

The temple is 21 kilometers away from the Sunder Nagar town. The road diverges from the outskirts of the town and one can see the conventional HP tourism board near the diversion point.

Another route is through the lakeside. Take your bikes, start moving along the periphery of the lake, and take first left turn. The best thing about this road is that it drops you near the parking area. However, the two-kilometer trek is something you will miss through this route.

When to visit?

Best visiting time is during April-May-June. However, those who love fog and want to ride through the clouds must visit during the month of July.

NAREGA workers carrying cement bags over a three km stretch!

Cucumber fields on Murari Devi – Sunder Nagar road.

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