Twice a year, during Chaitra Navratri (March–April) and Sharad Navratri (September–October), lakhs of pilgrims travel to the Devi temples of the Kangra and Una hills. The temples are close enough together to cover several in a day or two by car, but Navratri crowds change how you should plan.
The temples on a Himachal Devi yatra
- Mata Chintpurni (Una district): the first stop for most pilgrims arriving by train at Amb Andaura, about 22 km away.
- Jwalamukhi (Jwala Ji) (Kangra district): known for the natural flames that burn inside the temple. About 31 km from Chintpurni.
- Brajeshwari Devi (Kangra Devi): in Kangra town, about 35 km from Jwalaji and only about 9 km from Kangra Airport.
- Chamunda Devi: on the banks of the Baner river, about 22 km from Kangra Devi and 19 km from Dharamshala.
- Maa Baglamukhi, Bankhandi: about 23 km from Jwalaji, easy to add between Jwalaji and Kangra.
- Shri Naina Devi Ji (Bilaspur district): further south, about 62 km from Una station — usually done as a separate day or as part of a longer yatra.
The usual order
Coming by train or from Punjab and Delhi, most families go from south to north:
Amb Andaura → Chintpurni → Jwalaji → (Baglamukhi) → Kangra Devi → Chamunda → Dharamshala
That is roughly 22 + 31 + 23 + 26 + 22 km between the temples — short distances, but hill roads and darshan queues mean it is a comfortable two-day trip, not one. Flying in? Start the other way round from Kangra Airport: Kangra Devi and Chamunda are both within about 21 km of the airport.
The full set of road distances is in our temple distance chart.
How Navratri changes the plan
- Start before sunrise. Queues at Chintpurni and Jwalaji build through the morning. Being at the first temple by 6–7 AM can save hours.
- Expect to walk. On the busiest days, parking near the temples fills up early and you may walk the last stretch through the bazaar. Comfortable footwear you can slip off quickly helps.
- Ashtami and Navami are the peak. The eighth and ninth days draw the biggest crowds. If your dates are flexible, the first days of Navratri are calmer.
- Keep the day light for elders. Two or three temples a day is plenty with parents. A driver who knows the parking spots and the shorter walking routes matters more than speed.
- Book early. Hotels near Jwalaji, Chintpurni and Kangra fill up for Navratri, and so do taxis.
Two days or three?
- Two days covers the core circuit — Chintpurni, Jwalaji, Kangra Devi and Chamunda — with Baglamukhi on the way. See the Chintpurni, Jwalaji, Kangra & Chamunda yatra.
- Three days adds Naina Devi without rushing: the Panch Devi Darshan package.
- Only one day? The Chintpurni & Jwalaji day yatra from Amb Andaura is the most popular choice.
Coming from Delhi or Chandigarh with more time, the 9 Devi Darshan Yatra covers the Himachal temples together with Mansa Devi, Naina Devi and Vaishno Devi.
