The Bhimakali temple with its six Silver coated doors is a
mixture of both Hindu and Buddhist style of architecture attracts pilgrims
and tourists from all over the world. The temple of Bhimakali is situated
at Sarahan. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Bhimakali but there are
numerous other deities installed in the complex.
THE LEGEND OF BHIMKALI TEMPLE
One comes to know of the origin of the temple also through the legends in
the "Markandya Purana" and "Durga Shaptshati". Legends
say Goddess Durga had promised the 'Devtas' that she would save them from
the atrocities of 'Asuras' by re-incarnation. True to her word she
decimated the 'Asuras' and became famous by the name of Bhima Devi.
The five-storey Bhimakali temple is situated on a hillock amongst
beautiful scenery of gigantic deodar trees. The exquisitely carved wooden
sloped roofs are slanting and slightly and concave. These roofs are
reminiscent of the Chinese architecture.
There are two temples of Bhimakali. The original temple got tilted hence
the second has been constructed in the same architectural style. The
statuettes of 'Devis' were installed in the temple in 1962. The one meter
Ashtdhatu (alloys of 8 metals) Deity of Goddess surrounded by 'Parikrama
Path' on the four sides. Besides this deity are statuettes of numerous
deities like 'Chamunda', 'Annpurna', 'Brajeshwari', 'Shiv-Parvati',
'Ganesh', and 'Buddha'. The Devi is decorated with silver plates.
The Bimakali temple attracts a stream of visitors during Navratras. Other
major fairs celebrated with gaity and fervour are Janamashtami, Ramnavmi,
Makar Sakranti, Shivratri and Diwali. Three day Dussehra fair dedicated to
Raghunathji is enthusiastically celebrated with a Rath Yatra.