Baijnath Dham: Himachal Pradesh – Location & Timings

Baijnath Dham

Baijnath बाबा धाम मंदिर is a small town located at the foothills of the Dhauladhar Ranges, on the left bank of the Binwa River. It was originally called Kiragrama and has a history dating back to the early 13th century. The name suggests that the village was founded by the Kiras, a warrior tribe from Kashmir.

According to legend from the Treta Yug, Ravana, the king of Lanka, performed penance at Mount Kailash to please Lord Shiva. When his prayers were not answered, he moved to Kurah (believed to be Manimahesh in Chamba district) and began offering his ten heads as a sacrifice. The gods, fearing Ravana might become immortal and invincible, prayed to Lord Shiva to intervene.

Lord Shiva stopped Ravana, restored his ten heads, and became known as Shri Vaidyanath. As a boon, Shiva granted Ravana immense power and agreed to let him take the Shiva Ling to Lanka, but with one condition: Ravana must not stop along the way. To make it easier to carry, Shiva divided the Ling into two parts and placed them in a basket. Ravana then started his journey south.

Baijnath Dham History – बैजनाथ धाम की कहानी

​​The history of the Baijnath dham is detailed in two long inscriptions on the walls of its mandap. These inscriptions reveal that Kiragrama (modern Baijnath), located on the banks of the Binduka River, was part of Trigarta. This region lay between the Ravi and Satluj rivers, roughly covering the present-day districts of Kangra and Jalandhar. During that time, Trigarta was ruled by King Jayachandra, the overlord of Jalandhara. Under him, a local chief (Rajanaka) named Lakshmanachandra, who was related to Jayachandra through his mother, governed Kiragrama.

Two brothers, Manyuka and Ahuka, lived in Kiragrama. They were the sons of a merchant named Siddha. Out of devotion to Shiva Vaidyanatha, they built the Baijnath temple in Saka 1126 (1204 CE). Their family history is also mentioned in the inscriptions. The brothers donated a machine for extracting oil, a shop, and some land in the nearby village of Navagrama (modern Nauri near Baijnath) to the temple. Rajanaka Lakshmanachandra and his mother also contributed money and land to support the temple.

The inscriptions indicate that a Shiva Ling known as Vaidyanatha already existed at the site, but it lacked a proper structure. The current temple and its porch were built to house the Ling. This suggests that a shrine existed at the spot before the construction of the temple we see today.

What happened to the shrine in the following centuries is unclear, but it appears to have remained in use. Evidence shows that the temple underwent repairs and renovations over time. In the 18th century, Sansara Chandra II, the Katoch king of Kangra, carried out major renovations. Alexander Cunningham, a noted archaeologist, found an inscription from 1786 in the temple, referring to these repairs. The wooden doors of the sanctum also bear an inscription dated Samvat 1840 (1783 CE), which aligns with Cunningham’s findings.

The devastating earthquake of April 4, 1905, which shook the Kangra region, caused damage to the temple. This was reported by J. Ph. Vogel, and the damage has since been repaired. Today, the temple is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India. Worship and rituals are managed by a local board in Baijnath, with the SDM serving as the chairman. The hereditary priests continue to receive a share of the offerings.

How To Reach Baijnath Dham – बैजनाथ ज्योतिर्लिंग कैसे पहुंचे

Baijnath dham / Baijnath Temple is located on the Pathankot-Manali National Highway (NH 154), about halfway between Kangra and Mandi. It is well-connected by road, rail, and air.

बाबा बैजनाथ धाम की दूरी:

By Road

Baijnath is easily accessible via all-weather roads.

• Distances from major cities by bus:
  • Delhi to Baijnath: 550 km
  • Chandigarh to Baijnath: 300 km
  • Jalandhar to Baijnath: 200 km
  • Pathankot to Baijnath: 130 km
  • Ludhiana to Baijnath: 260 km
  • Amritsar to Baijnath: 260 km
  • Jammu to Baijnath: 260 km
  • Shimla to Baijnath: 250 km
  • Manali to Baijnath: 200 km
  • Una to Baijnath: 190 km
  • Palampur to Baijnath: 17 km
  • Dharamshala to Baijnath: 55 km

For bus inquiries, contact the Baijnath Bus Stand at +91-1894-263053.

By Train

• The nearest railway station is Paprola, just 2 km from Baijnath. It is connected to Pathankot via a narrow-gauge line that also passes through Kangra, Maranda (Palampur), and Joginder Nagar.
• The nearest broad-gauge railway station is Pathankot, 129 km away.

Railway Reservation Contacts:

• Dharamshala: +91-1892-226711
• Palampur (Maranda): +91-1894-239010
• Baijnath (Paprola): +91-1894-242921

By Air

The nearest airport is in Gaggal, 50 km from Baijnath and 8 km from Kangra Town. It offers limited flights to Delhi on alternate days. For inquiries, contact Gaggal Airport at +91-1892-232374.

Toy Train Experience

A charming toy train runs on a narrow-gauge track from Pathankot to Paprola-Baijnath, offering a scenic journey through the hills.

Baijnath Dham Timings:

Day	Timings
Monday	4:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday	4:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday	4:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Thursday	4:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday	4:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday	4:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sunday	4:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Aarti Timings

• 5:15 AM – Morning Aarti
• 12:15 PM – Afternoon Aarti
• 7:30 PM – Evening Aarti

Festivals Celebrated in Baijnath Dham:

Maha Shivratri

• The Laghu Rudra Yagna is performed with 1,100 chants.
• A State-level fair is held for five days, with the towns of Baijnath and Paprola beautifully illuminated.
• The Shiv Mandir is decorated with Colorful lights and beautiful flowers.
• Cultural programs are organized at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, and a mela takes place near the temple.
• A havan is performed for the welfare of the world.

Panch Bhisham Chaturdashi

• During this festival, walnuts are showered from the top of the temple in a traditional ritual called ‘Khod Mar.’
• The festival usually takes place in October or November.

Makar Sankranti

• The Shiv Ling is coated with pure ghee, forming a column called Ghrithmandal.
• This festival is celebrated for 8 days.
• The ghee is washed to prepare butter, which is then applied to the Shiv Ling.
• After the Ghrithmandal is removed, the butter, believed to have medicinal properties, is distributed to devotees.

Architecture

The temple is enclosed within a walled area that is about 120 feet long, 60 feet wide at the east end, and 75 feet wide at the west. It faces west and has a main structure made up of a mandapa (hall) connected to the sanctum sanctorum by a small antechamber. The sanctum is topped with a spire built in the Shikhara style.

In front of the mandapa, there is a porch supported by four columns. The south and north walls of the mandapa feature beautiful balcony windows. It is believed that the temple was repaired and expanded during the rule of Raja Sansar Chand, who governed the Kangra Valley from 1776 to 1824.

The temple courtyard has several smaller structures, including rooms for priests and smaller temples dedicated to Murlimanohar, Jamadagni, Bhairava, and Narmadeshwar. These structures were damaged during the 1905 earthquake.

Nearby Attractions

Mahakal Shiv Temple (6 km from Baijnath)
Located on the Baijnath-Sarkaghat road, this 13th-century temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Kheer Ganga Ghat
Situated behind the Baijnath Shiva Temple, on the banks of the Binwa River, Kheer Ganga Ghat is a peaceful spot to relax. You can enjoy the soothing sounds of nature and admire the scenic beauty of the river.

Bir Billing
Bir is a village in the Joginder Nagar Valley, known for ecotourism, meditation, and spiritual studies. It is also home to a Tibetan refugee settlement with several Buddhist monasteries and a large stupa.

Palpung Sherabling Monastery
Located in the foothills of Kangra Valley, this monastery is in the Upper Bhattu region. A walk through pine forests with colorful prayer flags leads to the gompa, which includes shrine halls, a monastic college, a school, a library, a museum, an exhibition hall, and a dispensary.

Mukutnath Temple (6 km from Baijnath)
This ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is located in Sansal. It is also known for housing an old Tulsi plant, which locals believe is the origin of Tulsi.

Siddhnath Temple
Situated near Chobin Chowk in Baijnath, this 13th-century temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Awahi Nag Temple
Located in Gankhetar near Baijnath on the Manali–Pathankot Highway, this temple is dedicated to Nag Devta.

Chamunda Devi Temple (36 km from Baijnath)
Chamunda Devi Temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas of Mata Sati. It is located on the banks of the Baner River and is a significant Hindu pilgrimage site.

Pallikeshwar Mahadev Temple (5 km from Baijnath)
This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located in Tashi Jong near Paprola.

Ashapuri Temple (30 km from Baijnath)
Built by the Pandavas during their time in exile, this temple is located on a hilltop and can be accessed by road.

Shitla Mata Temple (2.5 km from Baijnath)
This temple, dedicated to Shitla Mata, is located on the Baijnath-Sarkaghat road.

FAQ