Chamunda Devi Temple stands on a forested spur of the Shah Madar range, directly opposite Chamba town, so its white and wood exterior is visible across the valley. Unlike the stone Nagara temples in the bazaar, Chamunda Devi is built almost entirely of wood with a sloping gabled roof, richly carved pillars and painted panels. Steps and paths lead up through trees to a courtyard where Goddess Chamunda, a fierce form of Durga, is worshipped as the protector of Chamba. From the verandah, you get superb views of the old town, Ravi river and surrounding terraced fields – it feels both like a vantage point and a guardian shrine looking down on the capital.
About this place
History & highlights
The temple was built in 1762 CE by Raja Umed Singh of Chamba and is noted as the only fully wooden temple with a gabled roof in the town, contrasting with the usual stone spires. Local traditions say the shrine protects Chamba from calamities and that the goddess is closely linked with the royal house. Over time, Chamunda Devi became a key stop in the network of Shakti shrines that ring the Chamba valley. Its wooden form reflects both practical adaptation to high rainfall and the rich carpentry tradition of the region: beams and brackets are carved with floral, geometric and mythological motifs. While many hill temples were altered or rebuilt, Chamunda Devi retains this unique 18th-century wooden character, acting as a living museum of vernacular temple architecture and a continuing centre of Shakti worship.
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