The Chaurashi Temple is situated at Bhramour which is 65 kilometers from Chamba Valley in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The main temples of Lakshmi Devi, Ganesh and Manimahesh and Nar Singh are called as Chaurashi Temples. According to the popular legend and ancient sayings, the 84 Chaurasi Yogis visit Bharmour during the low of King Sahil Verman. The Yogis were pleased with the king’s humbleness and hospitality of the King and blessed the King with ten sons and a daughter, Champavati. The Temple is said to be built around 9th century.

The temple square is the centre of all activities in the little town of Bharmaur and the Lakshmi, Ganesh, Manimahesh and Narsingh temples, the main shrines, are splendidly set off by the dramatic mountainscape.

Significance of the Temple

Chaurasi Khamba Temple is the renowned temple known for its significance and magnitude. Chaurasi Khamba has thus left its mark in travel and tourism of Bharatpur. Eighty-four ancient beautifully carved pillars has carefully festooned the temple and thus obtained the name Chaurasi Khamba temple. Resembled with the temple at Gokula, Chaurasi Khamba is successfully grabbing the tourist to unfurl and explore its architecturally carved pillars. This place is believed as the renowned spot of Nanda Maharaja. The temple is also visited for its significance of having the abode of Pandava Brothers during their 14-years exile.
The legend regarding Chaurasi temple is that in ancient time when this beautiful place Brahmpura was present, One day as the goddess Brahmani Devi wentsomewhere, then Lord Shiva reached there with 84 Sidhas while visiting to Manimahesh Kailash. God Shiva wanted to leave 84 Sidhas, perhaps they choose this place to leave them. When in evening Goddess Brahmani Devi, the presiding deity of the place seen the smoke of fires lit by the Sidhas, she felt very angry due to this She came down to the garden and ordered Shiva and the Sidhas to get out of the place. Lord Shiva told with all his humility for allowing them to spend a night in their beautiful garden as they are tired, and promised to leave early in the morning. Goddess Brahmani accepted to their wishes and went away to Dughashaar (a place on ridge) from where she cannot see the smoke of fires lit by the Sidhas.

History of the Temple

In morning God Shiva left the 84 sleeping Sidhas and went to Manimahesh Kailash, but the 84 Sidhas transformed themselves in to 84 Shivlingas as they did not want to go anywhere and wished to settle there. After that the Lord Shiva granted a boon to goddess Brahmani Devi that all persons intending to go on pilgrimage to Manimahesh must have a dip in their holy pool. Failing this, their pilgrimage would not be acceptable to Lord Shiva. That’s why every visitor firstly take bath in Brahmani’s holy pool before visiting the Manimahesh Lake. Brahmani holy pool is about 20 square meters below Brahmani’s cave. Goddess Brahmani had stolen this holy water from Lord Sandhola Naag which is another side of the ridge.
Chaurasi was the level area on which the eighty four temples were standing and the name was attributed to the 84 Sidhas who are believed to have meditated in Bharmour over 100 years who supposed to come from Kurukshetra while visiting to Manimahesh Kailash.
The Chaurasi Temple Complex offers you a delightful, clean and a scenic view. The complex is surrounded by numerous schools. The most extraordinary site of the complex is the tallest temple of Manimahesh, which is built in the Shikhara style of architecture. Another temple built in the same style is that of Lord Vishnu cast in his Nar Singh Avtar.
Legend has it that in the 10th century, 84 Sidhas (holy men) visited Bharmour; they blessed the ruler Raja Sahil Varman with ten sons and a daughter Champavati whom the town of Chamba is said to be named. And while some shrines were already in existence, the Raja had the remainder built to commemorate their sojourn. These include the Lakhna Devi Temple, the Ganesh Temple and the Nar Singh Temple. Installed in the sanctum of the Lakhna Devi Temple is an exquisite brass image of the goddess, the temple of Lord Dharamraj is also in the Chaurasi and only one in the whole world.

Time to Visit

The best time to visit Bharmaur or the Chaurashi Temples is from May to November as the region receives heavy snowfall during winters. The Abode of Shiva - Manimahesh is the most popular excursion of Bharmaur. Tourists usually visit this tranquil hamlet from May to November as the trek to Manimahesh Lake remains open during this period. Monsoon adds charm to the greenery of the region making the green color more vivid.

How to Reach

By Air The nearest airport to Bharmaur is Gaggal Airport situated in Kangra District from there the Taxis are available to Bharmaur and Hadsar from Gaggal Airport. The distance from Gaggal Airport to Bharmour is 85kms.

By Train The nearest broad gauge railhead to Bharmaur is located in Pathankot at a distance of 163kms. The nearest narrow gauge railway station to Bharmaur is situated in Kangra. Kangra Railway Station is situated at a distance of 83kms from Bharmour. Buses and taxis are available to Bharmaur from Pathankot and Kangra.

By Road Bharmaur is 65-km away from Chamba along an attractive hill road that follows the river for much of its route. During the yatra days of Chaurashi, the Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (HPRTC) provides special bus services between Chamba and Bharmaur. Chamba is 56-km drive from Dalhousie, which is well linked by road with public and private transport. Bharmaur is situated 80-km away from Dharamsala Bharmaur is well connected by motorable roads with major towns of Himachal Pradesh like Chamba, Kangra, Dharamshala, Dalhousie etc.