Maa Chintpurni Temple

Maa Chintpurni Temple is a revered Hindu shrine located in Chintpurni town in Una district, Himachal Pradesh, dedicated to Goddess Chhinnamastika, a form of Goddess Durga. Believed to be one of the 51 Shakti Peethas where the feet of Goddess Sati fell, it attracts pilgrims year-round. Situated on a ridge in the western Himalayas, the temple enshrines the goddess as a pindi and is especially crowded during Navratri festivals.

Visitors can expect a busy pilgrimage temple complex on a hill ridge with a narrow bazaar street lined with shops selling offerings, coconuts and chunni. The sanctum enshrines the goddess as a stone pindi under a banyan tree. Darshan is through queued lines with chanting and aarti at intervals. The surroundings offer views of the Dhauladhar foothills and nearby villages. Facilities include shoe stands, prasad shops and sarais for pilgrims.

Tradition attributes the temple's establishment to the devotee Mai Das about 500 years ago, who is said to have had a vision of the goddess and installed her pindi under a banyan tree. The site is associated with the Shakti Peetha legend where the feet of Goddess Sati fell, making it an ancient pilgrimage centre later developed with support from local rulers and the temple trust.

The temple is revered as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas and dedicated to Maa Chhinnamastika/Chintpurni, believed to relieve devotees of worries (chinta). It is a major centre of Shakti worship in Himachal Pradesh, drawing lakhs of pilgrims especially during Shardiya and Chaitra Navratri, when special pujas, fairs and community gatherings are held.