Shiva Temple Manikaran

The Shiva Temple in Manikaran is an ancient Hindu shrine located on the banks of the Parvati River in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district. It is historically significant due to legends associating it with Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, who are believed to have resided here for eleven hundred years. The temple was damaged and slightly tilted during the 1905 Kangra earthquake but remains a vital pilgrimage site adjacent to the Gurudwara Manikaran Sahib and famous hot springs.

Visitors can expect to see a traditional Himachali-style wooden temple dedicated to Lord Shiva situated next to the Gurudwara Manikaran Sahib. The site features natural hot springs emerging near the riverbank, which are central to local religious beliefs. Devotees perform rituals and attend morning and evening aartis. The atmosphere is spiritually active with chanting and bells, though photography inside the sanctum may be restricted. Visitors often combine their visit with bathing in the designated hot spring areas nearby.

According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati spent eleven hundred years in this valley. The temple was damaged and became slightly tilted during the devastating 1905 Kangra earthquake. Local tradition holds that the deities of Kullu valley pay regular visits to this shrine on specified dates.

The temple represents a unique confluence of Hindu and Sikh faiths as it stands directly beside the Gurudwara Manikaran Sahib. It is central to the legend of Parvati losing her earring (mani), which led to the emergence of the hot springs through Shiva's anger and Sheshnag's intervention. The site is considered sacred for both communities and serves as a major pilgrimage destination in the Parvati Valley.