The temples of Himachal Pradesh are broadly classified into seven distinct architectural styles.
1. Pagoda Style
Characterized by tiers of roofs diminishing in size as they go up, often looking like a mushroom.
- Hidimba Devi Temple: Manali (Distt. Kullu)
- Parashar Rishi Temple: Mandi (Distt. Mandi)
- Tripura Sundari Temple: Naggar (Distt. Kullu)
- Adi Brahma Temple: Khokhan (Distt. Kullu)
- Manu Temple: Shanshar (Distt. Kullu)
- Sukhdev Rishi Temple: Thata, Seraj (Distt. Mandi)
- Maheshwar Temple: Sungra (Distt. Kinnaur)
- Chagaon Temple: Chagaon (Distt. Kinnaur)
2. Pent Roof Style
The most ancient style, featuring slanting roofs (gable roofs) usually made of slate or wood.
- Lakshana Devi Temple: Bharmour (Distt. Chamba)
- Shakti Devi Temple: Chattrari (Distt. Chamba)
- Mrikula (Markula) Devi Temple: Udaipur (Distt. Lahaul & Spiti)
- Bijli Mahadev Temple: Kullu (Distt. Kullu)
3. Nagara (Shikhara) Style
Classic North Indian style characterized by a beehive-shaped tower (Shikhara) adorned with intricate stone carvings.
- Baijnath Temple: Baijnath (Distt. Kangra)
- Laxmi Narayan Temple: Chamba Town (Distt. Chamba)
- Basheshwar Mahadev Temple: Bajaura (Distt. Kullu)
- Masroor Rock Cut Temple (Thakurdwara): Masroor (Distt. Kangra)
- Panchvaktra Temple: Mandi Town (Distt. Mandi)
4. Domed Style
Influenced by Mughal and Sikh architecture, featuring a rounded dome rather than a tall shikhara or slate roof.
- Jwalamukhi Temple: Jwalamukhi (Distt. Kangra)
- Brajeshwari Devi Temple: Kangra Town (Distt. Kangra)
- Chintpurni Devi Temple: Amb/Chintpurni (Distt. Una)
- Naina Devi Temple: Bilaspur (Distt. Bilaspur)
- Tarna Devi Temple: Mandi (Distt. Mandi)
- Kameshwar Temple: Mandi (Distt. Mandi)
5. Pyramidal Style
Features a square base with a roof that rises in a pyramid shape.
- Hateshwari Devi Temple: Hatkoti (Distt. Shimla)
- Mahasu Devta Temple: Deora, Jubbal (Distt. Shimla)
6. Sutlej Valley Style
A unique fusion often combining Pent roof and Pagoda elements, typically found in the upper Shimla and Kinnaur regions along the Sutlej river.
- Bhimakali Temple: Sarahan (Distt. Shimla)
- Dhaneshwari Devi Temple: Nethar, Outer Seraj (Distt. Kullu)
- Behna Mahadev Temple: Behna, Outer Seraj (Distt. Kullu)
- Correction Note: While you listed this in Kangra, the Behna Mahadev famous for the Sutlej Valley style is located in the Outer Seraj region (near Ani), which falls in Kullu district near the Sutlej river.
7. Flat Roof Style
Temples with plain flat roofs, often famous for the wall paintings (frescoes) inside rather than the exterior structure.
- Narbadeshwar Temple: Sujanpur Tihra (Distt. Hamirpur)
- Ramgopal Temple: Damtal, Indora (Distt. Kangra)
Quick Revision Table
| Style | Key Feature | Famous Example |
| Pagoda | Multi-tiered roofs | Hidimba Devi (Manali) |
| Pent Roof | Slanted/Gable roof | Lakshana Devi (Bharmour) |
| Nagara | Beehive Shikhara (Stone) | Baijnath (Kangra) |
| Domed | Rounded Cupola | Jwalamukhi (Kangra) |
| Pyramidal | Square base, pyramid top | Hateshwari (Shimla) |
| Sutlej Valley | Fusion/Wood & Stone | Bhimakali (Sarahan) |
| Flat Roof | Flat top (focus on art) | Narbadeshwar (Hamirpur) |
Major Temples in Hamirpur District
Hamirpur district is renowned for the Baba Balak Nath shrine and the historical temples built by the Katoch dynasty in Sujanpur Tihra.
1. Famous Devi (Goddess) Temples
- Awah Devi Temple (Jalpa Devi):
- Location: Awah Devi (Tehsil Bhoranj).
- Significance: It is situated on the highest peak of Hamirpur district. It is believed to be the distinct place where the idol of the goddess appeared naturally.
- Tauni Devi Temple:
- Location: Tauni Devi (approx. 12 km from Hamirpur).
- Jhaniyari Devi Temple:
- Location: Jhaniyari village (near Hamirpur town).
- Santoshi Mata Temple:
- Location: Ladraur.
2. Baba Balak Nath & Hanuman Temples
- Baba Balak Nath Temple:
- Location: Deotsidh (Chakmoh).
- Significance: This is one of the most significant religious centers in North India. The shrine is located in a natural cave.
- Mattan Sidh:
- Location: Near Hamirpur town.
- Deity: Lord Hanuman.
3. Historical Temples of Sujanpur Tihra
These temples were constructed under the patronage of Raja Sansar Chand of the Katoch dynasty.
- Narbadeshwar Temple:
- Location: Sujanpur Tihra. , near beas river
- Built by rani Prasanna devi of suket , wife of sansar chand
- Architectural Style: Flat Roof Style.
- Significance: This temple is famous across Himachal Pradesh for its exquisite wall paintings (frescoes) rather than its exterior architecture.
- Murli Manohar Temple:
- Location: Sujanpur Tihra.
- Architectural Style: A fusion of Shikhara and Flat Roof styles.
- Deity: Dedicated to Lord Krishna and Radha and flute is in opposite direction .
4. Shiva & Other Temples
- Gasota Mahadev Temple:
- Location: Gasota (near Hamirpur).
- Significance: An ancient Shiva temple situated alongside a natural water stream.
- Shani Dev Temple:
- Location: Lambloo (Sarli).
- Significance: Considered one of the largest temples dedicated to Shani Dev in Himachal Pradesh.
5. Gurudwaras
- Gurudwara Dasvin Padshahi:
- Location: Nadaun.
- History: Built to commemorate the visit of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, who stayed here during the Battle of Nadaun (fought against the Mughals in alliance with the Hill Rajas).
Major Temples of Chamba District by Architectural Style
Chamba is unique because it has preserved ancient wooden temples (dating back to the 7th century) alongside classic stone Shikhara temples.
1. Nagara (Shikhara) Style
These are stone temples with tall, beehive-shaped towers (Shikharas) topped with an Amalaka (circular disc). Most are located in Chamba town or Bharmour.
- Lakshmi Narayan Temple Complex: Chamba Town.
- Builder: Raja Sahil Varman (10th Century AD).
- Details: It is a group of 6 temples (3 dedicated to Vishnu, 3 to Shiva). The main temple is dedicated to Vishnu (Vaikuntha form).
- Hari Rai Temple: Chamba Town (near Chaugan).
- Builder: Salabahana (11th Century AD).
- Details: Famous for the Chatur-murti (four-armed) bronze idol of Lord Vishnu.
- Champavati Temple: Chamba Town.
- Builder: Raja Sahil Varman.
- Details: Built in memory of his daughter Champavati, who is worshipped as a goddess here. It is the family temple of the Chamba Rajas.
- Manimahesh Temple: Bharmour (in Chaurasi Complex).
- Builder: Meru Varman (7th Century).
- Details: The tallest temple in the Chaurasi complex, dedicated to Lord Shiva.
- Narsingh Temple: Bharmour (in Chaurasi Complex).
- Builder: Tribhuvan Rekha Devi (Queen of Yugkar Varman).
- Chandrashekhar Temple: Saho (near Chamba).
- Details: Famous for a large Nandi bull statue that produces a tinkling sound when tapped.
- Bansi Gopal Temple: Chamba Town.
- Style: Late Shikhara style with Mughal influence on the entrance.
2. Pent Roof Style
The most ancient style in the hills, featuring slanting slate roofs (gable roofs) made of wood and stone. These are among the oldest wooden temples in the world.
- Lakshana Devi Temple: Bharmour.
- Builder: Raja Meru Varman (680 AD).
- Architect: Gugga Shilpi.
- Significance: The oldest surviving wooden temple in Himachal Pradesh. Features an exquisitely carved wooden entrance.
- Shakti Devi Temple: Chattrari.
- Builder: Raja Meru Varman (680 AD).
- Architect: Gugga Shilpi.
- Details: Famous for its incredibly detailed wood carvings and an Ashtadhatu (8-metal) idol of the Goddess.
- Chamunda Devi Temple: Chamba Town (on Shah Madar Hill).
- Builder: Raja Umed Singh (1762 AD).
- Details: Entirely wooden structure with a slate roof. Notable for its wood-carved ceiling depicting scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
- Mindal Vasni (Chamunda) Temple: Pangi Valley (Mindal village).
- Details: A famous wooden temple in the remote Pangi valley dedicated to Goddess Chamunda (Mindal Devi).
- Ganesh Temple: Bharmour.
- Builder: Meru Varman.
- Details: Located near the Lakshana Devi temple entrance.
3. Fusion / Other Styles
- Khajji Nag Temple: Khajjiar.
- Style: Often classified as Pent Roof or a fusion style (Hill architecture with Mughal influence). It has a slate roof with a golden cupola/dome on top.
- Details: Dedicated to the Serpent God (Nag Devta) and features wooden images of the 5 Pandavas.
- Chaurasi Temple Complex: Bharmour.
- Details: A complex of 84 shrines built on a level ground. While the main temples (Manimahesh, Narsingh) are Shikhara style, the complex contains various smaller shrines of different styles.
major temples of chamba distt :
1. Chamba Town
- Lakshmi Narayan Temple Complex:
- Location: Near Main Chaugan.
- Details: This complex houses 6 main temples.
- Builders: The main Lakshmi Narayan Temple and Chandergupt Temple were built by Raja Sahil Varman.
- Gauri Shankar Temple: This specific temple within the complex was built by Yugankar Varman (son of Sahil Varman).
- Hari Rai Temple:
- Location: Near Gandhi Gate, Chamba.
- Details: Dedicated to Lord Vishnu (Chaturmurti).
- Champavati Temple:
- Location: Behind Treasury building.
- Details: Built by Sahil Varman.
- Chamunda Devi Temple:
- Location: Shah Madar Hill.
- Details: Built by Raja Umed Singh.
- Sui Mata Temple:
- Location: Shah Madar Hill.
- Details: Memorial for Queen Naina Devi.
2. Bharmour (Chaurasi Temple Complex)
Built by Raja Meru Varman (7th Century).
- Manimahesh Temple: The main Shikhara style temple dedicated to Shiva.
- Lakshana Devi Temple: The oldest wooden temple (Pent-roof) dedicated to Durga.
- Dharmeshwar Mahadev:
- Details: Situated at the northern corner of the complex. It houses an idol of Yamraj (God of Death). It is believed that after death, souls appear here for the final judgment by Dharamraj.
- Narsingh Temple: Dedicated to the Narasimha avatar.
- Ganesh Temple: Small shrine near the entrance.
3. Saho
- Chandrashekhar Temple:
- Builder: Raja Sahil Varman.
- Details: Famous for the Nandi bull that produces a tinkling sound.
- Kameshwar Temple:
- Builder: Raja Sahil Varman.
- Details: Another ancient Shiva temple located in Saho.
4. Chattrari
- Shakti Devi Temple:
- Location: Chattrari Village.
- Builder: Raja Meru Varman (Architect: Gugga).
- Details: Ancient Pent-roof style wooden temple with an Ashtadhatu idol.
5. Pangi Valley
- Mindal Vasni (Mindal Devi):
- Location: Mindal Village.
- Details: Wooden temple dedicated to Chamunda Devi.