Aug  15,  2017 by admin

Bhagsu Nag Shiv Mandir

Wandering around the beautiful suburb Mcleodganj, you get to experience one of the most famous tourists’ spot and that is – the Bhagsu Nag Shiv Mandir. The Bhagsu Nag Shiv Mandir isn’t just a place for the devotee, but for any nomad, who thrives for adventure, nature and plenty of beautiful places.

The Bhagsu Nag Shiv Mandir is situated at the altitude of 6,960 ft. above sea level at the village called Bhagsunag which is situated at the Kangra Valley of Mcleodganj. There are plenty of ways you can reach the village/temple. One of the best ways is to take a bus from Delhi to Mcleodganj and that will probably take you about 12 hours. From Mcleodganj to Bhagsunag, you can take a taxi or rent a car as the village is just about 2kms away from Mcleodganj. However, most people prefer taking a walk because they find it easier – without any sort of traffic, enjoying the beauty of the place.

WHY VISIT BHAGSU NAG

Apart from being a pilgrimage, the temple boars a beautiful fall – the Bhagsu nag fall. The 30 feet waterfall is extremely beautiful and not just that – the surrounding of the place is just amazing. However, when we talk about the temple, it is amazingly beautiful and there is a rich history behind the formation of the temple and the waterfall.
The entrance of the Shiva temple has a bell made of white tiles and then there are marble steps that will lead you to the temple. There are plenty of inscriptions inside the temple that has so many stories and histories written on them. Reading those will definitely give you a time of your life.

At the verandah of the temple, you can see places to sit and relax and just at the premise of the temple, there are a few cottages where the priests of the temple can stay. You can also see a swimming pool at the temple campus which is more like a “pond” where you can take a dip and have fun. The place is always crowded and filled with people.

THE HISTORY OF BHAGSU NAG

According to legend, 5000 years ago, Nagdevata, the snake God was drawn into a battle with a local King Bhagsu, who dared steal water from the sacred NagDal Lake. King Bhagsu was vanquished and forgiven by the Snake God and the site consecrated as Bhagsu Nag.

Amongst all the devotees, the temple holds a special significance for the Gorkhali community. Temple patronage had been the essence of Gorkha culture.
Bhagsunag Temple, and the Dal Lake nearby, was the anchors around which the Gorkhas settled feeling at home and integrating with their new country as peaceful, law-abiding citizens. With contributions from their salaries and labor, they built the two magnificent water tanks with the Nepali-style tiger-head water spouts.
The Gorkhas also built a beautiful double-storied wooden community rest house or Sarai for pilgrims to congregate for religious and other social gatherings. This was never locked and opens to all. Also built was a smaller temple of Pashupatinath above the second water tank and a towering gate at the entrance.

The Bhagsunag temple is one of the best places to visit in the Kangra valley – and most importantly in the Himachal Pradesh. And you should not be missing out on this beautiful place at any cost.