The Indian Epic Mahabharata narrates that the Pandeva’s stayed in Himachal during their exile. In Manali, the strongest person there named Hidimb and their sister Hidimba attacked them and in fight Bhima killed Hidimb. Hidimbi married with him and gave birth to a son, Ghatotkacha. While returning back from exile, Hidimbi did not come with him and stayed back there and did tapasya so as to eventually attain the status of a goddess.

The Hidimba Devi Temple has intricately carved wooden doors and a 24 Meters tall wooden tower above the sanctuary. The tower consists of three square roofs covered with timber tiles a forth brass cone-shaped roof at the top. The Earth Goddess Durga forms the theme of the main door carvings. Also depicted are animals, foliate designs, dancers, scenes from Lord Krishna’s life and Navagrahas.

The temple base is made out of whitewashed, mud-covered stonework. An enormous rock occupies the inside of the temple, only a 7.5 cm tall brass image representing Goddess Hidimba Devi. A rope hand down in front of the rock, and according to legends, in bygone days’ religious zealots would tie the hands of “sinners” by the rope and then swing them against the rock.

About seventy metres away from the temple, there is a shrine dedicated to Goddess Hidimba’s son, Ghatotkacha. The most surprising feature of the temple or one can say most reassuring feature of the time is that fact the inside of the temple the imprint of the feet of the Goddess carved on a block of stone is worshipped.

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