Naina Devi Temple, Himachal: Ropeway, Timings & Route

Updated for the 2027 yatra season (facts checked November 2026).

This guide is about Naina Devi in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, the Shakti Peeth that draws huge crowds from Punjab, Haryana and Delhi. It is not the Naina Devi temple on the lake in Nainital, Uttarakhand, which we cover briefly near the end. Below you will find the legends, the ropeway and walking route, the busy mela seasons and how Naina Devi fits into a Himachal Devi yatra.

This page is part of our 51 Shakti Peeth List guide. Planning the yatra? See our Shakti Peeth yatra packages.

Where is Naina Devi Temple, and which one is the Shakti Peeth?

Shri Naina Devi Ji stands on a hilltop in Bilaspur district, close to the Punjab border. The town around it is also called Naina Devi. From the hill you look down over Gobind Sagar, the lake formed by the Bhakra Nangal dam.

Two temples share the name, and people often mix them up:

The Bilaspur district administration describes its temple as one of the 51 Shakti Peeths, and that is the temple this guide covers.

What is the story of Naina Devi?

Three stories are linked to the temple.

• Sati’s eyes: When Shiva carried Sati’s body after her self-immolation, Vishnu’s Sudarshan Chakra cut it into pieces to calm his grief. Sati’s eyes (naina) are believed to have fallen on this hill. That is how it became a Shakti Peeth. Our Shakti Peeth yatra guide explains the full story and the other peeths.
• The Gujjar boy and the white cow: A cowherd named Naina saw a white cow letting milk flow onto a stone. In a dream, the Devi told him the stone was her pindi. Tradition says Raja Bir Chand of Bilaspur saw the same sign, built a temple on the spot and named it after the boy.
• Mahishapeeth: The temple is also called Mahishapeeth. In this story the Devi slew the demon Mahishasura here, and the gods cried “Jai Naina!” in praise.

In the sanctum, the Devi is worshipped as a natural stone pindi.

How do you reach the top: ropeway, steps or road?

There are three ways up the hill.

1. Ropeway: A cable car runs from the base to the top and is the easiest option for elders and children. The Rupnagar district website gives these operating hours, which you should confirm locally:
   • March to September: 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM
   • October: 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM
   • November: 8:15 AM to 5:30 PM
   • December to February: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM
2. Steps: A paved path with concrete steps leads up through a small bazaar. The same district page says most people walk it in about half an hour.
3. Palki: Palkis can be hired at the base for those who cannot walk.

The ropeway can close in strong wind or for maintenance, so have a walking plan ready. On mela days the queue for the ropeway itself can be long.

What are the Naina Devi Temple timings?

India’s official tourism portal lists the temple as open from 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Aarti times and any midday closure are not published clearly by an official source, so ask at the temple or your hotel the evening before. During the Navratri and Shravan melas, darshan can take many hours.

Plan your visit around the ropeway hours as well as the temple hours. If you go up by ropeway in the late afternoon in winter, check what time the last car comes down.

When is Naina Devi most crowded?

The Bilaspur district administration notes that yatris come all year, but the largest crowds come during:

• Chaitra Navratri (March or April)
• Shravan Navratri and Shravan Ashtami (July or August)
• Ashwin (Sharad) Navratri (September or October)

Special melas are held during all three and draw visitors in very large numbers from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. For a calmer darshan, go on a weekday outside these periods. If you want to be there for Navratri, our yatra calendar for 2027 lists the Panchang dates, and you should book stays well ahead.

The hill path is narrow in places, and the temple has a history of dangerous crowding on festival days. Follow police and volunteer instructions, keep children close and avoid pushing in the queue.

How do you reach Naina Devi from Chandigarh or Delhi?

1. By air: Chandigarh International Airport is about 100 km away. Shimla airport, about 170 km away, has very few flights.
2. By train: Anandpur Sahib station is about 20 to 30 km away, and Kiratpur Sahib station is about 30 km away. Part of each drive is through the hills.
3. By road: The temple is about 100 km from Chandigarh and about 350 km from Delhi. From Anandpur Sahib it is about 20 km, of which roughly 8 km is a hill road. Himachal and Punjab state buses run frequently, and taxis are easy to hire in Anandpur Sahib.

Many families combine Naina Devi with Anandpur Sahib on the same day, then continue into Kangra for Jwala Ji, Chintpurni and the other Devi temples of Himachal.

What about Naina Devi Temple in Nainital?

The Nainital temple sits on the shore of Naini Lake and is the main temple of the town. Local tradition links it with Sati’s eyes as well, which adds to the confusion. It is easy to visit on any Kumaon yatra, and families often pair it with Kainchi Dham; see our Kainchi Dham guide for that route.

Related guide: Brajeshwari Devi temple, Kangra

How Yatra To Temples can help

Naina Devi is the first darshan on our Himachal Shakti Peeth and Devi Darshan Yatra, a road yatra from Chandigarh that stops at Anandpur Sahib and goes on to Chintpurni, Jwala Ji, Baglamukhi, Brajeshwari and Chamunda Devi. Ropeway tickets are paid locally. If you need a different starting city or a slower pace for elders, ask us. Your dates and group size can be sent through the enquiry form on our Contact page, which also lists our call and WhatsApp numbers.

Frequently asked questions

Is Naina Devi in Himachal a Shakti Peeth?

Yes. Shri Naina Devi Ji in Bilaspur district, Himachal Pradesh, is counted among the 51 Shakti Peeths. Tradition says Sati’s eyes fell here, and the name Naina comes from that belief. The Naina Devi temple in Nainital is a different temple, though local tradition there also links it with Sati.

How far is Naina Devi from Chandigarh?

Naina Devi is about 100 km from Chandigarh by road, according to the Bilaspur district administration. Most yatris drive via Anandpur Sahib or Kiratpur Sahib, with the last stretch on a hill road. Chandigarh airport is the nearest major airport.

Is there a ropeway at Naina Devi?

Yes. A ropeway carries yatris from the base to the hilltop temple. The Rupnagar district website lists timings from 8:00 AM in summer and 9:00 AM in winter, closing between 5:30 PM and 7:00 PM depending on the month. It may stop in bad weather, so confirm on the day.

How many steps or how long is the walk to Naina Devi?

A paved path with steps leads from the base to the temple. The Rupnagar district website says most people walk it in about half an hour. Elders can take the ropeway or hire a palki at the base.

What is the best time to visit Naina Devi?

The temple is open all year. For a quieter darshan, visit on a weekday outside Navratri and Shravan. If you want to be there for a mela, choose Chaitra, Shravan or Ashwin Navratri, book early and expect very long queues.

Which Naina Devi temple is more famous?

The Bilaspur temple in Himachal Pradesh draws very large crowds, especially from Punjab, Haryana and Delhi, and is the one the district administration lists among the 51 Shakti Peeths. The Nainital temple is the main temple of that hill town and is visited by most people travelling in Kumaon.

Related guides: planning more Devi darshan? Read our guides to Kamakhya Temple, the Vaishno Devi yatra and Jwala Ji Temple. Also read the Chintpurni temple guide and the Chamunda Devi temple guide.