Chintpurni Temple Guide: Darshan, Timings, How to Reach

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

For many families from Punjab, Haryana and Delhi, Maa Chintpurni is one of the first Devi darshans in Himachal, being close to the Punjab border. The name is usually explained as “the Mother who takes away chinta”, worry, and devotees come with a mannat in their hearts and return to give thanks when it is fulfilled. This guide explains the darshan system, the usual timings, the fairs and how to reach, in simple steps for first-time and senior pilgrims.

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

Why is Chintpurni temple important?

Chintpurni is counted among the Shakti Peeths, the places linked to the story of Mata Sati. After Sati gave up her body at Daksha’s yagna, Lord Shiva carried it in grief, and the parts of her body that fell to earth became sacred seats of the Goddess. Sources differ on which part fell here: the Government of India’s Incredible India site links Chintpurni with Sati’s head, while Himachal Tourism mentions her feet. Pandits at the temple will tell you the local tradition.

The Goddess here is worshipped as Mata Chhinnamastika, a fierce form of Devi who is shown holding her own severed head. It is a hard image to look at, but devotees understand it as the Mother’s supreme sacrifice and self-control. Inside the sanctum she is worshipped as a pindi, a natural stone form.

Local tradition credits Pandit Mai Das, a Saraswat Brahmin devotee, with establishing worship at this spot many generations ago, in a village then known as Chhaproh. His descendants still serve as the temple’s priests, and the trust’s Baba Mai Das Sadan in the town carries his name.

Local belief also holds that Lord Shiva guards the Goddess from all four directions, through the temples of Muchkund Mahadev (north), Shiv Bari (south), Kaleshwar Mahadev (east) and Narayhana Mahadev (west). Some families visit one of these after darshan.

What are the Chintpurni temple timings?

Published timings do not match, so treat the table below as a guide only. The usual pattern is an early morning opening, a short closing in the afternoon for bhog and decoration, and closing at night.

Timings can change on festivals, eclipses and special days. Please confirm locally or with the temple trust before you plan your day.

How does the darshan queue work, and is there a VIP or Sugam Darshan?

Normal darshan at Chintpurni is free. You join the general queue near the temple lane and move slowly towards the sanctum. On ordinary weekdays the wait can be short; on Sundays, Ashtami, Sankranti and fair days the queue can stretch for hours.

Since August 2023 the temple trust has run a paid quick-entry scheme called the Sugam Darshan Pranali. Pass holders use a separate, quicker queue, and the trust has used electric vehicles to carry senior and specially abled devotees part of the way. There is a fixed daily quota of passes.

• How to book: as per the Mata Shri Chintpurni temple trust’s Sugam Darshan page, passes can be booked online or at the counter in Baba Mai Das Sadan, Chintpurni.
• Fee: reports differ. The trust’s page lists one rate for a group pass and a lower nominal rate for seniors and specially abled devotees, while a November 2024 report in The Tribune said the fee had changed to a per-person charge with a lower rate for devotees above 65. Check the current fee on the trust’s site or at the counter before travel.
• Seniors and specially abled: a reduced fee applies, and one attendant is usually allowed with them. Carry an age proof.

Please note that no pass guarantees a fixed time inside the sanctum. On big festival days the quota fills quickly, and the administration may change the rules for crowd safety. In July 2026 irregularities were reported in the pass system; the trust ordered an inquiry, changed the operating staff and said it is strengthening security. Book only through the trust’s own counter or website.

Can you drive up to Chintpurni temple, or do you have to walk?

Vehicles are not allowed up to the temple premises, so every pilgrim walks the last part. Buses and taxis stop in the town below, and from there a paved lane lined with prasad and chunni shops climbs gently towards the temple gate. Most healthy adults find it an easy walk, though it is uphill and crowded on festival days. Ask your driver to drop you as close as the police allow; parking points change during fairs.

Prasad of chunni, coconut, sweets and dry fruit is sold all along the lane. During some past Navratri fairs the administration stopped devotees from taking coconuts inside the temple, so ask the shopkeeper what is allowed that day.

When are the big fairs at Chintpurni?

Three times of year bring the largest crowds:

1. Chaitra Navratri (March or April): nine days of special puja, very busy, with long queues from the first day.
2. Shravan Ashtami mela (usually late July or August): the main fair of the year. Devotee groups set up langars with the administration’s permission, and the Una administration divides the fair area into police sectors. In 2025 drums, chimtas, loudspeakers, plastic and thermocol were banned in the fair area. Dates are announced each year by the district administration.
3. Sharad (Ashwin) Navratri (September or October): another very busy period.

If you want a calmer darshan, go on a weekday outside these periods, ideally early in the morning. If you want to be there for the fair, book your stay well ahead, because rooms in Chintpurni fill up quickly.

How to reach Chintpurni temple?

Chintpurni sits on a ridge in Una district, close to the Punjab border. Distances below are from the temple trust’s “how to reach” page and Himachal Tourism; road distances are approximate.

By train, including the Vande Bharat

The New Delhi to Amb Andaura Vande Bharat Express (22447, and 22448 on the return) is the most comfortable option from Delhi. It stops at Ambala Cantt, Chandigarh, Anandpur Sahib, Nangal Dam and Una Himachal, and the run takes a little over five hours. It does not run every day of the week, so check the current schedule on IRCTC before booking. From Amb Andaura, local buses and taxis go up to Chintpurni.

By road

From Delhi the usual route is via Chandigarh or via Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur. HRTC and Punjab buses run to Chintpurni, and extra buses are added during fairs. A private car is easier for seniors, because you can stop when needed and keep your bags safe.

By air

Kangra Airport at Gaggal is the closest, but flights are limited. Chandigarh and Amritsar have more flights; from either, plan for a long road journey. If you fly into Amritsar, keep half a day for the Golden Temple.

In what order should you visit the Himachal Devi temples?

Many families coming from the Punjab side follow this order, because each temple lies further up the road from the last:

1. Naina Devi in Bilaspur district, often with Anandpur Sahib on the same day. Our Naina Devi temple guide covers the ropeway and stairs. The trust gives the road distance from Naina Devi to Chintpurni as about 115 km.
2. Chintpurni, with a night halt here so you can do an early morning darshan.
3. Jwala Ji in Kangra district, where the eternal flames are worshipped. See our Jwala Ji temple guide for the distances onward to Kangra and Chamunda.
4. Brajeshwari Devi in Kangra town.
5. Chamunda Devi near Palampur.

Some families reverse the order if they arrive by air at Gaggal. For the wider picture of Shakti Peeths across India, read our Shakti Peeth yatra guide.

Tips for senior citizens visiting Chintpurni

• Go early on a weekday. Mornings are cooler and the queue is shorter.
• Ask at Baba Mai Das Sadan or the trust counter about the senior Sugam Darshan pass and the electric vehicle service. Carry Aadhaar or another age proof.
• Wear shoes that slip off easily and carry only a small bag, as phones and bags may have to be left outside or with a family member.
• Summer afternoons can be very hot, and winter nights are cold on the ridge. Carry water, a cap and a shawl.
• Avoid the first and Ashtami days of Navratri and the peak Shravan days if walking in crowds is difficult.
• Keep regular medicines with you. Himachal Tourism notes there is a civil hospital in Chintpurni, with others at Amb and Gagret.

You can read more about the town on the Himachal Tourism page for Una.

Related guide: Brajeshwari Devi temple, Kangra

How Yatra To Temples can help

Our yatra team plans the Himachal Shakti Peeth and Devi Darshan Yatra end to end. It starts and ends in Chandigarh, with pickup from the airport, railway station or your hotel, and covers Anandpur Sahib, Naina Devi, Chintpurni, Jwala Ji, Baglamukhi, Kangra Fort, Brajeshwari Devi and Chamunda Devi in a private AC vehicle, with night stays at Chintpurni and Kangra. Price on request. If you want help with a Sugam Darshan booking, a Navratri date or a slower pace for elderly parents, ask us. You can also browse all our Shakti Peeth yatras or contact our team by call, WhatsApp or the enquiry form.

Frequently asked questions

Which Goddess is worshipped at Chintpurni?

Mata Chhinnamastika, a form of Durga, is worshipped here as a stone pindi. Devotees lovingly call her Maa Chintpurni, the Mother who removes worry.

Is Chintpurni a Shakti Peeth?

Yes, it is counted among the Shakti Peeths linked to Mata Sati. Sources differ on which part of Sati’s body fell here, with some saying her head and others her feet.

Can I book Chintpurni darshan online?

General darshan needs no booking. The paid Sugam Darshan pass can be booked on the temple trust’s website or at the counter in Baba Mai Das Sadan, subject to a daily quota.

Is there a Vande Bharat train to Chintpurni?

Yes, the New Delhi to Amb Andaura Vande Bharat runs to Amb Andaura, about 19 km from the temple. It does not run every day, so check the schedule on IRCTC.

How much time do I need for Chintpurni darshan?

On a quiet weekday, darshan and the walk up and down can be done in a few hours. On Navratri, Shravan Ashtami and Sundays, keep most of the day free because the queue can be very long.

Can I visit Chintpurni and Jwala Ji in one day?

Many families do, because the two temples are not far apart by road. Seniors are usually more comfortable with a night halt at Chintpurni and Jwala Ji the next morning.