7 Devi Darshan with Manimahesh Kailash Yatra

Highlights & Route

Himachal’s Shakti temples and the Manimahesh Kailash lie in the same arc of hills, yet they are usually done as separate trips. This nine-day yatra joins them. It begins at Mansa Devi near Chandigarh and climbs through the Shivalik and Kangra valleys to Naina Devi, Chintpurni, Baglamukhi, Jwalaji, Brajeshwari (Kangra Devi) and Chamunda Devi, the seven Devis, before turning into the Chamba hills for the Manimahesh trek. It ends in Amritsar with an evening at the Golden Temple.

Manimahesh Lake sits at about 4,080 m below the Manimahesh Kailash peak, which Himachalis regard as the abode of Shiva. The yatra season is short, from Janmashtami to Radhashtami, roughly late August to mid September, and the official trek starts at Hadsar, 13 km below the lake. We break the climb into two days with a night at Dhancho, so that the body has time to adjust, and spend a night near the lake for the morning dip and darshan of the peak.

The first three days involve long hours on hill roads, with several temples a day; the trek days are physically demanding. This package is for reasonably fit yatris who want both Shakti and Shiva in one journey. Families with elderly members who want only the Devi temples can ask us for a shorter version without the trek, or for the helicopter option between Bharmour and Gaurikund.

Route

Chandigarh (1 night) → Naina Devi → Chintpurni → Baglamukhi, Bankhandi (1 night) → Jwalaji → Kangra Devi → Chamunda Devi → Dalhousie / Banikhet (1 night) → Khajjiar → Bharmour (1 night) → Hadsar → Dhancho camp (1 night) → Gaurikund → Manimahesh Lake camp (1 night) → Hadsar → Bharmour (1 night) → Amritsar (1 night) → drop

Good to know before you book

Manimahesh Yatra is run by the Chamba district administration and the Shri Manimahesh Trust for a fixed window each year; in 2026 it ran from 25 August to 19 September (Radhashtami). The 2027 dates will be announced closer to the season.
Every yatri must register on the official Manimahesh Yatra portal before the trek. In 2026 the fee was Rs 50 per person and unregistered pilgrims were stopped at the check posts. We help you complete the registration.
The trek from Hadsar to the lake is about 13 km with roughly 1,900 m of height gain; ponies, palanquins (palki) and porters are available at Hadsar at rates fixed by the administration, paid directly.
Weather at the lake is cold even in September, with rain and occasional snow; nights in the camps drop close to freezing.
Temple hours in Kangra valley are long but queues at Jwalaji and Chintpurni can run to several hours during Navratri and on Sundays.
Mobile network beyond Hadsar is weak to absent; inform family that you will be out of touch for two to three days.

Yatra Highlights

Darshan at all seven Himachal Shakti temples from Mansa Devi to Chamunda Devi
Two-day trek to Manimahesh Lake with a night at Dhancho and a holy dip at Gaurikund and the lake
Chaurasi temple complex at Bharmour and a closing evening at the Golden Temple, Amritsar

Day 1 :

Arrival in Chandigarh, Mansa Devi

Our team meets you at your arrival point (airport, railway station or hotel) at the agreed time, Chandigarh airport or railway station, and takes you to the hotel. In the afternoon drive to the Mata Mansa Devi temple at Panchkula, the first of the seven Devis, set in the foothills with a large courtyard and a second shrine of Patiala Devi nearby. Return for a briefing on the week ahead and dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Chandigarh

Day 2 :

Naina Devi, Chintpurni and Baglamukhi

An early start after breakfast. Drive to Shri Naina Devi near Bilaspur, on a hilltop above the Gobind Sagar lake; a ropeway and a road take you most of the way up, with steps for the final stretch. Continue to Chintpurni in Una district, the Chhinnamastika Devi, where the goddess is worshipped as a pindi. Lunch is taken on the way.

In the afternoon reach Bankhandi near Dehra for the Baglamukhi temple, dedicated to the yellow-clad goddess who stills enemies. Check in to the hotel at Bankhandi for dinner. This is a long day of around 220 km on hill roads, seven to eight hours of driving.

Overnight: Bankhandi

Day 3 :

Jwalaji, Kangra Devi and Chamunda Devi, on to Dalhousie

After breakfast, drive to Jwalamukhi, where natural flames burn from the rock inside the sanctum and are worshipped as the goddess; there is no idol. Continue to Kangra town for Brajeshwari Devi, rebuilt after the 1905 earthquake and one of the oldest Shakti Peethas of the north. The third temple of the day is Chamunda Devi on the Baner river below Dharamshala, with the Himalaya rising behind it.

Lunch is taken in Kangra. In the late afternoon drive north-west through Nurpur and Chamba district to Banikhet near Dalhousie, about 180 km in total for the day. Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Dalhousie (Banikhet)

Day 4 :

Khajjiar, Chamba and Bharmour

After breakfast, drive via the meadow of Khajjiar, with its small Khajji Nag temple and deodar forest, down to Chamba town on the Ravi. See the Lakshmi Narayan temple group, six stone shikhara temples from the tenth century onwards, and the Chaugan ground. Lunch in Chamba.

Continue up the Budhil valley to Bharmour, the old capital of the Chamba kings, at about 2,100 m, a drive of about 65 km on a narrow road. In the evening visit the Chaurasi temple complex, with the Manimahesh and Lakshana Devi shrines and the Dharmaraj temple where yatris pray before the trek, and the Bharmani Mata temple on the ridge above (a short drive and walk). Dinner and early night at the homestay.

Overnight: Bharmour

Day 5 :

Bharmour to Hadsar, trek to Dhancho

After breakfast and the registration check, drive 13 km to Hadsar, the road head at about 2,300 m. Ponies and porters can be hired here if you have not pre-arranged them. The trail follows the Budhil stream, climbing steadily through pine forest and past waterfalls to Dhancho at about 2,900 m, 6 km and four to five hours at an easy pace.

Dhancho has tented camps and langars run by local committees. Settle into the camp, have hot food, and rest early. Lunch is packed from Bharmour.

Overnight: Dhancho camp

Day 6 :

Dhancho to Gaurikund and Manimahesh Lake

Start early after breakfast. The trail above Dhancho climbs steeply through the Bandar Ghati section and then eases over alpine meadows. Gaurikund, at about 3,900 m, is reached after roughly 6 km; by tradition women bathe here before going on, while men bathe at Shiv Karotri beside the main lake.

A final 1 km brings you to Manimahesh Lake at about 4,080 m, with the Manimahesh Kailash peak (5,653 m) rising straight above the far shore. Take the holy dip, offer prayers at the small Shiva shrine on the bank and sit for the evening aarti organised by the yatra committees. Dinner and night in the tented camp near the lake.

Overnight: Manimahesh Lake camp

Day 7 :

Lake sunrise, return trek to Hadsar, Bharmour

If the sky is clear, the first light on the peak is said to show the mani, the jewel, that gives the mountain its name. After the morning puja and breakfast, begin the descent. The full 13 km down to Hadsar takes six to seven hours with a lunch halt at Dhancho; knees take the strain, so walking sticks help.

Our vehicle waits at Hadsar and brings you back to Bharmour for a hot bath, dinner and a well-earned rest.

Overnight: Bharmour

Day 8 :

Bharmour to Amritsar, Golden Temple

After breakfast, leave the hills. On the way down the Ravi valley stop at Mukteshwar Mahadev near Shahpur Kandi, a cave temple on the river, and at Kathgarh near Indora, an old Shiva temple with a naturally split lingam. Lunch is taken on the way.

Reach Amritsar by evening, about 220 km from Bharmour. Check in and then visit Sri Harmandir Sahib, the Golden Temple, for the evening when the lamps are lit and the Guru Granth Sahib is carried to the Akal Takht. Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Amritsar

Day 9 :

Departure from Amritsar

Those who wish can return to the Golden Temple at dawn or visit Durgiana Mandir and Jallianwala Bagh before breakfast. After breakfast, check out and transfer to your departure point (airport, railway station or hotel), Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport or Amritsar Junction.

Overnight: not applicable (yatra ends)

Night	Place	Hotel (or similar)	Room type
1	Chandigarh	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
2	Bankhandi	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
3	Dalhousie / Banikhet	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
4	Bharmour	Local homestay (confirmed at booking)	Standard room, sharing basis
5	Dhancho	Tented camp	Sharing tents, sleeping bags
6	Manimahesh Lake	Tented camp	Sharing tents, sleeping bags
7	Bharmour	Local homestay (confirmed at booking)	Standard room, sharing basis
8	Amritsar	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis

Frequently Asked Questions

Expand all

Which seven Devis are covered?

Mansa Devi (Panchkula), Naina Devi (Bilaspur), Chintpurni (Una), Baglamukhi (Bankhandi, Kangra), Jwalaji (Jwalamukhi), Brajeshwari or Kangra Devi (Kangra town) and Chamunda Devi (near Palampur-Dharamshala). Together they are often called the Sat Devi circuit of Himachal.

When is the Manimahesh Yatra open?

The official yatra runs from Janmashtami to Radhashtami each year, usually late August to mid September; in 2026 the dates were 25 August to 19 September. Outside these dates the camps and langars are not set up, and the route may be unsafe. Our 2027 departures will be fixed once the administration announces the window.

Is registration compulsory?

Yes. Each yatri must register on the official Manimahesh Yatra portal of the Himachal Pradesh government or Shri Manimahesh Trust before the trek, and the registration is checked at Bharmour or Hadsar. We complete this for you once you share ID details and a photograph.

How difficult is the trek?

Moderate to hard. The distance is only 13 km, but the climb is steady and the air is thin above Dhancho. We split it over two days, which most reasonably fit people between 15 and 60 manage. Ponies and palkis are available at Hadsar for those who cannot walk.

Can elderly parents join only the Devi part?

Yes. We can arrange for them to stay at Bharmour during the trek days, or to take the helicopter from Bharmour to Gaurikund (subject to weather and seat availability, tickets extra), or offer a shorter Devi-only itinerary. Tell us the group’s needs and we will plan accordingly.

Why does the yatra end in Amritsar and not Chandigarh?

Amritsar is closer to Bharmour than Chandigarh by about 100 km, and it lets the yatra close with the Golden Temple. If you prefer to return to Chandigarh, we can route the last day through Pathankot and Hoshiarpur instead, with a small change in price.

What is the weather like?

Late August and September are the tail of the monsoon. The valleys are warm and humid, with showers; Bharmour is cool; the camps are cold at night, near zero at the lake. Rain gear and warm layers are essential, and road blocks from landslides are possible.

Is the helicopter to Manimahesh included in this 7 Devi yatra?

No. The package price covers the walking route: Hadsar to Dhancho on Day 5 and on to Gaurikund and Manimahesh Lake on Day 6, with tented camps on both nights. The Bharmour to Gaurikund helicopter is an optional extra, booked and paid separately, and runs only within the yatra window and in clear weather. From the Gaurikund helipad there is still about 1 km on foot to the lake. Tell us early if you want it, and we will try to plan the trek days around it.

Yatra	Duration	Starts from	Price
7 Devi Darshan with Manimahesh Kailash Yatra (this page)	9 days / 8 nights	Chandigarh	On request
Manimahesh Yatra by Helicopter	5 days / 4 nights	Amritsar / Pathankot	From ₹35,700
Manimahesh Yatra From Amritsar	5 days / 4 nights	Amritsar	From ₹24,000
Manimahesh Yatra From Pathankot	5 days / 4 nights	Pathankot	From ₹21,000

7 Devi Darshan with Manimahesh Kailash Yatra

Highlights & Route

Route

Good to know before you book

Yatra Highlights

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Inclusions & Exclusions

Included

Not included

Hotels

Documents & Fitness

Documents to carry

Fitness and health

Cancellation Policy

Frequently Asked Questions

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