The journey to this unique and only destination starts right after you enter Lahaul Valley and take the stretch of road towards Udaipur. This temple is 9km ahead of Udaipur village. It is situated on the left bank of river Chenab flowing with you during the whole journey towards this place. The temple falls in the Punahan Village of the Lahaul and Spiti district, revealing its lesser touched remoteness blatantly to the outer world. This temple has its unique history attracting visitors from different regions of India. Trilokinath is one of the names of Lord Shiva and this temple represents lord Shiva if seen from a Hindu perspective but the local folklore states the temple to be a Buddhist monastery from ancient times, yet these different beliefs make this one the only temple in the world that shows a confluence of both religions.
How to reach:
It is situated at a distance of 146 km from Manali and 45 Km from the district headquarters Keylong. The state transport facility is also available on this route. One can access the place by hiring local taxis from Kullu or Manali. Accommodation facilities are also available in the shrine for about 120 people. Although, you can find homestays in the surrounding villages of the Temple.
The temple and the surroundings:
A stone inscription found recently in 2002 in the temple complex proves that the temple was believed to have been built by the ruler Davanjara Rana in the 9th/10th century, and was helped by the King of Chamba Shell Varman, who got this temple constructed in Shikhar Style as there is ‘ Laxmi Narayan Temple complex in Chamba. It is the only temple of Lahaul in the Shikhar style. The temple is standing on the top of a towering cliff in the picturesque Chandrabhaga Valley of district Lahaul & Spiti. The marble deity inside the temple is considered “Lord Shiva – Trilokinath”, the God of three universes and the Buddhist regard the idol as “Avlokitesvara” – the compassion of all Buddhas’.”Ghee” and “Khatak” along with “common puja Samagri in Hinduism” is offered in the temple while passing through stone pillars during the worship – an unwitnessed way of worship it should be stated as. The idol in the temple is a beautiful blend of unique identification among all other idols we worship. After visiting the main temple, you can offer ghee in the big lamp and seek blessings from the divine energies around. After spinning the praying wheels inside, you can take a walk in the the premisses of the temple where there is a shivling in the middle and praying wheels in the other corners. You can offer water to the Shivling and rotate the praying wheel and feel the charismatic aura of the temple.
The story of Trilokinath:
There is a local story that is popular as a hearsay about this temple, it is believed that there used to be a lake on the present Hinsa Nalla, Seven persons of a milky cower used to come out of this lake and drink the milk of grazing cows. One day one of them got caught by Tundu Cowherd boy and was taken to the village on his back and he converted the caught person into a marble diety. The diety was established in the temple. The lake is called ome- cho (milky ocean) in Tibetan Stories.
Other story says this temple was built by Maha Danav in just one night.
Worship is performed in this temple according to Budhist tranditions along with some Hinduism influence.
Mahakumbh:
It is a big celebration which comes after 12 years. The Mahakumbha is celebrated mostly by Buddhist people and people from the reaches of Upper Kinnaur, Zanskar, Spiti and Ladakh pay their visit to this pompous celebration. The devotees who pay their visits count to be in lakhs and the temple authorities arrange the tents that can be booked on the phone.
At present, the temple is with Govt of Himachal Pradesh. It is maintained by a temple committee comprised of Sub-division magistrate SDM Udaipur and many other official and non-official members. Visiting this place can be worth picking as an option to be peaceful and witness the cultural heritage’s beauty.
If you want a brief itinerary of this place along with some other destinations, just click here.