Temples in Shimla  :

Shimla District is dotted with numerous temples, often visited by devotees and tourists from nearby as well as far-off places. Shimla is the classic city, combining metropolitan surroundings and ancient temples alike. The temples in Shimla are very old dating back to several hundred years and there are popular legends associated with them. Some of the main temples of Shimla Temple are as follows - 

Sankat Mochan Temple : Sankat Mochan temple is situated at a distance of about 5 kms from Shimla and is located at Taradevi on Kalka- Shimla National Highway. This temple is very easily approachable and is one of the most sought after site by the devotees and pilgrims.

The history of the temple dates back to the late 1950's, when Baba Neeb Karori Ji Maharaj visited this tranquil and serene site surrounded by lush green forests, emerald meadows, the majestic lofty mountains in the background which offered a very soothing and meditative atmosphere. Baba Neeb Karori Ji Maharaj stayed here in a hut for about ten days and he was deeply fascinated and charmed with the place. He expressed his keen desire for a Hanuman temple to be constructed at this very location. 

Tara Devi Temple : Tara Devi temple is located on Tarav Parvat in the western side of Shimla town. The picturesque view from the temple is indeed breath taking and captivating with the superb panorama of the lofty and majestic forested mountains around, which offers a calm peaceful and tranquil countryside, a site that has a soothing and rejuvenating effect, being away from the din, pollution and the tough effect of a fast urban life style. The history of this temple dates back to about 250 years. There is a belief that goddess Tara was brought to Himachal Pradesh all the way from the eastern state of West Bengal.

Hundreds of years ago a king from the Sen Dynasty visited this area. This king had brought his family deity in the form of a small gold Idol encased in a locket which he always wore around his upper arm. It is said that for many years the idol remained encased but in the 96th generation of Sen Dynasty, Raja Bhupendra Sen one day had an unusual experience while hunting in the dense forests, site near the present temple, where he had a vision of his holy family deity goddess Tara. The Raja immediately donated huge acres of land and the temple was constructed there, in which a wooden idol of the Goddess was installed in accordance with Vaishnava traditions. Later on, Raja Balbir Sen of the same dynasty had a dream in which Goddess expressed her desire to be installed on the hill top of Tarav Parvat. The Raja on the advise of one of his pandits got a beautiful Idol prepared out of 'Ashtadhatu' at his had it installed in the Vikrami era on the Hill Top of Tarav Parvat. The Sen Dynasty of the erstwhile Keonthal State till date is carrying on with the age old tradition of worshipping their family deity. 

Jakhoo Temple : This temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman is situated at a height of about 8500 feet in the east of historical ridge ground in Shimla city. This temple is very easily approachable and is one of the most sought after pilgrimage site. According to mythology, during the battle between lord Rama and Ravana at Lanka, Lakshmana was injured from an arrow from Meghnad. In order to save his life, when lord Hanuman was moving towards Himalaya to get sanjeewani herb, all of a sudden he saw Yaaku sage on Jakhu Mountain in penance. This place was named Jakhu, after the name of this sage. Lord Hanuman had even promised the sage Yaaku to meet him during his back journey. This temple of lord Hanuman was constructed by the Yaaku sage in his remembrance. 

Bheemakali Temple : Bheemakali Temple, reputed to be at least 800 years old, is dedicated to Goddess Durga or Bheemakali and is considered one of the sacred Shakti Peeths of the country. The temple is Tibetan in its architectural style, with Buddhist and Hindu influences and bronze statues of both religions in the shrines. It has slanted slate roofs, golden towers, pagodas and a carved silver door. Dussehra is celebrated in a grand way at both Bheemakali Temple and in the village of Sarahan. A marvelous example of hill architecture, the temple complex is set against the incredibly beautiful backdrop of high ranges and forested slopes. Built in a mixture of the Hindu and Buddhists styles, it was the temple of Bushair rulers of Rampur (Shimla). The palaces of the royal family are adjacent to the temple. From Sarahan one can have a view of the Srikhand Peak, revered as the home of goddess Laxmi. 

Bijai Temple: Bijai Temple is located in Batrol in Shimla district. The temple enshrines a brass idol of Goddess Bijai. 

Jakhu temple : This is a sacred temple lying at an altitude of 2500 meters can be spotted at the Jakhu Hill in Shimla. The temple is primitive and the deity worshipped here if Lord Hanuman. The temple is encircled by dense forests and the name of this temple is associated with a mythological character named as Yaksha, who is considered to be the mediator between god and humans. Lord Hanuman visited this hill at the time of Ramayana to collect a medicinal herb that could heal Laxman.

Mananeshwara Temple: Palatial in its built, Mananeshwara Temple is consecrated to Lord Shiva. 

Hatkoti Temple : Hatkoti Temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga and Lord Shiva, is one of the main tourist attractions in and around Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. Himachal Pradesh is known as a ‘Valley of Temples’. Lying along the River Pabbar, at village Hatkoti of tehsil Jubbal 104 km from Shimla, the temple is believed to be the spot where the gods fought a pitched battle. The spot is famous for ancient temple of Mata Hateswari in the midst of paddy fields on the right bank of the Pabbar River. 

The Hatkoti temples are a group of temples located on the scenic banks of River Pabbar. The main temple in this sprawling complex is dedicated to Goddess Durga while the other smaller ones are the abode of other Hindu deities like Shiva, Ganesha, Parvati and so forth. The Mata Hateswari is another famous temple in the group and is set amidst green paddy fields and the hilly terrains beyond. The temples also boast of 5 idols, which ideally represent the five Pandava brothers of the Mahabharata period. These idols are arranged in accordance to their size—with the first one being the largest. 

Based on the architectural styles and design, historians conclude this temple to be built during the Gupta era. Some historians believe that the temples in this area were built by Guru Adi Shankaracharya.