Bhimakali Temple

The Bhimakali Temple at Sarahan in Himachal Pradesh, about 180 km from Shimla, is dedicated to the goddess Bhimakali, family deity of the old Bushahr rulers. A shrine to Durga is said to have stood here from the 13th century, and Raja Padam Singh helped rebuild the temple in the 1920s. One legend holds that Sati's ear fell here; another links the site to the demon king Banasura, whose head is said to lie beneath a raised platform at the entrance to the first courtyard.

Built of stone and deodar in the kath-kuni manner, the temple blends Hindu and Buddhist styles. Three courtyards hold the Narsingha temple, the Raghunath temple and the twin towers housing the goddess, entered through four carved gates, the first gold-plated and the second faced in silver. Wooden and silver carving covers the complex, and wooden chimes hum as they swing. The temple is a short walk from Sarahan market.