Mansa Devi Temple - Haridwar

Mansa Devi Temple is one of the ancient temples of Haridwar, dedicated to Goddess Mansa Devi, a form of Shakti. The temple is located atop the steep mountain called Bilwa Parvat, of the southernmost mountain of the Himalayas. Mansa Devi temple is one of the Siddha Peethas of Haridwar, where desires get fulfilled. The temple is very near to Har Ki Pauri, a famous ghat of Haridwar. It provides a magnificent view of Haridwar city and the mighty Ganga from the top.

Mansa Devi temple is located near another important temple, Chandi Devi temple. It is generally believed that both Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi are two forms of Goddess Shakti, and they stay together.

About Goddess Mansa Devi

According to Devi Bhagavatam, Goddess Mansa is the mind-born daughter of Sage Kashyapa and Kadru. She is the presiding deity of snakes or snake Goddess and she is the sister of Vasuki (king of Nagas). She is also known as Vishahara (destroyer of poison).

According to a legend, once Mansa, who was unaware of herself, decided to propitiate Lord Shiva to know about herself. After the intense spiritual sadhana, Lord Shiva appeared in front of her and revealed her powers. After learning the truth, she became the Goddess of welfare to the world. It is believed that Goddess Mansa Devi will fulfill the wishes of her devotees. According to some legends, she is the one who saved Lord Shiva from the deadly poison.

Why worship Goddess Mansa Devi

It is said that Goddess Mansa Devi is very kind and loving to her devotees. However, she is destructive to those who refuse to worship her. Goddess Mansa Devi is to be worshipped for fertility and prosperity. According to astrology, Mansa Devi also to be worshipped to get rid of Kalasarpa Dosha and also for the prevention & cure of snakebite. If one has a fear of snakes or dreams about snakes, then they can visit Mansa Devi temple or chant Mansa Devi stotra.

Also Read: Top 20 places to visit in Haridwar

Ticket to the Temple

As Mansa Devi temple is situated on top of the hill, one can reach the temple either climbing the mountain or using a cable car ride (Udan Khatola). There are about 780 steps and it may take one hour (approx. 1.5 km) to reach the temple through climbing. Ticket for the ropeway car ride to reach the temple will cost Rs 100 and a combo ticket for both Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi temples would cost around Rs 330 (including transportation between two temples). During peak season, the temple will be crowded and you may have to wait for more than an hour for the cable car. Generally, there will be fewer crowds in the morning times.

The ropeway service is called ‘Udan Khatola’ locally. The total length of the ropeway is about 540 meters and the height it covers is 178 meters.

Specialty of the Temple

There is a sacred tree within the temple premise. One has to tie the thread to the tree for the fulfillment of any of their wishes. Once the wish is fulfilled, again they have to come and untie the thread. The wishing thread is available in the temple itself.

Another attraction of the temple is the ropeway cable car, which carries the pilgrims to a height of 580 ft. The ropeway ride offers breathtaking scenic views of Haridwar city and river Ganga. Children would especially love the adventurous ride.

Temple Information

Entrance Fee - No fees for the temple. However, if you are opting for a trolley car, the charges are applicable.
Timings - 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM; with a lunch break from 12 PM to 2 PM.
Time Required - Approx 2 Hour
Photography - Allowed
Tips - While walking, sellers keep asking you to keep footwear with them. There is a dedicated place to keep the footwear with token outside the temple. And also careful about monkeys.

How to reach Mansa Devi Temple

Haridwar is well connected with other Indian cities. Mansa Devi temple is located at around 3 km from Haridwar railway station and near Har Ki Pauri. You can reach the base of the Mansa Devi temple by auto.

The nearest bus station is Haridwar station, which is 3 km away and the railway station is also 3 km in distance. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, at a distance of around 20 km from the temple.