RELIGIOUS AND HISTORICAL PLACES

Fort of Kotkahlur : The fort is situated at a distance of few Kms. from Ganguwal Hydro Electric Station. Its lies in Naina Devi Hill. Amongst the places of historical interest, the fort of Kotkahlur occupies the first position. Raja Bir Chand, an ancestor of Raja Kahal Chand, built a palace-cum-fort called Kot Kahlur. It is in ruin now. The state was called Kahlur till such time the seat of Government was shifted to Bilaspur. Among the local population the district is still known as Kahlur.

Fort of Tiun : Relics of this fort is situated on the top of a hill known as the Tiun range,17 Kms. in length, at distance of about 45-Kms.from Bilaspur, on the Ali Khad crossing Ghumarwin-Ladraur motorable road. It is about 10-km from Ghumarwin proper still serves to remind of the ancient turbulent times when wars in this area were perhaps a routine feature. Raja Kahn Chand got it constructed in 1142 Vikrami. The area of the fort around 14 hectare. It is rectangle in shape. The length of the fort was 400 meters with a breadth 200 meters. The height of the wall is varies from 2 meters to 10 meters. The main gate of the fort is 3 meters height and 5 and a 1/2 meters breadth. There were two water tanks inside the fort. Also there were two granary which contains 3000 kg grain. The fort is said to have once served as a prison to an uncle of Raja Kharak Chand.

Markandeya Ji : Markanday is a beautiful place about 20 Kms. from Bilaspur on Ghagus-Brahmpukhar road. This place is named after Rishi Markanday. Rishi Mrikandu had no children  and he worshiped here to have child. Lord Shiva blessed him with one son but warned that the boy will live up to the age of 12 years. So Mrikandu had son named Markanday. As the child was growing the anxiety was also growing in fathers mind. One day Markanday asked his father for the reason of anxiety. Father told him everything. Then the child Markanday worshiped for Lord Shiva at this place and finally when his age was about to complete he got what he wanted. This happened on evening of the famous festival of Baishakhi. A spring of water flowed from the place. It is believed that pilgrimage of Char Dham is incomplete without taking bath in this spring. This is also believed that if one applies Kajal in one eye of the idol of Markanday ji and promise to apply the kajal in the other eye if blessed by a child, will definitely be blessed with the child. Markanday ji is also worshiped as the savor god of child. Every year on the day of Baishakhi a big fair is organised here.

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Shahtalai (Baba Balak Nath Ji) : Talai named region is situated about 55 kms. ahead from Bilaspur  on  Bhager- Badser road. This place is only 4 km to Diyotsidh temple. Ancient name of this place was Changer Talai. Baba Balak nath’s worship and grazing maa ratno’s cattles, later returning her  mattress of chach-it got famous by the name of chahtalai which later turned to Shahtalai.

According to the legend, Baba Balak nath was lord shiva’s disciple, and rebirth of His son, kartikeya, had specially embodied in this era to uplift the lord shiva’s devotee, and in child form intended to serve Mata Ratno by grazing her cattles. Mata ratno daily used to give her two chappaties (roti) of makki  and chach . This   routine continued up to 12 years. When Babas time of return reached , he knowingly in the manner of excuse  ruined Zamindars’ farm by cows. They cursed Mata ratno and asked for compensation to the loss. Ratno critiqued that you have wasted all my rotis and chach. Baba ji insisted that cows did’nt enter the farms, when farms were watched there was not a single inch of damage to the crops. Baba while pointing towards rotis of twelve years in the shallow trunk of banyan tree and lassi’s talai/matress, spoke to mata ratno, that here are your offerings and I’m leaving now. After saying it baba left and started tapasya in a cave located in the mountain.

Still there is a dhunnah and a temple near the banyan tree. Existing ancient remnants like banyan tree and dhunnah under it and gurna shrubs on the one side of talai bazaar are almost 500 years old. Every year in Chaitra (March-April) fairs are held through out the month. Devotees come from far-off places to offer rot as prasad. Construction of trust has helped in rapid development. 

Badol Devi : Goddess Badol Devi temple stands at village Badol at a distance of 3 kms from Gehrwin on the Gehrwin – Dhanathar road. There are various tales which are popular about this temple. The most accepted one is that of an old man named Bhura. It is said that Bhura had an childless cow  who used  to drop her milk on a particular place. Bhura was astonished to see this. He thought that some one has mesmerized  her cow. He tried to stop the cow from going to that place. One day he got so angry that he axed his cow. To his surprise in place of blood milk was flowing from the wounds of cow. The cow ran away and when Bhura tried to follow her he could not see anything and when he returned back he was able to see everything. When people learned all this they dug the place where cow used to shed her milk. They found a pindi of goddess Durga. They installed it in the bushes near that place. Later two wives of King of Bilaspur built two temples there. Now the fight was on between the two install the pindi in their temple. One night it itself chose the younger wife’s temple and got automatically installed there. After that no one was able to uninstall it from that temple.  Goddess Badol Devi is symbol of Mother Shakati (a popular name for mother Durga). The hill on which temple has been built has also been named after goddess Badol Devi.

Guru Ka Lahore : Gurudwara Guru Ka Lahore is situated near town Bassi and is about 12 Kms from the famous Anandpur Sahib. The Gurudwara has its relation to the marriage of Shri Guru Gobind Singh. When Guru ji got engaged to Jeet Kaur, her father Sh. Harjas Rai Khatri wanted that the marriage should be arranged at Lahore. But Guru ji was fighting with the Mughals at that time, so it was not possible for him to go to Lahore for marriage. So Guru ji created the environment just like Lahore here. Sh. Rai was satisfied seeing this and the marriage took place at this place on 24 Ashadh samvat 1734. There are three more Gurudwaras at this place namely Gurudwara Sehra Sahib, Gurudwara Triveni Sahib and Gurudwara Paud Sahib. This is a beautiful place surrounded by hills from three sides. ‘Gura Ka Langar’ is open here for all 24 hours a day.  Every year on Basant Panchami a fair is organised here.

Mandir Jalapa Mai Sangirathi : This temple is in the village Sagirthin, which is around 14 kms. from Bilaspur on Bilaspur-Shimla road and then 2 kms foot path from the main road. The hilly peaks surround the temple. It is said that original name of the goddess was Sukirti and has been transformed to Sagirthiin the due course of time. It is said that Some Chandel King who was going to Mata Jawalamikhi through this road has installed the idol of goddess. Later Raja Deep Chand (1653-1665) has built the temple here. According to Shashi Vans Vinod (Book comprising history of the kings of Bilaspur) Raja Sail Chand had two wives named Hemvati and Devmati. Rani Hemvati committed herself to flames when the king was being criminated and became sati. This Rani was named Sagirthin and is family goddess (Kuldevi) of the rajas. There is an idol of black colour installed in the temple. There is a natural continuously flowing source of water here. The temple is surrounded by a 10 feet high wall. The priests of the temple are settled in the village and it is believed that they have come all the way from Chanderi with the chandel kings of Bilaspur.

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Nahar Singh Dhaulra : The temple of Baba Nahar Singh exists at Dholra in the Bilaspur Town. The people all over Bilaspur worship Baba Nahar Singh. Baba is also known as ‘Bajia’, ‘Peepal Wala’, ‘Dalian Wala’. Baba ji is known as apparent (Prtyaksh) god. Baba Nahar Singh was the god of Naggar the capital of Kullu Riyasat. Raja Deep Chand (1650-1665) of Bilaspur married princess of Kullu Lai Dei (she is now known as Naggar Dei also). When the princess now known as Rani of Bilaspur reached Bilaspur she had frequent attacks of unconsciousness. The devoted persons of Bilaspur tried to find out the reason for this. They all came to the conclusion that Baba Nahar Singh has accompanied Rani and the god needs to be established with all religious rituals. Raja Deep Chand did the same and established the god in Dholra. ‘Kharaun’ (the wooden slippers) of Baba Nahar singh symbolizes him and are placed in the temple. In the month of ‘Jeth’ (mid May to mid June) on every Tuesday fairs are organized in the temple.

Sri Naina Devi Ji : The most notable place of worship in the district of Bilaspur is the temple of Shri Naina Devi Ji. It is one of the 51 'Shakti Pithas'. It is about 70 –Km from Bilaspur and about 151-Km from Shimla. The temple was built by Raja Bir Chand in the eight century. It is about 1219 Mt. height from sea level.      

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