In this photo essay, I want to show the spectacular beauty of Radhe Krishna Temple of Baroh, Kangra through some of my photographs.
Located in Baroh, a tehsil of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, 45km away from Dharamshala City, Radhe Krishna Temple of Baroh is the most famous pilgrim spot for the rural population. A lack of tourist-friendly hotels, guest houses and restaurants in the area are some of the reasons that this temple is not on every traveller’s list that comes to Kangra. A large number of other smaller temples can be found around Baroh but are of negligible historical and architectural importance. At present, one big marble temple is standing here and is spectacular in beauty. The breathtaking beauty of the temple can be gauged by the fact that the temple (made purely of white marble) stands tall atop a hill surrounded by snow-capped Dhauladhar range around it.
The Radhe Krishna temple with the towering Dhauladhar Himalayas in the backdrop
Baroh is a Tehsil in Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh State, India. It is located approx. 45 km towards South from District headquarters Dharamshala and approx. 206 km from State capital Shimla. Local folklore says that during the reign of Sikhs, two saints, Baba Baroh and Baba Fattu came to Kangra. They were later helped by the local kings of Kangra and set up their temples in the area. The place takes its name from the saint Baba Baroh. As one travels from Ranital 12 kms away from Baroh, the journey brings forth beautiful hamlets, stunning flora and fauna, mango trees, and a handful of schools and shops.
Devoted to the Hindu God Lord Krishna and his consort Radha, this temple is visited by many pilgrims and tourists every day. Built during the 1980s by the family of local follower and philanthropist named B. R. Sharma, this temple is made of white marble and is famous for having the largest amount of white marble used in any of the temples in Himachal Pradesh. The shikhara (temple tower) of the temple is typical of most temples found in North India.
As far as the temple architecture is concerned, the main temple has two floors. One floor has Radha Krishna idols and the second floor houses an idol of Goddess Durga. The temple premises also has an idol of Lord Hanuman. The architecture of the temple is a blend of modern and ancient South Indian design. The brilliant architectural skills are worth watching. Inside the temple is a balcony from where the devotees get a dual view of both the idols. The temple is spacious with a well-constructed langar hall. There are some other social welfare works being done by this temple such as maintaining cow shelter and offering Langar Seva. During the navratri (nine nights Hindu festival) the temple offers bhandara (food as a worship offering) to the devotees that consist of Kangri Dham. Kangri Dham (traditional and festive meal of Kangra) is cooked by botis (a particular caste of Brahmins). The food is served on leaf plates called pattlu (in local language). The Dham includes plain steamed rice, rajma (kidney beans madra), dal (lentils), and other items followed by khatta (sweet-sour gravy) and at the end meetha bhatt (sweet rice) which is served as a dessert.
Side view of the Temple.
Radhe Krishna Temple of Baroh is not only visited for its religious importance, but also for its scenic surroundings. The temple commands a panoramic view of the Dhauladhar ranges. Mesmerizing views of the sunset is an added attraction, making it a preferred spot for the whole family. The temple is very clean and well maintained.
The entrance to the temple as one enters from the Baroh bus stand.
The temple can be also be reached by road after diverting from Pathankot Manali National Highway before Nagrotta Bagwan. If one is coming from Dharamshala, Kangra or Jawalaji then the link road from Kandi road is also one of the routes. By air, the Gaggal Airport is situated 14km away from Dharamshala and 11km from Kangra town respectively. The nearby railway station is Kangra. By road, the main bus terminal located at lower Dharamshala is the best place and is well connected to not only Baroh but all the major towns and cities of Himachal Pradesh, like Hamirpur, Chamba and Dalhousie.
The marble idols of Radha Krishna placed inside the temple.
Every year Shri Krishan Janmashtami is celebrated with full joy here. During these times this white marble temple becomes more beautiful as it is covered with decorative lights and festoons. The temple wears a vivacious aura during Janmashtami when the entire village comes to pay their respect to the deity. Local folk singers and kirtan mandalis (group of devotees that sing devotional songs) sing bhajanas (hymns) throughout the night making it a memorable day for the natives of Baroh and nearby areas.
The idol of Goddess Durga placed inside the temple is made of metal.
Special prayers are offered in the morning and evening every day besides on special occasions and during festive seasons. Shri Krishan Janmashtami, Deepavali, Basant Panchami, Makara Sankranti, Maha Shivaratri, Vaisakha Sankranti and Shraavana Mondays are celebrated with zeal and splendour. Most important festivals are a major social and public event. The temple is also a popular meeting point for the students of Government Degree College and schools of Baroh and nearby areas. On Sundays, one can find innumerable families from villages near the temple premises.
The idols of Lord Rama, Goddess Sita, Lakshmana and Lord Hanuman placed in the main temple.
Though the weather in Kangra is quite pleasant throughout the year, a few months of summers from June till September can be oppressive because of the soaring temperature. The best time to visit the temple is in the month of October during the Dussehra festival which is celebrated with great gaiety and fervour in the Kangra Valley.
A Lord Hanuman idol in the temple premises.
Besides the main building of the temple, there are some smaller shrines in the courtyard. A very conspicuous figure is that of Lord Hanuman, some distance behind the main shrine. Behind the Lord Hanuman idol are stairs that lead to a very spacious langar hall. Facilities like drinking water and washrooms are also provided below the langar hall. Like many other Hanuman temples in India, an endless number of monkeys can be seen at this temple also. Pilgrims offer fruits and biscuits to these monkeys which are readily accepted by them.
A part of an ancient shrine devoted to Kali Nath Bhole Shankar. This shrine is situated in proximity to Radhe Krishna Temple.
There are various other temples located nearby including the Nag temple in Ranital, Baba Fattu temple near Jassai which can be clubbed while visiting Radhe Krishna Temple of Baroh. Near Radhe Krishna Temple of Baroh is an old shrine devoted to Kali Nath Bhole Shankar. Pilgrims make it a point to visit this shrine as well while visiting Radhe Krishna temple.
One must bear in mind that it is because of Radhe Krishna Temple that this area, also known as ‘Changar’ in the local language, has managed to make a name for itself as a tourist destination. If at all this rural area had developed in the past decade, it can be surmised that it is primarily because of this temple. Even though it is difficult to reach this temple, owing to pot holed narrow roads and lack of other amenities, it is observed that Krishna devotees from all corners of India throng to this temple attracted by its beauty and architecture.
While the main temple stands in the temple premises, at the other corner, there is a temple of Lord Shiva
The entrance is adorned by intricate artwork and figures of other gods and goddesses like Lord Ganesh on the top and female figurines on either side of the main door.
The overall design of this shrine is beautiful and it is a must visit for anyone coming to Kangra. The peace and harmony of the place are without comparison. The quiet of the nature conjoined with interesting flora and fauna and stunning scenes of the Dhauladhar range of the Himalayas would be an unforgettable experience for those who wish to go far from the maddening crowd and the din of the cities.
1A slightly different version of this photo essay was published in UGC approved journal: The Chitrolekha Journal on Art and Design, Volume 3 (Number 1), 2019.
Sapna Dogra, a PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University, teaches English Literature at Government College Baroh, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. Her research articles, book reviews and translations have been published in reputed journals and magazines. Her research interests include Folklore Studies, Translation Studies, Gender Studies, Film Studies, Indian English Writing and Popular Literature. She can be reached at [email protected].
