The First Spark (2021)

In 2021, I came across a post about Bijli Mahadev temple, the shrine that takes lightning upon itself to protect the Kullu valley. It stayed with me. For a few days, I even whispered his name quietly, almost like a prayer. And then life moved on.

I had never explored this side of Himachal. Most of my travels stayed close to Upper Shimla; our orchards, the villages of my extended family, our own devtas and later Gurgaon pulled me in the corporate grind. The years just slipped away. It was only after the lockdown, while working from home, that I thought: maybe it’s time to see the “other side.”

Himachal is vast. From Bilaspur’s calm lakes to Kinnaur’s tough ridges, from Palampur’s tea gardens to Shimla’s colonial charm, to Manali’s pine-covered slopes, we have everything. And above all, we have the deities who protect it.

Bijli Mahadev Temple Trek (Oct 2022)- Walking With Devta Ji

In October 2022, I was in Naggar with my family. It was a simple trip, no fixed plan. Then my brother said, “Let’s go to Bijli Mahadev.”

Here’s the overwhelming part: by sheer chance, that was the very day and hour when Bijli Mahadev’s palanquin (Devta ji) was being carried up to the temple. Of all the days, of all the hours, we ended up walking with him. It didn’t feel like a plan, it felt like a call.

We chose the same steep path that Devta ji takes. It was hard, rocky, endless, a climb that tests you. Many times, we thought of giving up. We stopped at a spot where villagers had gathered with the palanquin to take blessings. Someone handed us water, and in that pause, we heard them say:

“Jao, jao, Devta ji ke saath aram se.”

And strangely, the palanquin moved with our pace, pausing when we slowed, surging ahead when we gathered strength. The journey itself became the blessing.

At the Temple

After more than an hour, we reached the temple ground. Just as we arrived, the prayers began. The timing was too perfect to be a coincidence.

The valley stretched open before us, but what struck me was the stillness inside, a mix of gratitude, warmth, and protection. I bowed down and thought:

“He is here, so everything is here. Without him, nothing matters.”

What I Brought Back

The trek was never about distance. It was about remembering balance; the forests, the faith, the respect we risk losing.

Walking with Devta ji, we didn’t feel tired. There were moments of weakness, yes, but his presence carried us. And when we walked back down, we weren’t exhausted, we felt lighter, happier, grateful. Since that day, whenever I go to Kullu-Manali, I bow toward his peak first.

Ropeway Projects vs Spiritual Paths at Bijli Mahadev Temple

In Himachal, whenever something important happens, a marriage, a new house, a birth, we visit our deities first. They guide us. They keep us humble. The 2025 floods were proof of what happens when we forget. Read the full Manali Floods 2025 timeline here.

And here’s something I felt strongly about, there was a plan to build a ropeway to Bijli Mahadev, and it stirred a lot of emotion and resistance. For locals, it wasn’t simply about convenience. It was about faith, balance, and respect.

In other words, a Bijli Mahadev ropeway isn’t just about convenience, it’s a battleground between development and faith. And for many, the mountain’s blessings must come before tourist shortcuts.

Visiting Bijli Mahadev Temple or Any Himachali Temple With Respect

So, here is my request, both to locals and tourists:

  • Go clean, go quietly, and don’t litter.
  • Avoid visiting during your periods, after a death in the family, or without bathing properly.
  • Don’t visit temples after drinking alcohol or eating non-veg or eggs, it’s seen as impure.
  • Never eat inside temple premises. It’s considered disrespectful.
  • Keep the place peaceful: no noise, no drinking, no treating it like a picnic.

As locals, it’s our duty to speak up against greed, resist commercial exploitation, protect traditional paths, say no to illegal mining and deforestation and educate tourists gently. 

Because Himachal is Dev Bhoomi. If we want it to remain safe and green, we must walk with our deities, not against them.