Nestled in the serene hills of Bilaspur district, Shahtalai is a sacred village where Baba Balak Nath Ji, the revered child-saint of the Nath tradition, spent twelve formative years in deep penance. This spiritually charged site is a key stop on the pilgrimage trail to Deotsidh, and is revered as the place where Baba Ji performed miracles and lived under a banyan tree, grazing cows for Mata Ratno Mai.
🌄 Location & Accessibility
- Location: Shahtalai village, near Chakmoh, Bilaspur district, Himachal Pradesh
- Altitude: ~650 meters above sea level
- Nearest Towns: Ghumarwin (25 km), Hamirpur (45 km), Bilaspur (50 km)
- How to Reach:
- By Road: Well-connected via NH-103 and NH-88; regular buses and taxis available
- By Rail: Nearest station – Una (55 km)
- By Air: Gaggal Airport, Kangra (~128 km)
🛕 Mythological Significance
According to legend, Baba Balak Nath Ji, an incarnation of Lord Kartikeya, arrived in Shahtalai after receiving spiritual initiation from Guru Dattatreya. Here, he was adopted by Mata Ratno Mai, a humble village woman, and agreed to graze her cows while meditating under a banyan tree.
For twelve years, Baba Ji accepted only roti and lassi from Ratno Mai, never consuming them but storing them miraculously inside the tree. When villagers accused him of neglecting the cows, Baba Ji revealed the untouched food and caused a spring of buttermilk to burst from the earth—now known as the Lassi Kund.
🕉️ Deity & Worship
The shrine at Shahtalai is dedicated to Baba Balak Nath Ji, a revered child sage and Siddha yogi, believed to be an incarnation of Lord Kartikeya and a disciple of Guru Dattatreya. According to legend, Baba Balak Nath performed twelve years of penance under a banyan tree in Shahtalai, sustained only by roti and lassi offered by Mata Ratno, his foster mother. His divine presence is associated with miracles, healing, and spiritual awakening.
The sanctum features idols of Baba Balak Nath, along with Guga Chauhan and Nahar Singh, and is surrounded by sacred sites like the Land of Penance Under the Hollow Tree and the Buttermilk Pond, believed to have sprung from Baba’s chimta (fire tongs). Worship includes offering roti, jaggery, and lassi, lighting incense and ghee lamps, and chanting of Baba’s name. Devotees seek blessings for health, protection, and fulfillment of vows, especially during the Chet Mela and Shravan Ashtami.
Women traditionally do not enter the cave shrine, instead offering prayers from the courtyard, honoring Baba’s vow of celibacy and the spiritual discipline of his disciples. The site remains a powerful center of faith, simplicity, and divine grace in the hills of Himachal.
🏛️ Temple & Sacred Sites
- Land of Penance (Tapasthali): A hollow structure marks the spot where Baba Ji meditated under the banyan tree
- Lassi Kund: A sacred pond believed to have emerged from Baba Ji’s chimta (fire tongs)
- Ratno Mai Temple: Dedicated to the foster mother of Baba Ji
- Dhuna (Sacred Fire): Still burning, maintained by temple priests
- Shrines of Guga Chauhan & Nahar Singh Ji: Local deities associated with Baba Ji’s legends
🎉 Festivals & Rituals
- Chaitra Mela (March–April): A major fair held before the Deotsidh pilgrimage
- Sunday Darshan: Sundays are considered especially auspicious for Baba Ji’s blessings
- Roti & Lassi Prasad: Devotees offer symbolic rotis and lassi to honor Baba Ji’s penance
🏞️ Nearby Attractions
- Deotsidh Temple: The cave shrine where Baba Ji attained siddhi, 5 km uphill
- Baba Balak Nath Ropeway: A scenic ride connecting Shahtalai to Deotsidh
- Bachhretu Fort: A historic fort with panoramic views of the valley
- Ghumarwin & Hamirpur: Towns with local markets and cultural sites
🙏 Spiritual Experience
Shahtalai is not just a village—it’s a living legend, echoing with the footsteps of a divine child-saint. The banyan tree, the sacred spring, and the humble shrines together create an atmosphere of devotion, simplicity, and timeless faith. For pilgrims, it’s the beginning of a journey toward inner awakening.
