Where the goddess rests at the edge of India, and the mountains bloom in her name
At the farthest inhabited village on the Indo-Tibetan border, nestled in the Baspa Valley of Kinnaur, stands the Mathi Devi Temple—a 500-year-old shrine dedicated to Mathi Devi, the presiding goddess of Chitkul and the spiritual protector of the Kinnaur region. Revered as Shiromani Devi, she is believed to have brought prosperity, protection, and divine order to the seven divisions of the valley.
🌄 Location & Accessibility
- Location: Chitkul Village, Kinnaur District, Himachal Pradesh – 172109
- Altitude: ~3,450 meters
- By Road: 24 km from Sangla, 40 km from Rakchham; accessible by taxi or local bus
- By Air: Shimla Airport (~250 km)
- By Rail: Shimla (~244 km); further travel by road
- On Foot: The temple is located in the heart of Chitkul village, surrounded by traditional wooden homes and alpine meadows
🕉️ Deity & Worship
The temple is dedicated to Mathi Devi, believed to be the wife of Lord Badrinath and a divine guardian of the Kinnaur region. According to legend, she journeyed from Vrindavan to Tibet, passing through Garhwal, Sirmour, Sarahan, and Kamru, appointing deities to protect each division of the valley. She made Chitkul her final abode, and from here, she continues to watch over all seven divisions.
The goddess is worshipped in the form of three pindis, representing Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi, and Maha Saraswati.
Devotees offer red flags, coconuts, and sweets, and the temple is especially known for fulfilling wishes of childless couples and those seeking justice. Rituals include morning ablutions of the goddess, incense offerings, and devotional songs sung by temple musicians.
🏛️ Architecture & Setting
The Mathi Devi Temple is a stunning example of Kath-Kuni architecture, blending stone and deodar wood with intricate carvings and dragon motifs. The sanctum houses a walnut wood ark, covered in cloth and adorned with a tuft of yak tail, carried during processions using two wooden poles.
The temple sits in the center of Chitkul, surrounded by snow-capped peaks, alpine pastures, and the Baspa River, creating a setting that is both sacred and sublime.
📜 Mythological Significance
As per local lore, Mathi Devi appointed her nephew Narenas as the guardian of Shuang and Chasu villages, entrusted Lord Badrinath with Kamru, and assigned other deities to Rakchham, Dhumthan, and Rupin Ghati. After securing all divisions, she settled in Chitkul, where prosperity and abundance followed her arrival.
Her presence is believed to ward off calamities, and she is invoked during natural disasters, droughts, and social unrest. The temple remains a center of spiritual authority in the region.
🎉 Festivals & Celebrations
- Fulaich (September): A flower festival honoring ancestral spirits and the goddess’s blessings
- Navratri: Celebrated with devta processions, folk dances, and community feasts
- Seasonal Rath Yatra: The goddess’s ark is paraded through the village with drums, horns, and hymns
- Daily Worship: Morning and evening aartis, incense offerings, and recitation of Shakta hymns
🏞️ Nearby Attractions
- Baspa River & Meadows: Ideal for nature walks and riverside meditation
- Rakchham Village: A scenic hamlet with its own devta traditions
- Kamru Fort: A historic site linked to Lord Badrinath and the Bushahr dynasty
- Sangla Valley: A cultural and spiritual hub of lower Kinnaur
🙏 Spiritual Experience
The Mathi Devi Temple is not just a shrine—it is the heartbeat of Chitkul, a place where divine guardianship meets Himalayan silence. As you stand before her sanctum, with the wind carrying the scent of pine and prayer, you feel the goddess’s gaze—watchful, maternal, and eternal. It is a temple where faith finds its final frontier, and the **soul bows to the snow and the sky.
