Where Krishna smiles in marble, and Holi begins with a royal bow
Set in the historic town of Sujanpur Tira in Hamirpur district, the Murli Manohar Temple is a 400-year-old Krishna shrine built by Raja Sansar Chand of the Katoch dynasty. Revered for its unique idol of Lord Krishna, where the flute mysteriously faces the opposite direction, this temple is a cultural and spiritual heart of the region, especially during the national-level Holi fair.
🌄 Location & Accessibility
- Location: Sujanpur Tira, Hamirpur District, Himachal Pradesh – 176110
- By Road: 25 km from Hamirpur, 85 km from Una, 64 km from Kangra
- By Rail: Una Railway Station (~85 km)
- By Air: Gaggal Airport (~90 km)
- On Foot: Easily accessible from Sujanpur town center
🕉️ Deity & Worship
The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna as Murli Manohar, accompanied by Radha. According to legend:
- When the idol was being installed, Raja Sansar Chand questioned the priests about the flute’s direction
- The next morning, the flute had turned on its own, facing the opposite way—interpreted as a divine sign of Krishna’s presence
- The idol is believed to be one-of-a-kind, with the flute facing away from Krishna, unlike any other temple in the world
Devotees offer butter, tulsi leaves, yellow cloth, and chant Krishna bhajans, especially during Janmashtami and Holi.
🏛️ Architecture & Setting
The temple is a two-storey structure built in 1785, featuring:
- Murals of Krishna, Radha, and gopis adorning the inner walls
- A sacred tank nearby, used for ritual purification
- A courtyard for Holi celebrations, filled with music, color, and devotion
- A peaceful riverside setting, with the Beas River flowing nearby
The temple’s artistic and spiritual ambiance makes it a living museum of Krishna devotion.
📜 Cultural & Historical Significance
- Built by Raja Sansar Chand in memory of his mother
- The temple is the epicenter of the Sujanpur Holi fair, a tradition started by the Katoch kings and still celebrated with royal fervor
- The flute’s reversal is seen as a miracle, and the temple remains a symbol of divine intervention and royal faith
🎉 Festivals & Celebrations
- Holi (March): A national-level fair inaugurated by the Chief Minister, featuring gulal, bhajans, and Krishna leelas
- Janmashtami: Celebrated with midnight aarti, dance dramas, and community feasts
- Daily Worship: Morning and evening aartis, chanting of Krishna Stotra, and distribution of prasad
🏞️ Nearby Attractions
- Sujanpur Fort & Baradari: Historic structures built by Raja Sansar Chand
- Awah Devi Temple: A hilltop Shakti shrine
- Gasota Mahadev Temple: A pastoral Shiva shrine with a cattle fair
- Nadaun & Beas River Ghats: Scenic and spiritual riverside spots
🙏 Spiritual Experience
The Murli Manohar Temple of Sujanpur Tira is not just a shrine—it is a flute-born miracle, a place where Krishna turned to answer a king’s doubt, and the valley still sings his name in color and song. As you stand before the idol, with the flute pointing away and the murals dancing in candlelight, you feel the presence of a god who plays not just music—but destiny. It is a temple where faith turns with the wind, and the **soul finds its joy in the smile of the divine.
