Located in Khajjiar, in the vicinity of the famous Khajjiar Lake, is the Khajji Nag Temple. This 12th-century temple is believed to have been built by Prithvi Singh, the king of Chamba, and is dedicated to the lord of serpents ‘Nag’. The temple is also known locally as the 'Golden Devi' temple, owing to its golden dome and spire. The architecture of the temple harmoniously blends elements of Mughal and Hindu architectural styles, evident in the intricate wooden carvings adorning the ceilings and pillars.
Being a temple dedicated to the lord of serpents, the temple has numerous idols of snakes, which you will find all over the place. Apart from this, you will also be able to watch the idols of Lord Shiva and Goddess Hadimba during your visit to Khajji Nag Temple on your Himachal Pradesh trip. Another attraction of this temple is the image carvings depicting the Pandavas defeating the Kauravas in the epic battle of Mahabharata. The temple still practises the ancient goat ritual.
• Visit the beautiful Khajji Nag Temple, dedicated to Naga - the serpent lord and located in Khajjiar near Khajjiar Lake.
• Admire the 12th-century temple, also known as the 'Golden Devi' temple, owing to its golden dome and spire.
• Appreciate the temple architecture, which is a blend of Mughal and Hindu architectural styles.
• Take a look at the numerous idols of snakes along with the idols of Lord Shiva and Goddess Hadimba.
• Watch the beautiful Mahabharata engraving structures in the corners of the mandapam of the temple.
By Car: Khajji Nag Temple is located 23.8 km from the nearest town, Dalhousie and you can reach the temple by a hired car or taxi in 58 minutes via Dalhousie - Chamba Rd.
By Bus: Take local buses from Chamba (22.6 km) and Dalhousie (21.6 km) to reach Khajjiar. From there, you can walk for 1.1 km via Dalhousie - Chamba Rd and reach the temple in 19 minutes. You can also take a taxi to reach it in 7 minutes.
By Train: Take a train to Pathankot, which is 94.6 km away from the temple. You can reach the station and take a hired car or taxi to travel for 3h 12 m via SH 28.
By Air: If you are coming by air, you will need to fly to Gaggal Airport in Dharamshala, which is 108.3 km away from the temple. You will need to take a hired cab or taxi to reach the temple in 3 hours and 33 minutes via SH 43.
The Khajji Nag temple is open every day from 6 am to 8 pm and can be visited any time of the year. The best day in the week to visit the Khajjiar temple is during weekdays when the crowd is less, and you can explore the temple and enjoy its peaceful ambience. The best time of the day to visit the temple is when it opens in the morning. The tranquillity of the morning adds to the beauty of the place.