Hatkoti : Access

Rail – Nearest railhead: Kalka (165 km/ 6 hrs) Best option TO Howrah-DLI-Kalka Mail (dep: Old Delhi 10.50 pm; arr: Kalka 5 am) Taxi to Jubbal costs Rs 2,000 Best option FROM Kalka Mail (dep: Kalka 11.45 pm; arr: Old Delhi 6.25 am) Road-Jubbal is 2 km off the road to Hatkoti. The only way to reach Jubbal from Shimla (92 km) is by road (NH22) via Kufri and Theog, then SH10 to Chhaila, 15 km from the turn off, then to Kotkhai, another 15 km away, then Khara Pathar 17 km away and then another 13 km to Jubbal. En route halts – Nirula’s at Panipat, Shimla for a late halt.

Hatkoti : Stay

Source : Outlook Traveller 

The Jubbal Palace (Tel: 9810024711;Tariff: Rs 4,500) cannot be compared with the other offerings in the area. The palace has just started giving out rooms to tourists, so get ready for a personalised home-stay experience. Fishing can be arranged if you bring your equipment.
To stay in Hatkoti, try your luck at the PWD Rest House (Jubbal Tel: 01781-252004; Tariff: Rs 175), which has to be booked with the PWD in Jubbal. It is right by the temple yard and offers four large rooms, similarly equipped. Food is cooked on request. Built in the days of Jubbal’s princedom-hood, it is very well maintained for the many VIP devotees of Hatkeshwari Devi.
If you don’t feel adventurous, move on to Rohru, which has some good options. Himachal Tourism’s Hotel Chanshal (Tel: 01781-240661; Tariff: Rs 75-600) is located right near the Pabbar, offering 14 rooms and a dorm, with TV, room service, taxis and a lawn. River View (Tel: 241737; Tariff: Rs 165-440) has eight rooms with TV, attached bath, room service and restaurant. They also have a travel desk.Prem Hotel (Tel: 240051, 241064; Tariff: Rs 88-300) has 19 rooms with attached bath, hot water, TV and a restaurant.
After Rohru, Kotkhai is the best equipped, with Hotel Apple Crown (Tel: 01783-255894, 255497; Tariff: Rs 220-350) boasting TV, STD, room service, parking, sightseeing and a restaurant.

Hatkoti : History

Source : hatkoti.com 

Hatkoti temple is 100 K.M. from Shimla the capital of the Himachal Pradesh. As it is known by one and all that H.P. is a state of God and Goddess “where there are many temples such as Hatkoti known as a valley temples. In the premises there are five deols which are decreasing in size.

As it is known by one and all that H.P is a state of god and goddesses. in H.P there are a number of temples such as Jawalamukhi, Brajeshwari, Chamunda, in Kangra. Chintpurni in Una, Naina devi in Bilaspur, tarna devi, kamaksha devi, in Mandi Hidimbadevi, Hanogi devi in kullu, Mrikula devi in Lahaul and Spiti, Abahdevi in Hamirpur,Bala Sundari devi in Sirmour, Saloni devi in Solan,Bhalai Mata in Chamba, Tranda devi,Kothi devi in Kinnaur, and Taradevi, Shamla devi, Bhimakali and Maa Hateshwari are popular in Shimla.
Hatkoti is known as a valley of temples because of a number of reasons behind this such as this place is situated on the right hand side of the merging place of Bishkalti and Pabbar.Hatkoti is at a distance of 100 km from shimla and the temple is located in village Hatkoti of tehsil Jubbal distt Shimla.

Hatkoti Mata is regarded as the most powerful goddess among all the goddesses of northern India by the residents of Hatkoti..There is no written proof about the history of the temple but as we enter the premises of the temple the history diverts our minds towards itself, as there are a number of historic monuments in the temple which makes us remember about the Mabharata period. For example, there are five stone “Deols” present in the temple premises which makes us remember about the five pandavas. These “Deols” are decreasing in size, first one being the largest in size and then the decreasing ones. In the premises it’s a beautiful “Lord Shiva” temple having a large and beautiful shrine inside it, others idols present in the temple are also a proof a great architecture skills. The interior walls and roof of the temple have also been designed using great architecturing skills. The people of Hatkoti believe that the temple was established by Guru Adi shankracharya. Some people also believe that the temple was built somewhere in the Third era. Three Gupta Age’s Rock Edicts (in scripted stones) have been found at three different places of this ancient and historic place.

The fifth skandh of Bhagvat gita describes about Mata Hateshwari as:-

This shalok describes about Hateshwar and Hateswari is known as the Shakti of Hateshwar and hence this place is known as Hateswari, one of the main residences of Shiva and Shakti.In front of the temple of Mata Hateshwari towards the east direction is a small mountain known as a fort of Rambhasur.Rambhasur was the father of Maheshasur whom he has got as a reward of his prayers to Agnidev.He also went through a tough prayer of lord shiva and was rewarded by lord Shiva that his son would be un defeatable .Taking the advantage of this he captured the “Triloks” of the gods and betrayed them of all their powers.The defeated gods took shelter in the hard to reach places of pabbar valley and asked Mata Hateshwari to protect them from the devil.

On the demand of gods Mata Hateshwari killed Maheshasur and gained the name of “Maheshasurmardini” (destroyer of maheshasur devil)

The idol of Mata in the Temple is unexplainable. The artist has tried imagining the whole universe in this idol .the Idol is made up of a mixture of eight valuable metals. The idol is 1.20 meter in height. The idol displays the destroyer expression of Mata. (destroyer of maheshasur devil ).the interesting fact about the idol is that it changes its expression , sometimes it has a smiling face and some time it is in a angry posture, the idol has such effect on the devotee that he take off his eyes from the idol. On both sides of the idol there is something written in Brahmi script.Hatkoti is known as a valley of temples because of a number of reasons behind this such as this place is situated on the right hand side of the merging place of Bishkalti and Pabbar.Hatkoti is at a distance of 100 km from shimla and the temple is located in village Hatkoti of tehsil Jubbal distt Shimla.

There is a huge vessel type of a thing present near the entrance of the temple known as “charu” surrounded by chains it attracts the attention of people towards it self following one more story of its existence behind it. There is a huge hall in the temple premises known as “yagyashala” used to perform rituals. In the centre of the hall is a Hawan kund where the rituals are performed. The idols of Lord Brahma,Vishnu,Mahesh And Ganesha can be seen placed here There is a lot of sitting place available for the devotees .there is one more hall in the premises known as Satsang Bhawan which can adjust 350 devotees at a time Nearby is a rest house where the saints and devotees take rest. There is one more hall known as Dharamshala which is mainly used to store various things of the temple. The whole premise of the temple is covered by a 12foot high wall on all the three sides. It has two main doors one towards the east serving as an entrance to the temple and other towards the north side serving as a entrance to the Dharamshala.

Hatkoti : An Introduction

Hatkoti, at an altitude of 1,100 m, is a scenic village on the banks of Pabbar River in Shimla (104 km away). Sanctified with a number of temples, it derived its name from Goddess Hateshwari, who is believed to be the embodiment of Lord Shiva.

Mahishasur-Mardini temple built in the Shikari style by the Pandavas is worth seeing. The temple is famous for its remarkable wood carvings and sculptures. Another landmark is Pabbar, a perennial river, originating from a spring fed lake called Chander Nahan. The rivulets such as Bishkulti and Rai Nala join the river providing opportunities for fishing.

Jubbal and Rohru at a distance of 11 km, are nearby. The best time to visit is from March to October. The tourist offices and hotels run by Himachal Tourism meet tourists’ needs. The nearest railhead and airport are in Shimla at distances of 105 km and 126 km. A single lane road connects Hatkoti to Shimla.