Laxmi Narayan Temple

One of the largest and the oldest temples at Chamba stands proudly in the form of Lakshmi Narayan Temple.

Housing six different temples in its complex, the temple was built in the 10th century. Arranged from north to south, all the temples in the complex are dedicated to either Lord Shiva or Vishnu. Some additional temples are also housed in the complex including Radha Krishna Temple, Shiva Temple of Chandragupta and Gauri Shankar Temple.

Constructed in the Shikhara style, the temple has a Bimana (Shikhara), garbhgriha and a mandapa. The shell roofs and wooden umbrellas at the top of the temple reflect the climactic condition of the place where snowfall is quiet expected.

The temple continued to be decorated by various kings of Chamba at different times. King Balabhadra Verma for example added a metallic image of Garuda, Lord Vishnu's vehhhicle on a high pillar at the main gate of the temple. King Chhatra Singh contributed the gilded pinnacles on the temple tops. This was done to protest the orders of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb to destroy all the Hindu temples in the country.

History of Laxmi Narayan Temple - Himachal Pradesh

Legend states that the image of Lord Vishnu present in this temple was made of a rare marble imported from Vindhyachal Mountains. The erstwhile king of the region, Sahil Verma, who constructed this temple, sacrificed eight of his sons to get the marble. And finally, his eldest son, Yugkara succeeded to fetch the marble. He was also attacked by the robbers, but with the help of a saint he managed to save himself. Thus with great effort, the idol of the Lord could be made which is the most revered one here.

The temple opens up twice a day for the devotees in two halves. The first half is from 6 am to 12.30 pm and the second one is from 2.30 to 8.30 pm. In between this period the deities are supposed to be taking rest and at night they retire to the interiors of the temple for rest.