Baijnath is a holy town famous the world over as one of the twelve jyotirlingas. It is located in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh and is easily accessible from all parts of the state. The town is ideally located on the banks of the river Binwa, a tributary of river Beas. Devotees and tourists from far and wide flock to Baijnath to visit its world famous temple called the Baijnath Temple. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and the history of the temple dates back to the 9th?century. Here the Lord is worshiped as Vaidyanath, which means the Lord of Physicians. The town of Baijnath earned fame because of the Baijnath temple. It was earlier known as Kiragramaer.
The Baijnath Temple
Reflecting the architectural beauty of the Nagara style of temples, Baijnath Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The architectural style of the temple is completely different from the architectural style of the rest of the temples of Himachal Pradesh. The foundation of the temple was laid in the 9th?century by two local merchants named Ahuka and Manyuka. Later the temple was given a face-lift by Raja Sansar Chand in the 19th century. Even today the temple is visited by a large number of devotees. The boundary of the temple encompasses beautiful gardens and pathways. The exterior of the temple is adorned with beautifully carved images of the heavenly deities.
The sanctum sanctorum of the temple houses the Svayambhu form of Shivlinga. The striking features of the temple are its carvings. The festivals of Makara Sankranti, Maha Shivaratri, Vaisakha Sankranti, Shravana Mondays are celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy in the temple. During the festival of Maha Shivratri, the temple is decorated beautifully and the festival lasts for five days.