Rohru is a small town in Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh, nestled along the banks of the Pabbar River. This town is famous for its apple orchards and this valley is also known as Apple 🍎 valley, with stunning landscapes, and beautiful mountains .
Our journey started at 6 am for a college group trip. We had two options: one to visit temples in the plains, and the other to go hiking in the stunning mountains of Rohru valley. Being fond of mountains, I quickly chose the mountain exploration trip without any hesitation.
In February of this year, myself, along with my friends and a group of fellow students, packed our bags and embarked on a hike to Rohru valley. Our first stop was the Shikru Devta Temple.
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The Shikru Devta Temple is a very famous tourist spot in Rohru, devoted to the Shikru Devta. According to locals, there was a man who became a sadhu and, after enduring hardships through prayers and meditation, transformed into a devta.
While the temple can be visited throughout the year, but many people flock to it during the annual fair held in April. We hiked around for more than 5 -6 hours to reach this beautiful temple.
When we arrived, we were amazed by the breathtaking view and the temple's architecture. It was a three-story temple crafted from stone and wood, designed to withstand the test of time for over 200 years.
At the entrance, we saw a beautiful stone gate with delicate flower designs. Along the temple walls, we noticed ancient ornaments embedded in the stone, adding to the temple's historical significance and there were also camera's installed for the security of the temple.
Alongside the temple, we noticed houses belonging to the locals. The best thing about this place was how calm and peaceful it felt. There were only a few houses around, and most people were busy with farming. The temple was surrounded by lots of birds, making the atmosphere even more peaceful. The locals were really friendly and told us a lot about the history and culture of their area.
While exploring the temple, I noticed some unusual objects embedded in the walls, resembling animal horns.
Curious, I asked a local about them, and they confirmed that they were goat horns, placed there for the temple's protection, reflecting the local culture and customs. It was fascinating to learn about the traditions associated with the temple and the significance of these unique things.
The temple and the surroundings were incredibly beautiful. However, the locals encountered a significant challenge due to the lack of proper roads caused by the high altitude conditions. Getting to the city took 4 to 5 hours, usually using horses and donkeys to transport goods. Although this lack of infrastructure saddened me, the locals saw it as a positive thing. They believed that having roads would attract tourists and disturb the area's cultural heritage and peaceful atmosphere.
Thank you for visiting and hope you liked the beauty and culture of the Himalayas .
With love from the mountains 🏔️.....
