This trek leads you through peaceful forests with wide trails and towering deodar and pine trees. As sunlight streams through the branches, the walk feels calm yet exciting. Camping inside the forest makes the journey even more special and close to nature.

Reaching Bijli Mahadev temple rewards you with breathtaking mountain views. Watch the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges turn golden at sunset, and take in sweeping sights of the Kullu, Bhuntar, Parbati, and Gorsa valleys from the top.

Bijli Mahadev Temple, located in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh at an altitude of about 2,438 meters, is a unique shrine of Lord Shiva. The temple is famous because a lightning strike hits the Shivling once every 12 years. When this happens, the Shivling breaks into pieces, and the temple priests carefully join it back using butter, barley, and gram flour paste.

🕉️ The Mythological Story of Bijli Mahadev

The End of the Demon Kulant:

According to legend, in ancient times a demon named Kulant tried to destroy the Kullu Valley by stopping the flow of the Beas River. He took the form of a huge snake and planned to flood the valley.

Lord Shiva decided to stop him. Shiva tricked Kulant by saying that his tail had caught fire. When Kulant turned back to look, Lord Shiva struck him with his trident (Trishul) and killed him.

Turning into a Mountain:

After his death, the demon’s body turned into a massive mountain, which is believed to be the hill on which Kullu stands today.

Why Lightning Strikes Here:

After killing Kulant, Lord Shiva ordered Lord Indra, the god of thunder, to strike this place with lightning once every 12 years to protect the region and keep its divine power alive.

The Mysterious Shivling:

Every twelfth year, lightning hits the temple and shatters the Shivling. The priests then repair it using a special paste made from butter, barley, and lentil flour. After a few months, the Shivling slowly returns to its original shape.