The short answer
Tara Devi Temple: what visitors should know first
Worth the detour if you have half a day free, especially if you are already riding the toy train, since Taradevi is one of its stops. It is quieter and less crowded than Jakhoo Temple, with a similar payoff of hilltop views and Pahari temple architecture.
History and context
The story behind Tara Devi Temple
According to temple accounts, King Bhupendra Sen of the Sen dynasty established the temple around 1766 after a vision of the goddess. A later ruler, King Balbir Sen, is credited with installing the Ashtdhatu (eight-metal) idol currently enshrined at the temple in 1825. The site has remained a place of pilgrimage since, now also served by a stop on the Kalka-Shimla toy train line named Taradevi.
Useful facts
Tara Devi Temple facts at a glance
- Location
- Taradevi, about 11 km from central Shimla
- Faith
- Hindu (also revered by some Buddhist communities)
- Deity/dedication
- Tara Devi, an incarnation of Kali
- Visitor note
- Remove footwear; a flight of steps leads up from the car park or station
- Built
- Founded c. 1766; current idol installed 1825
Why it matters
Why Tara Devi Temple is worth your time
Temple tradition attributes the site's founding to King Bhupendra Sen of the Sen dynasty around 1766, after a vision of the goddess calling for a temple on the hilltop, with the current Ashtdhatu, or eight-metal, image said to have been installed by King Balbir Sen in 1825. That lineage connects the site to the pre-colonial rulers of the region, offering a thread of local religious history distinct from Shimla's British-era landmarks.
Tara Devi's dual reverence, as an incarnation of Kali among Hindus and as a goddess of compassion among some regional Buddhist communities, also reflects the layered religious history of the wider Himalayan belt. For visitors, the temple is a useful reminder that Shimla's history extends well before the arrival of the British, even if that older history is less visible in the town centre itself.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
The forest approach
Steps through deodar forest lead up to the temple, a calmer walk than the busier routes into central Shimla sights.
- 02
Valley views
The courtyard looks out over the Sutlej valley and surrounding hills, with fewer crowds than at Jakhoo.
- 03
The toy train connection
Taradevi is a stop on the Kalka-Shimla railway, making it easy to combine a train ride with the temple visit.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Tara Devi Temple stands on a forested hilltop about 11 km from Shimla, dedicated to Tara Devi, worshipped as an incarnation of Kali and, among Buddhists in the region, honoured as a goddess of compassion. According to temple tradition, kings of the Sen dynasty built the original shrine in the eighteenth century after a vision calling for the goddess to be installed here, with the present metal image said to date to the early nineteenth century.
The approach is part of the appeal: the temple can be reached by road in under an hour from Shimla, or via the Kalka-Shimla toy train, which stops at Taradevi railway station on its route, letting you combine the railway experience with the temple in a single outing. From the station or car park, a flight of steps climbs through deodar forest to the temple courtyard.
Compared with Jakhoo, Tara Devi draws a smaller, more local crowd, and the views from its courtyard, over the Sutlej valley and surrounding hills, are just as rewarding without the same density of visitors or monkeys. It suits travellers who have already done the more obvious Ridge and Jakhoo sights and want a calmer half-day out.
Plan with confidence
Visit as a guest, not a spectator.
- Combine the visit with a toy train ride to or from Taradevi station
- Wear comfortable shoes for the flight of steps up to the temple
- Dress modestly and remove footwear before entering
- Confirm road conditions in winter, when higher routes can be affected by snow
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Taradevi, about 11 km from central Shimla
- Time needed
- 1.5–2.5 hours including travel
- Best time
- Morning to early afternoon, for clear views and cooler temperatures on the approach steps
- Walking level
- Moderate
- Senior comfort
- The temple sits on a hillock reached by a flight of steps from the car park or railway halt; the climb is shorter and less steep than Jakhoo's, but there is no lift or ramp alternative, so anyone unable to manage a moderate flight of stairs should view it from the base instead.
- Tickets and access
- Entry is free. As at any Hindu temple, footwear is removed before entering, and modest dress is appropriate.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Tara Devi Temple
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
The temple sits on a hillock reached by a flight of steps from the car park or railway halt; the climb is shorter and less steep than Jakhoo's, but there is no lift or ramp alternative, so anyone unable to manage a moderate flight of stairs should view it from the base instead.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
How do I get to Tara Devi Temple from Shimla?
By road, roughly 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic, or by the Kalka-Shimla toy train, which stops at Taradevi station within walking distance of the temple steps.
Is Tara Devi Temple less crowded than Jakhoo Temple?
Generally yes; it draws a smaller, more local crowd and does not have Jakhoo's resident langur troop or as many tour groups.
Who is Tara Devi?
A form of the goddess worshipped as an incarnation of Kali in Hindu tradition, and also revered as a goddess of compassion in some regional Buddhist practice.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
