| Everyone wants to see heaven but no one wants to | | | | herbs are believed to twinkle at night. Legend has it, |
| die. This maxim no longer seems to be rational | | | | that the hunters prayed to the goddess for a |
| because heaven has landed here on earth for you | | | | successful hunt and hence the name 'Shikari Devi'. The |
| and me to admire. At a mere distance of 67km from | | | | temple traces its existence from the time of |
| Mandi lies a paradise by the name of Janjheli. Beautiful | | | | Pandavas. The Goddess is idolized in the form of a |
| is an understatement of sorts while one is describing | | | | stone image and has retained the honor of being the |
| the breathtaking vistas of this hilly pocket in the District | | | | sole deity in the northern India to have a roofless |
| Mandi of Himachal Pradesh, India. This comes as no | | | | temple. It is believed that all the attempts to build a roof |
| surprise that Britishers were so taken with the lush | | | | over the deity have gone down the drain because the |
| green meadows of the place that they were bent | | | | Goddess doesn't allow to be overshadowed by |
| upon making Janjheli as the summer capital instead of | | | | anything not even a aircraft flying high over the hill. |
| Shimla. But for the adamant ruler of Janjheli, their | | | | Shikari Devi provides a natural habitat to the wild |
| dreams couldn't be materialized. Situated at a height of | | | | animals and has a Sanctuary to its credit, which spans |
| 2150 metres in Thunag tehsil, Mandi district, Janjehli can | | | | over 72 sq km and is the habitat for musk deer, |
| be approached via Karsog too. | | | | barking deer, goral, black bear and monal. Although |
| Nestled in the Himalayan lap, Janjheli is a home to the | | | | when it comes to scenic beauty, Janjehli is ideal for its |
| lofty pines and deodars that seem to be exchanging | | | | development as a summer resort. But the dark side of |
| vows with the sky. The music of the flowing pristine | | | | the story is the apathy that this place has been facing |
| waters coupled with the echoing of the tall trees | | | | at home front. Government indifferent attitude can be |
| strikes a chord with one's heart. Break free from the | | | | witnessed right from the time, one ventures into the |
| spell of modernity and rejuvenate your senses amidst | | | | mystic Janjheli valley. The vast tourism potential of the |
| the lavishness of the Mother Nature. There are two | | | | region still needs to be harnessed from the tourism |
| guesthouses at Janjheli, one belonging to the H.P. | | | | point of view. The locals have been waiting endlessly |
| Forest Department and other to the P.W.D. | | | | for the numerous employment avenues it would yield |
| Himachal Pradesh has aptly carved out a distinct niche | | | | for the youth. |
| for itself on the world map as the 'Abode of Gods'. | | | | And because of the difficult terrain, the forest mafias |
| Every village has its own God or Goddess to idolize. | | | | have been indulging in illegal felling of trees in the |
| The people have a religious bent of mind and believe in | | | | Thathi-Janjheli belt. As a result, high rising deodars are |
| the super natural phenomenon. Situated atop a hill and | | | | waning in number. This can be attributed to the utter |
| overlooking the entire area is the revered Shikari Devi's | | | | negligence of the forest department that this promising |
| temple. It stands tall at a height of 2850 m and | | | | tourist spot is being exploited. The present |
| provides for a perfect trek route from Janjheli and | | | | Government should strongly take measures to check |
| Karsog (Mandi). The best time to soak in its natural | | | | such illegal practices and come up with the foolproof |
| splendour is April to May and August to October. | | | | plan for the development of the infrastructure to make |
| Locals say that the hill of Shikari Devi is a home to a | | | | Janjheli a tourist's haven the world over. |
| plethora of medicinal herbs and some of the magical | | | | |