Bhalei Mata Temple is the temple of Bhader kali popularly known
as Sri Bhalei Mata. It is located on a beautiful spur 3800 feet high at a place called Bhalei, which is now a Sub-Tehsil headquarters. It is about 25 km from Salooni Tehsil headquarters. The temple can be approached either from Chamba or from Dalhousie
and is at a distance of 40 kilometers from Chamba and 35 kilometers
from Dalhousie. The deity is in the front of an image of black stone of
two feet height and is enshrined in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.
Bhadar Kali draw a large number of pilgrims from far and wide. A big havan ceremony is performed during navratras of Ashwin and Chait months. Mythology has it that the temple of Bhadar Kali was built originally by Raja Pratap Singh
during his reign. He was a religiously disposed king and has to his
credit construction, repair and renovation of many temples in the
district. The legend is that the deity appeared to Raja Partap Singh in
dream and told him that she was lying hidden in a place called Bhran
about three kilometers from the present site of temple. The deity asked
the Raja to bring her from there and erect a suitable temple for her.
The Raja with his officials went to the site and discovered the image.
The Raja and his team were very happy they had already decided to
construct a temple for the deity in Chamba town. So they started their
journey back. On way back they stopped for rest at Bhalei and when they
resumed their journey, the bearers could not lift the palanquin of the
deity in which she was being taken to Chamba. A Brahman from Kilod
village was invited to interpret this peculiar incident. The Brahaman
interpreted that the deity did not want to go to Chamba, rather she
desired her temple to be erected at the site. According to another
belief, the people of this area were not happy over the idea of the
deity being taken to Chamba, so they requested the Raja to construct the
temple at Bhalei. Whatever be the reason, the temple was built at
Bhalei by Raja Partap Singh and later renovated by Raja Sri Singh.
Recently a lot of renovation work has been carried out. Statue of
Bhader Kali was unfortunately stolen in the year 1973 by antique thieves
but happily recovered at Chohra near the present dam site. It is
believed that the image of the deity seems to be perspiring since that
event.
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