The Mystery of Shikari Mata Temple: Where No Roof Has Ever Stood

High in the Himalayas of Himachal Pradesh, an ancient temple defies construction attempts and heavy snowfall alike—locals say the goddess herself refuses to be covered

Nestled at a breathtaking altitude of 3,359 meters in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, the Mata Shikari Devi Temple has confounded devotees, engineers, and skeptics alike for centuries. Despite receiving heavy snowfall year after year, the temple’s sanctum remains open to the sky—and no one has ever been able to build a roof over it.

A Temple Steeped in Mythology

The origins of Shikari Devi Temple stretch back to the Dwapar era, intimately connected to the epic Mahabharata. Local legends hold that Sage Markandeya meditated at this very spot for years. Pleased with his profound penance, Goddess Durga manifested here as Adishakti—the primal power.

According to folklore, during the Pandavas’ exile, they found themselves in the forests near Shikari Devi Bangaj. One day, while traveling toward Amet, they spotted a magnificent deer. They chased it for a long time, but the animal remained elusive, eventually vanishing mysteriously into the forest.

That night, the Pandavas heard a woman’s voice emanating from the Shikari Hills. The voice instructed them to locate the place where her symbolic idols lay and to install them for worship. The Pandavas followed her divine instructions without hesitation, found the sacred stone idols, and established the temple with devotion and without deceit.

From Royal Temple to Hunters’ Shrine

Over time, the region became known for its abundant wildlife, drawing hunters from far and wide. These hunters began praying at the temple for success in their pursuits—and their wishes were granted. It was this connection to hunting that gave the deity her name: Shikari Devi, the Hunter Goddess.

The Roof That Never Was

Perhaps the most astonishing aspect of Shikari Devi Temple is its roofless sanctum. Despite the region receiving substantial snowfall each winter, snow never accumulates on the shrine of the Mother Goddess.

Multiple attempts have been made over the years to construct a solid roof over the temple. Each and every one has failed. Local belief holds that the power of the Mother Goddess herself prevents any roof from being erected—a divine refusal to be enclosed.

Whether viewed as miracle or mystery, the Shikari Devi Temple remains one of Himachal Pradesh’s most enigmatic spiritual sites—a place where faith, legend, and the inexplicable converge beneath an open Himalayan sky.