When you plan to roam, many cities start roaming in your mind. Seeing the beauty there, the eyes become restless. If you want to visit the hill station as well as ancient temples, then the journey to Himachal can be memorable. The land of Devbhoomi is full of thousands of small and big temples. There are many temples like Chintapurni, Trilokinath, Mata Jwala Ji, Bhimakali, Nayana Devi, whose glory is spread in all four directions. But, have you seen any such temple, which gives darshan to the devotees only 4 months in a year and the remaining 8 months are submerged in water? Let’s know about this temple-
The Bathu Temple located in Kangra district is built on an island 15 km from the Pong Dam wall in Maharana Pratap Sagar Lake, about 150 km from Jalandhar in Punjab. Its specialty is that this temple is submerged in water for 8 months and gives darshan to devotees only 4 months from February to July. Apart from the main temple in the Bathu temple complex, there are eight other small temples, which appear to be interrupted in the garland, hence the name of the temple is Bathu
According to temple expert Anil Bhardwaj, this temple was built by the Pandavas. He believes that the Pandavas tried to make the ladder of heaven here during their exile. However, they could not succeed in making it, as they had to build these stairs in one night. This temple still has 40 steps going to heaven. At the same time, some people talk about building this temple by a local king.
According to Bhardwaj, these temples have idols of Lord Vishnu, Sheshnag and the main temple in the middle has a statue of Lord Shiva. Some people consider it dedicated to Lord Vishnu, but given the style and structure of the temple, it is considered to be the Shiva temple. A few years ago, locals have also installed another Shivling in the temple. The stones used in the temple are artifacts of Lord Vishnu, remaining serpents and deities etc. on the stones. This temple is made of a powerful stone called Bathu.
If you want to visit the Bathu temple then April to June is the best time. This temple is submerged in water during the rest of the month. Only its upper part is visible. This temple has been receiving water samadhi for 43 years after the construction of the dam. This temple can only be reached by boat. There is also a guest house of the forest department here. The nearest airport is Gaggal Airport at Dharamshala. A taxi from Kangra to Jawali or Dhemeta villages can be hired.