Sri Krishna Temple / Muralidhar Temple – Thawa

Sri Krishna Temple / Muralidhar Temple – Thawa

Murlidhar Temple at Naggar in Himachal Pradesh is around 20 kms from Kullu town and around 25 kms from Manali. The temple is located at Thawa high on a ridge above the town.The Krishna Temple, also known as Muralidhar Temple is believed to be 1000 years old.

This shikhara temple has a mandapa standing on wooden pillars.The sanctum sanctorum of Murlidhar temple has a very attractive bronze murti of Murlidhar – Krishna playing the flute.
It is a pyramidal carved temple with a neatly sculpted shikhara or dome. After the earthquake of 1905, a portion of the temple was rebuilt.

This temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and also has the idols of Radha, Garuda, Laxminarayan and Padam Sambhava.The temple used to get patronized by the royal family of Kullu.

History

The deities over here was built by pandavas during there 12 year exile period , they visited here and this Krishna deity was carved by them, this Krishna deity is believed to be 5000 years old.

Initially when the Murlidhar Temple was built, the deity of Radha was not kept there. It was believed that as the deity of Radha was not there, Lord Krishna used to be away (absent) from the temple premise quite often. Lord Krishna stayed in the Temple’s sanctum only after Radha’s idol was installed in the temple.

There is a small ‘Rath’ to the south of the temple which is used as a chariot for Lord Krishna during Dussehra.Dussehra Festival, the most popular festival of Kullu is celebrated here for a day with lots of pomp and gaiety.