Jwalamukhi is 34-km from Kangra,district of Himachal Pradesh. Jwalaji Temple is one of the highly venerated Shakti temples in India. Recognised as one of the 51 Shaktipiths of India, the picturesque temple, built against a wooded spur, in the Indo-Sikh style, has a dome that was gilded by Mughal Emperor Akbar.
Legend has it that Sati, consort of Lord Shiva, killed herself by jumping in the sacrificial fire when her father Daksha Prajapati insulted her husband. An enraged Shiva, holding Sati's body, began stalking the three worlds. Lord Vishnu used a volley of arrows to severe Sati's body into pieces. Fifty-one sacred Shaktipeeths came up at places where the pieces fell. Sati's tongue fell at Jwalaji. Crowned by a golden spire, the famous Jwalamukhi Temple has a blue flame coming from its cracked rocky floor. This is seen as the manifestation of the Devi.
The building is modern with a gilt dome and pinnacles, and possesses a beautiful folding door of silver plates. The Devi appears in the form of nine different flames. The principal one is believed to be Mahakali. The other eight flames at different places in the temple represent the following Goddesses Annapurna, Chandi, Hing Laj, Vidhya Vasini, Maha Lakshmi, Maha Sarswati, Ambika and Anjana. The evening arti after which the goddess goes to rest is worth watching.
