Taradevi Temple or Maa Tara Devi temple is dedicated to the local Goddess and was built more than 250 years ago. It is located on Tarav Parvat (Hill) which falls between Shimla & Shoghi in Himachal Pradesh and is situated 1851 meters above sea level. From the Mall road in Shimla, it is merely 18 kms. in distance. While from Shoghi it is best to take the Kalka-Shimla toy train for the same and get down at Taradevi Railway Station. A couple of steps from here leads one to the base of the temple from where the Taradevi Temple trek Shimla officially starts.
As a beginner in trekking there are few things that one needs to take care and be informed beforehand read some of the DO’s & Dont’s by an Expert Mountaineer here -> 7 Must Follow Do’s & Dont’s for Hiking, Trekking & Traveling in Mountains
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Duration of the Trek:
Taradevi Temple trek Shimla is roughly of 2 hours duration one side and if a person wants to do the trek both side then it takes around 5-5.5 hours including the rest time and sightseeing duration in the temple premise. Having a local trained guide is advisable. Professional trekking guide from Aamod Shoghi accompanied us. {Read property review of Aamod Shoghi}
Who can do Taradevi Temple Trek Shimla:
This particular kaccha raasta is now very rarely used, however, at one point in time this was one of the most important and commonly used pathways to reach the temple by locals. With the construction of a road up till the temple, this nature carved walkway is used only by trekking enthusiasts for trekking and all.
The trek isn’t really a steep climb so it is safe & can be well enjoyed by amateur or untrained people who are totally new to trekking. Even children who love being one with nature are bound to enjoy it as it has scenic view and greenery in abundance. There are portions where a few stone steps here and there have also been laid by government and temple authorities here. However, it may not be suitable for elderly or sick people.
Things to do during the Trek:
The Taradevi temple trek is an uphill trek which runs almost parallel to the Shimla road. So after reaching a certain height one starts to get a glimpse of Shimla – the Queen of Hills in India. Though the distance between Shimla and this place isn’t huge, altitude makes even the magnanimous landmarks of Shimla like Church and mall road looks so petite. The view from all through the trek changes and introduces one to the diversity of a real jungle. Walking through these natural paths one gets to see Deodar trees, pine trees, rhododendron trees and many other trees and plants of medicinal and ornamental value. Not much of a wildlife is seen on Taradevi temple trek in the daytime, only a few monkeys are sighted usually.
There is a small hut (in the poor state though) is there somewhere in the midway. One can take a break, sit back and relax there for a while and then continue the trek.
On reaching the temple there are actually two big temples. The first one has fewer people and equally more monkeys visiting it.
But this one has breathtaking views of Shoghi and Shimla. The next temple has a portion that is currently under construction and renovation. The temple interiors are simple and the entrance has intricate wood carvings.
On Sundays, there is langar/food community service where one can indulge in simple food made with sincerity and great flavours.
Apart from this one can sit in solitude and enjoy some alone time while enjoying the stunning view of hills & listening to good music. If with a family one can have a small picnic on the same spot.
Best Season for Taradevi Temple Trek:
The preferred season for trek would be starting October onward till early summers that are generally till April in India. The temperature during this period is generally moderate to cold and sometimes reaching to minus degrees as well. The low temperature makes the Taradevi temple trek all the more pleasurable while making it far less exhausting.
Take Along Guide:
Since it is a maximum half a day trek so nothing in terms of clothes etc. is required. However, carrying a water bottle some bit of munch-on is advisable. Try and be light on the bag. The dress needs to be comfortable and sports shoes or a canvas shoes are a must. Within the temple, premise permission might be needed to use it and protecting the same from monkeys. Apart from this a small torch (during evening time) and do not forget to take along a couple of favourite songs in the mobile phone or an iPod along with Bluetooth enabled headphones like the new Quiet comfort 35 wireless headphones II.
These cool new wireless headphones are from Bose, the world’s leading brand known for best sound systems & related gadgets. The acoustic noise cancelling feature in these headphones enable one to have a clear conversation even in windy places like Taradevi temple. These headphones also have inbuilt Google Assistant. As most people may know, Google Assistant is always the ‘go-to’ helper in any situation of a dilemma. For instance, while one is travelling it helps in weather forecasting, nearby restaurants, markets, helping to find good music, reading important messages, reminding of important things to do & more.
Plus one may not worry at all about the sturdiness of these headphones while travelling as they are made from impact-resistant materials. Further, for wearing it for longer duration it has an equally comforting headband. This pair of #BoseQC35 headphones has a battery life of 20 hrs., well, almost three times the length of this Tara Devi Temple Trek. Commendable, isn’t it?
So have you ticked off this easy beginner’s trekking route as yet? Else Taradevi Temple Trek, Shimla is highly recommended!
Shimla on my list but this Bose is on top list
Very nice place.. Hope you had a great time there
I have been to Shimla but had not heard about this temple at all. This place seems so serene and worth visiting. I would love to visit this temple in my next visit.
Wow! Loved the surroundings of the temple! Really a beautiful place! ? The kaccha road looks perfect for trekking
Amazing post! Shimla is an exciting destination to explore. Great thought of taking good music and headphone along
This trekking route is new to me. But your perfect guidance can easily help trekkers do the climb. The temple looks so serene and beautiful at the same time.
Happy to know this beginners trekk, I wanted to try something with my son n I think this seems a good option
Yes for sure you can take along your son he will love it and less risky.
It seems u have a great time there… Nice post.
Wow! The greenery is simply exquisite! love your pictures & the companion
What a beautiful place this is, a best kind of spot I would like to go and trek (even when I am not trek fan) and when BOSE is there as partner why not!
Looks like a amazing place. Will keep in my mind Taradevi temple. Thanks for sharing.
This place is so beautiful and serene . My hubby love trekking, will recommend this place to him
This is such a nice place to go for trekking and beautiful pictures.
The Tara devi temple is alive.I have done this trek and the view is like standing on top of the world
So true… <3
Wow Bose while traveling to Will be a boon
How we wish that we carried one of the Bose Headphone to this trek. Anyways next time probably.
Oh this is such a beautiful temple and the trek sounds so much fun
What a view and what a beautiful temple.. definitely visiting this temple whenever I visit Shimla
Such a beautiful place it is and with Bose head phones, the fun is double…
I didn’t have an idea about this temple or the trek. Your pictures are just incredible. Will check this out when I head to Simla next as I don’t have much left there to explore.
I’ve never been to India, so I have to say no! This looks like a beautiful place to trek, and with a reward of the temple to look forward to too. Those Bose headphones sounds excellent; I always looks at Google for directions, information etc when travelling, but always on my phone. Will look these up for the next travel.
What a beautiful place for a laid-back, easy trek! Looks like a great place to relax and unwind a bit, and the temple is a bonus on what was already a great day out. Thanks for the out of the way find!
I am not a trekker. But seeing pictures of some of my friends going for long treks with beautiful backdrop makes me feel jealous. I always wanted to start worth something small and easy. Taradevo temple trek seems to me to be one of the very good options where one gets views by easy trekking. Thanks for sharing this.
We are yet to make it to Shimla and this temple will definitely be on the list. The facade of the temple with the wooden carvings looks very impressive. Good to know that the trek isn’t a steep climb as we would have a kid along with us. Thanks for the tips and recommendations we will definitely take a local guide along.
We are family hikers so we would definitely do a hike to the beautiful Taradevi Temple in Shimla! The view along the hike is gorgeous and the rewarding is even better! However I wouldnt shut out the sound of nature with a pair of a wireless headphones but I could definitely use a good pair of headphones while travelling when in the train, the plane or for sleepless nights etc. Those headphones from Bose really seems to be light and strong enough to pack in a suitcase! I have to check them out!
I have not been to Shimla yet but planning very soon. I loved this trek to Taradevi temple as it has view of beautiful valleys, gorgeous lanes surrounded by tall trees. The temple also looks very colorful and have nice wooden carvings. I would love to have Langar food. And taking along a local guide and Bose speakers is a nice idea.
This looks like a beautiful place for trekking! I am glad to hear that inexperienced trekkers can also do this path and that you don’t require a lot of things in your bag. The food looks delicious by the way and the view from the top is simply breath-taking! Would love to do this some day.
Thank you for including a trek that is for beginners and/or amateurs. I often read about glorious treks then discover that it’s hard terrain or that you need years of experience before going — that’s quite intimidating. It’s more likely that I would choose an underrated trail such as this one versus a popular trail that requires years of training (such as Everest). Great read!
Wow! The view is just spectacular! I’d totally love to do this trek with my little gal, as soon as she gets a bit older, as you say children can also do it! I wouldn’t personally carry a headphone, just the nature’s music would be enough for me I guess.
What a beautiful hike to find that beautiful temple. The views from the top are just amazing. And those trees are completely awesome! Thanks for sharing such an amazing hike.
I have been to Shimla so many times but yet missed on this one, though I have had an equally interesting climb at the Jhaku Temple, and yes I totally agree that music does help a lot on treks like these and these Bose wireless headphones sound absolutely necessary now before i take my next trip
For a very minor trek, the views here are gorgeous. I agree on the part bringing the best headphone you could ever had while trekking. Especially on major trails, it really helps to ease the pain. 🙂
Shimla is on my wishlist. Trekking, Headphones and Temple is like indulging in nature’s vicinity 🙂
Wow the views look amazing! How wonderful to be visiting the Taradevi Temple that is over 250 years old! And being located quite above sea level makes for such beautiful views. I definitely like your idea of bringing along wireless Bose headphones for the trek – I always find the wired headphones annoying and they tend of get tangled up. But these look great!
While I was in Shoghi, I could not do the visit the Temple but I will ensure to go here next time. For beginners, its a good and informative post. Having a Bose headphone for company would make any hike all the more enjoyable.
You did a great job at covering so many beautiful places. Thanks for mentioning best season. I always think summer is the best.
love this post… never been to shimla.. but this trip, trek sounds absolutely a must do! love the photos.
nice post thanks for sharing n keep it up thanks a lot