Raghunatheshwar Tedha Temple is situated at
Jwalamukhi in
Kangra District of
Himachal Pradesh. It is dedicated to Lord
Ram,
Sita and
Lakshman. It is believed to have been built by the
Pandavas to commemorate the brief stay of Lord Ram, along with his wife and brother, in this place.
The title ‘tedha’ was attached to this temple’s name owing to its reclining posture. This posture is the result of a major earthquake that occurred in the year 1905. Though the temple remains intact, the original idols of the deities were destroyed in the tremors. The reinstalled idols are made of ‘ashtdhatu’ (alloy of eight metals). This ancient temple, perched atop a hillock and surrounded by dense vegetation, is known for its simple yet beautiful carvings. There is a pond in the temple premises. Adjoining the pond there are caves which are believed to have been inhabited by Sita and Lakshman. Carved on the rock walls surrounding the pond are idols of Lord Ram, Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma,
Lord Bhairav, Lord Garuda, Lord Ganesh, Lord Mahavir and other deities. Also to be noted is an idol of Lord Shiva with five mouths.
Raghunatheshwar Tedha Temple is situated at a distance of 8 km from the famous Jwalamukhi Temple. The nearest railhead is the
Jwalamukhi Road Railway Station. The nearest bus stand is Kangra Bus Station.
