Himachalis claim that their deities “talk to them”. When they say this, it isn’t metaphors or symbols - they mean it, literally. And one needs to visit the kshetras of Himachal to well and truly understand this. Located in quaint little villages in some of the most beautiful mountain valleys with snow-capped peaks and ancient deodar forests as the backdrop, these sacred kshetras have a divine presence which is so palpable it can be felt by almost everyone who visits. From temples dedicated to the classical Hindu pantheon, to ones built to worship Nagas and local deities, those of rarely worshipped deities like Lord Brahma, or ones consecrated to honor kind-hearted asuras - these temples display breathtaking diversity.
Another special aspect of Himachal is that it has many sacred kshetras dedicated to some of the greatest rishis of Hindu history, like Rishi Shringa, Manu, Vashishtha etc. The sages are as worshipped here as deities. And one can find even the rarest of rare temples here - a temple dedicated collectively to crores of Hindu deities. Its architecture is as breathtaking and diverse, as are its legends and setting. From classical stone temples to temples built in wooden pent roof style to the pagoda style, and to the temples built in a local and extremely unique kath-kuni style of architecture, Himachal has it all. It is not in a light vein that it is called Devbhoomi, and it quite literally is.