The Mahakal Temple or Mahakal Mandir is a sacred Hindu temple in Darjeeling
Mahakal Mandir The Mahakal Temple or Mahakal Mandir is a sacred Hindu temple in Darjeeling in the Indian kingdom of West Bengal dedicated to the Hindu god Lord Shiva, the third god of the Hindu triumvirate. The temple was built in 1782 by Lama Dorjey Rinzing on Observatory Hill in Darjeeling and is a fusion of Hindu and Buddhist religions. It is a unique religious site where both religions co-exist harmoniously. The Mahakal Temple is an ancient building that stands on the site where a Buddhist monastery called 'Dorje-Ling' once stood, built by Lama Dorjey Rinzing in 1765. Legend has it that three Shiva lingas representing Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwar manifested at this site in 1782. The monastery itself was looted and destroyed in 1815 during the Gorkha invasion. It was then shifted to Bhutia Busty, about a mile away, and named Bhutia Busty Monastery. The temple is a respected and visited religious shrine in the region for miles around. Visit more destination at Darje...