Shri Raghunath Mandir
Shri Raghunath Mandir is a Hindu temple in Kullu town, Himachal Pradesh, India. It is dedicated to Lord Rama and is considered one of the most sacred Rama temples in the world. The temple was established in 1660 during the reign of King Jagat Singh of Kullu.
A legend surrounds its founding. Jagat Singh faced trouble in his kingdom after the astrologer Durgadutt was falsely accused about some precious pearls. Disturbances, illness, and guilt led the king to seek a remedy. A sage advised bringing the idols of Shri Rama (Raghunath), Mata Seeta, and Hanuman from Ayodhya during Ashwamedh Yajna. Damodar Das went to Ayodhya to help, and after a series of events the idols finally came to Kullu. The king worshipped them, recovered from his ailments, and gave Shri Raghunath a central role in the kingdom. Today the temple is regarded as the primary deity of the Kullu valley, where hundreds of deities are worshipped.
The main idol (mul vigraha) of Shri Raghunath is made of Ashtadhatu (eight metals), weighs about 500 grams, and measures around 3 inches. The temple houses the idols of Shri Rama in royal form, along with Seeta and Hanuman, and these idols are believed to protect the Kullu valley.
Architecture and setting
Shri Raghunath Mandir features a blend of Pahari and pyramidal architectural styles. It is built with local river stones and Deodar cedar wood, with the Beas River nearby. The temple sits on a small elevated hillock in the Sultanpur area of Kullu town and overlooks the valley. Some areas inside the temple are reserved for the royal family.
Governing and festivals
The temple is closely linked to the Royal Family of Kullu; the current Charibardar is Maheshwar Singh. Kullu Dussehra, also known as the International Mega Dussehra Festival, is the temple’s main festival. It brings together hundreds of deities from the valley and surrounding regions and attracts more than half a million visitors each year. In 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the festival and paid respects to Shri Raghunath and other deities.
Security and theft incident
On December 8, 2014, thieves stole the idols of Shri Raghunath, Hanuman, Ganesha, Narsingh, and gold and silver ornaments worth about Rs 32 lakh from the temple. The thieves entered from the roof. After an extensive police investigation involving thousands of phone records and hundreds of interviews, Nepalese suspects were identified, and the idols were recovered on January 23, 2015—Raghunath’s idol was found near Bajaura and the other idols near Vipasha Market in Kullu. The recovery confirmed the belief that the idols had never left the Kullu valley.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 05:43 (CET).