Trilokpur: Nestled amongst the picturesque hills of Himachal Pradesh's Trilokpur, lies an ancient cave temple, which stands as a testimony to human greed and divine anger!
The temple, situated 50 km away from Dharamsala, is one of such places where people travel miles on a rocky terrain to seek Lord Shiva's blessings.
The roof of the cave has a profusion of stalactites, which the locals believe are the embodiment of snakes, which had protected Lord Shiva during his penance.
Those entering the cave automatically bow to the deity inside the temple owing to the narrow passage and are greeted by a small stream which runs through it.
Lord Shiva temple in Himachal Pradesh
A shepherd, who was grazing his sheep in the area, happened to chance upon the two golden pillars at the entrance and the gold which lay scattered everywhere.
In the process to steal it, it is said that he disturbed Lord Shiva from his meditation and the infuriated deity turned him and his flock into a rock. It is a local belief that, Lord Shiva transformed himself into the 'lingam' form and that the shepherd is still present in the cave, in the same posture and after the curse, along with his sheep.
Whether it is the naturally-formed Shiva lingam or the temples having his extremely beautiful idols, devotees from all over the world have visited the 'Devbhoomi' to get a glimpse of Lord Shiva.
