Una

The Soul of the Shivalik Foothills & Divine Mother Shrines

To arrive in Una is to step across the threshold where the rolling agricultural plains of the Punjab merge into the low, undulating pine-dappled ridges of the Shivalik Hills. Situated at an elevation of 369 metres above sea level, Una serves as the southwestern gateway of Himachal Pradesh. The air is warm and fragrant with the sweet scent of flowering mustard fields, roadside eucalyptus, sugarcane juice from village jaggery mills (Kohlus), and incense smoke drifting from roadside temples and pilgrimage dharamsalas.

The spiritual soul of Una is dominated by the supreme veneration of the Divine Mother at Maa Chintpurni Devi Temple (Chhinnamastika Dham). Nestled on a circular ridge in the village of Chintpurni near Bharwain at an altitude of 980 metres, the temple is one of the most visited Shakti Peethas in northern India. According to sacred lore, the feet (Charan) of Goddess Sati fell here, and the deity is revered as the divine dispeller of anxieties (Chinta-purni). Thousands of pilgrims tie crimson prayer threads (Mauli) to the branches of the ancient banyan tree standing in the temple courtyard, returning months or years later to untie them in gratitude when their deepest prayers are fulfilled.

Across the fertile heart of the district flows the Swan River (historically known as the Sombhadra), flanked by the green ridges of the Solasinghi (Chintpurni) Dhar to the east and the Bharwain Dhar to the west. Once notorious as the 'River of Sorrow' for its devastating monsoon floods, extensive watershed management and check-dam engineering have transformed the river basin into a lush agro-forestry corridor teeming with migratory birds, sugarcane plantations, and thriving dairy farms.

The Jaswan Kingdom & The Bedi Lineage

The history of Una is fundamentally rooted in the medieval principality of Jaswan, an offshoot of the ancient Katoch kingdom of Kangra. Founded around 1170 CE by Raja Purab Chand, a younger prince of the Katoch royal dynasty, Jaswan State established its capital at Rajpura near Amb. The Jaswal rajas ruled the fertile valley for over six centuries, maintaining strategic alliances with Delhi sultanates while defending their mountain frontier against neighboring hill chiefs.

In 1815, Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Lahore summoned the hill rajas to Sialkot; Raja Ummed Singh of Jaswan refused to submit to the confiscatory feudal terms, leading to the annexation of Jaswan by the Sikh Empire. In 1848, during the Second Anglo-Sikh War, Raja Ummed Singh joined the regional rebellion against the British East India Company. Following their defeat, the royal family was exiled to Almora, and the territory was annexed into British Punjab as part of Hoshiarpur district.

Una also holds deep historical connections with the Sikh Gurus. In the late 18th century, Baba Kaladhari, a direct descendant of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, settled in Una and constructed the historic Kila Baba Bedi Ji—a fortified residence with defensive stone bastions and ornate durbars. His illustrious descendant, Baba Bikrama Singh Bedi, played a prominent role in the anti-colonial resistance of 1848. Following the linguistic reorganization of Punjab on November 1, 1966, Una was transferred to Himachal Pradesh, formally becoming an independent district on September 1, 1972.

Chintpurni Shrine, Mairi Dera & Sacred Fairs

The sanctum of Maa Chintpurni Devi is centered around a sacred natural stone pindi representing the headless form of Goddess Chhinnamastika, flanked by the warrior attendants Lord Ganesha and Rudra Mahadev. The temple courtyard resonates with the chanting of Jai Mata Di and the resonant tolls of hundreds of heavy brass bells donated by grateful devotees. During the peak Sawan Navratri Fair in July–August, the entire hill road from Bharwain to the temple is illuminated with festive lights, lined with continuous community kitchens (Langars) serving free hot halwa, puris, and sweetened milk.

Located near Amb in the village of Mairi stands the sacred shrine of Dera Baba Barbhag Singh. Founded in the eighteenth century by the saint Baba Barbhag Singh Ji (a descendant of the Sodhi clan of Kartarpur), the shrine is renowned across northern India as a sanctuary of faith healing and spiritual deliverance from mental afflictions and malevolent spirits. During the annual Holi Fair in March, over 300,000 pilgrims congregate at Mairi to take holy baths in the sacred waters of the Dhaula Dhar stream (Charan Ganga) and participate in communal prayer services.

Pahari-Punjabi Cuisine & Vande Bharat Logistics

Owing to its geographic position along the border of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, Una's culinary tradition is a flavorful fusion of Doabi Punjabi richness and Kangra Pahari earthiness. Winter hearths across the rural villages serve hot Makki ki Roti accompanied by slow-cooked Sarson ka Saag churned with white butter, alongside tangy Kadhi Pakora seasoned with fenugreek leaves and mustard seeds.

During festive celebrations, Botis prepare traditional Dham dishes including Chana Madra, Mah ki Dal, and sweet pumpkin Ambal. Roadside dhabas near Una and Mehatpur are famous for fresh sugarcane juice, warm Gur ka Halwa, and spicy Chana Bhatura served with pickled green chillies.

Connectivity & Vande Bharat Logistics: Una boasts the premier rail connectivity in Himachal Pradesh. Una Himachal Railway Station (UHL) is the terminal stop of the New Delhi-Una Vande Bharat Express (Train No. 20977/20978), departing New Delhi early morning and reaching Una in just 5 hours, offering high-speed, air-conditioned transit for pilgrims and leisure travelers. By road, National Highway 503 and NH-503A provide four-lane highway links to Chandigarh (120 km, 2.5 hours) and Delhi (380 km, 6 hours). Chandigarh Airport is 125 km away.