Dholbaha

Dholbaha, situated in a picturesque valley at the foot of the Shiwaliks, is 30 kilometers to the northwest of Hoshiarpur. It is approachable by a metalled road from Hariana (14 km) of which it forms the terminus.

Local tradition associates the place with the legendary king Dhol. Archaeology has pushed back its antiquity to the Pleistocene period when Stone Age man roamed up and down the terraces and hillocks of the valley for food, water and shelter. Another tradition is that the name 'Dholbaha' is derived from 'Dharvalavaha' (white rivulet), which symbolizes the crystalline water of a gently murmuring stream winding its way along the silvery bed of glittering sand.

Dholbaha is known as an ancient-temple-town. The place remained increasingly flourishing throughout the early medival period (700-1200 A. D.) and it saw, like the rest of India, the most brilliant efflorescence of temple-building and sculptural art. A large number of amalakas (crowing members of temple spries) buried walls, plinths, and other architectural pieces establish the presence of several temples here at various places. Perhaps, the oldest sculpture is a head of Vishnu rougly datable to the 7th-8th century A. D. and the most beautiful is, again, a head of Vishnu from the 10th century. Some other important pieces are a reclining Ganesha, Shiva-Parvati seated on Nandi Mahishasuramardini, female figures or couples on architraves members and a statue depicting four Juna images seated back to back. Most of the sculptures are of sandstone, but granite is also made use of.

These are exhibited in the museum maintained by the Archaeology Department, Punjab, in the premises of the Vishveshvaranand Institute, Sadhu Ashram at Hoshiarpur. Besides, there is a museum at Dholbaha, where some of the artifacts excavated from here are on display to visitors. There is also Mahisharsuramardini temple, which is stated to be more than 500 years old. Besides, there is another temple, in the name of goddess Mansa Devi.

There is also a temple of Shiva said to have been constructed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. A story goes that once the Maharaja, leading an expedition to Kangra, passed through this place where he and his was here that he was checked and troop's advance was checked by Maharaja Shital Giri's spiritual power. It was thus out of reverence for the saint that the Maharaja Ranjit built the Shiva temple. By the side of the temple, there is a samadh of Shital Giri.