Climb to the Maa Joychandi Temple

The centrepiece of any visit is the climb up approximately 500 stone steps, worn smooth by generations of devotees, to the Maa Joychandi Temple at the summit. The goddess Chandi, a fierce form of Durga, has been worshipped here for centuries and the temple draws pilgrims from across the district year-round. The ascent takes 20-40 minutes at a moderate pace and passes through rocky outcrops with increasingly commanding views. At the top, the Bajrangbali (Hanuman) temple also receives worshippers. Allow time to sit quietly on the summit rocks and absorb the 360-degree panorama: green hills dotted with blue tank ponds, the thermal power stations at Santaldih rising distantly on the plain, and on clear winter days, the faint blue line of the Ajodhya hills on the western horizon. Small vendors sell water, coconut water and nimbu pani on the way up, a welcome lifeline in the warmer months.