The temple of Hinglaj Mata is in Balochistan, Pakistan, on the bank of the Hingol river in Hingol National Park, Lasbela district. It is taken to be Hingula, the first pitha of the Pithanirnaya’s list: by the text the crown of Sati’s head (brahmarandhra) fell here, and the goddess is Kottari and the Bhairava Bhimalochana.
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- Tradition
- Shakta
- Place
- Bank of the Hingol river, Hingol National Park, Lasbela district
- Region
- Balochistan
- Country
- Pakistan
- Map
- OpenStreetMap (25.5139, 65.5153)
The yearly yatra
According to the Pakistani newspaper Dawn, a fair and pilgrimage of three or four days is held here every spring (in recent years in April), and many people, some on foot, come from Tharparkar, Umerkot and Sanghar in Sindh. In 2026 it began on 17 April and lasted three days. Pilgrims bathe in the Hingol river, make offerings at the Chandragup mud volcano on the way, and then have darshan in the cave temple.
Dawn also calls it the temple of "Hinglaj Nani". According to the description of Jürgen Schaflechner’s book "Hinglaj Devi" (Oxford University Press, 2018), the yearly festival has grown in roughly the last three decades, partly because of the Makran Coastal Highway.
How to reach Hinglaj Mata
- From Karachi by the Makran Coastal Highway; according to Dawn (2019) the distance is about 250 km, a drive of about four hours.
Main festivals
Where the sources differ
- The date of the fair has varied (late March in 2022, 26-28 April in 2024, from 17 April in 2026); no reliable source we found gives its calendar rule.
- Dawn prints the temple committee’s name two ways: "Hinglaj Mata Welfare and Development Society" and "Shri Hinglaj Mata Welfare Mandli". No official website of the temple was found.
- The count of pithas depends on the text: the Pithanirnaya lists 51, some Bengali lists 52, the Devi Bhagavata (7.30) gives 108 places with names of the goddess, and the early Tantras name only four (Sircar).
Frequently asked questions
Which part of Sati fell at Hinglaj?
By the Pithanirnaya, the brahmarandhra, the crown of the head; Dawn’s report also gives the belief that Sati’s head fell here.
When is the Hinglaj yatra?
Every spring, in recent years in April, for three or four days; in 2026 for three days from 17 April (Dawn).
Where is Hinglaj Mata Shakti Peetha?
Hinglaj Mata Shakti Peetha is in Bank of the Hingol river, Hingol National Park, Lasbela district, Balochistan (Pakistan).
Which lists of tirthas include Hinglaj Mata?
The 51 Shakti Peethas (number 1 of 51 in the list).
How to reach Hinglaj Mata?
From Karachi by the Makran Coastal Highway; according to Dawn (2019) the distance is about 250 km, a drive of about four hours.
Sources
- D. C. Sircar, The Śākta Pīṭhas (Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal 1948; Motilal Banarsidass, 1973): table of the Pithanirnaya pp. 35-37, note on this pitha p. 43 (archive.org)
- Vachaspatyam (Taranatha Tarkavachaspati), "pitha": the list of pithas quoted from the Tantrachudamani (Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries, sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de)
- Dawn (dawn.com), 26 August 2019: the temple in Hingol National Park, distance from Karachi, the April pilgrimage
- Dawn, 26 March 2022 (the "Hinglaj Nani" temple festival); 5 May 2025 (bath, Chandragup, committee); 20 April 2026 (the three-day festival from 17 April 2026)
- Al Jazeera, 28 April 2024: the Hinglaj yatra (photo report)
- Jürgen Schaflechner, Hinglaj Devi (Oxford University Press, 2018): the publisher’s description
- Wikidata Q2722882 (Hinglaj Mata): map coordinates
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