Mata Mansa Devi is one of the principal Shakti temples of North India, sitting on a hill in Panchkula just across the Haryana border from Chandigarh. Pilgrims come year-round but the great rush is during the twice-yearly Navratri festival, when half a million visitors can pass through in a single week.
The temple complex is a working religious site rather than a tourist attraction — modest in architecture but interesting for the atmosphere and the views over the Shivalik foothills. A free shuttle service operates from the foot of the hill on busy days. Dress modestly; leave shoes and cameras at the entrance.