Nartiang Durga Temple is a 500 year old Durga Temple located in the West Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya state. This temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas and is one of the holiest sites for devotees of the Shaktism sect of Hinduism. The tribal Hindus in the Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya believe that this temple is the permanent abode of Goddess Durga. It is a place where the Kings of Jaintia used to pray to the Goddess.It is said to be renovated by Ramakrishna Mission Ashram Cherrapunji in 1987.

The temple draws a large number of pilgrims from all over the country on occasion of Durga Puja. The Shakti of Nartiang Devi shrine is worshipped as Jayanti and the Bhairava as Kamadishwar.

Every year Durga Puja is celebrated here where villagers of Nartiang - local tribals who are Hindus-a rarity in Meghalaya, participate. The customs are a mix of Hindus and tribals hence no idols is placed but a plantain tree wrap with a saree is worshipped during Durga Puja. People from Shillong, especially Bengalis visit this place during Durga Puja as it is very sacred site. History says human sacrifice used to occur during the Puja season but now animal sacrifice especially goats and hens are sacrificed during Ashtami Day.

Nartiang Durga Temple

The purohit of the temple is a Maharashtrian Brahmin. It is believed that he King had brought the purohit to do puja from Maharashtra and had settled down here and the current person belongs to the lineage of that generation who has been born here only. Nartiang is considered as the only Hindu village in Meghalaya.

It is on top of a hill, from where one can view Myntang River flowing below. Best time to visit Nartiang Durga Mandir is during Durga Puja time.