Temples of Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand known as a Devbhumi which literally means the ‘Land of the Gods’ as the state lies many pilgrimage centres along with the various significant Hindu temples in the region. The state is known for its characteristic magnificence of the Himalayas, the Terai and the Bhabhar. The state offers a number of tourist every year as it is the home of various holy sites such as ancient temples, gurudwaras, stunning hill stations, gorgous rivers, exotic wildlife’s and lakes Devbhumi Uttarakhand lies the various ancient temples of Lord Shiva and Devi Durga, which are observed to be more predominant than the others in the region. Uttarakhand is also known for Chardham Yatra as well. Chardham refers to the four pilgrimage destinations of the region that is Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri.

Major Temple in Uttarakhand

Baijnath Temple:

Located at the distance of 16 kilometers away from Kausani in Katyuri Valley. Baijnath temple is located on the height of 1,125 meter above sea level. It is one of historically and religiously significant temple. The temple was constructed by Katyuri dynasty in 12th century. It believed that God Shiva and goddess Parvati were married at the confluence of River Gomati and Gaur Ganga. This temple is devoted to lord Shiva.


Rudrahari Mahadev Temple:

Rudrahari Mahadev Temple is one of the renowned temple the region. The temple is situated at the distance of 8 kilometers west of the town of Kausani, on the banks of river Koshi. It is an ancient cave temple. Believed that it was constructed at the place where an ancient Indian mystic named Rishi Kaushik meditated for a long period


Jageshwar Group of Temple:

It is one of the renowned and an impotent pilgrim for Hindus, situated at 36 kilometres away from Almora. The temple city comprises a cluster of 124 large and small stone temples which were built during 9th to 13th century. The temple is preserved by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which include Chandika Temple, Jageshwar Temple, Dandeshwar Temple, Mritunjaya Temple, Nanda Devi or Nau Durga, Nava-grah temple, a Pyramidal shrine, and Surya Temple, , Kuber Temple amongst which the oldest temple is the Mrityunjaya Temple and the biggest temple is the Dandeshwar Temple.


Badrinath Temple:

Badrinath Temple is main temple of the town. The temple is devoted to lord Vishnu. It is situated at the height of 3,133 meter above from the sea level on the banks of river Alaknanda. Badrinath temple was constructed in 9th Century by Adi Guru Shankaracharya.

The main entrance gate known as the 'Singh Dwara' is one of the attractions of the temple. The temple is known for its Badrinath idol sculpted made by black stone, which is one metre high and depicts Lord Vishnu seated in meditative pose.


Tapkeshawar Temple:

Tapkeshawar Temple located at the banks of the Nandi River. It is a shrine that has come up about a naturally formed Shivling in a Cave. Characterized by naturally dripping water over the Shiva lingam placed here. It is one of the most popular pilgrim place for Hindus.


Jalmagna Shivling (Submerged Shivling):

It is one of the major attraction of Gangotri. Gangotri during summer, This natural Shivling located near the Gangotri Temple is open only during the winter, when the water level goes down.


Nanda Devi Mela:

Someshwar temple is one of the oldest temple located at the distance of about 12 kilometers away from Kausani. This temple was built by Raja Som Chand of the Chand Dynasty. Surrounded by beautiful Someshwar valley. The temple is dedicated to lord Shiva or Mahesh, and named after the combination of founder and Maheshwar.


Kedarnath Temple:

Kedarnath Temple is one of the holiest temple for Hindus, which is one of the twelve jyotirlinga. The temple is devoted to lord Shiva. The temple is located at the height of 11,755 feet on the banks of Mandakini River which is a tributary of holy Ganga. The actual time of the temple is not known but it believed that it was built by Adi Shankara in 8th century, and it is said that the temple is located on the same place where Pandavas were built the temple as per epic Mahabharata. In front of the temple, directly opposite to inner shrine, is a Nandi statue carved out of rock. Due to extreme weather conditions the temple is open only for 6 months from Akshaya Tritriya (end of April) to Kartik Purnima (autumn full moon, usually comes in November).


Mukteshwar Temple:

One of the most Polpular temple of the Mukteshwer as the town is named after Mukteshwer temple. It is 350 years old temple, located on the hilly terrain. The temple was devoted to lord Shiva.


Koteshwar Mahadev Temple:

Koteshwar Mahadev, which is a cave temple located on the way to Kedarnath on the banks of Alaknanda. The idol of the temple was originated naturally. It is one of the most important pilgrim shrine for Hindus. It is majorly visited during the festival of Mahashivratri.


Rudranath Temple:

Rudranath Temple is situated at the confluence of Mandakini and Alaknanda.This temple is dedicate to lord Shiva. As per Hindu mythology Narada Muni worshiped god Shiva at the same place to learn music from him. There used to be a rock called Narad Shila where Narada is said to have sat in meditation.


Shree Tungeshwar Mahadev Ji:

Shree Tungeshwar Mahadev Ji temple is one of the oldest temple located at Rudraprayag. As per mythology Pandavas came here for penance. On the temple wall there are many terracotta style seals and Shiva-Parvathi figurines.


Vishwanath Temple:

It is one of the most important temple of Utterkashi. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is located around 300 m away from Uttarkashi’s local bus stand. In 1857, the temple was received a new look after renovation by Maharani Khaneti, the wife of Sudarshan Shah.


Patal Bhuvaneshwar:

It is a limestone cave temple, which is located at the distance of approx. 14 km from Gangolihat in the Pithoragarh district. According to the myth and folklore have it that this underground cave represent the Lord Shiva.


Buda Kedar Temple:

Buda Kedar Temple is located 60km away from New Tehri at the confluence of the river Bal Ganga and Dharam Ganga. It is said by the legends that Duryodhna meditated here after the war of Kurukshetra.


Neelkanth Mahadev Temple:

Neelkanth Mahadev Temple one of the renowned temple of lord Shiva in Rishikesh. It located at the height of 1330. The temple is surrounded by the valleys of Vishnukoot, Brahmakoot and Manikoot along with dense forests and mountain ranges of Nar-Narayan. The temple named after Lord Shiva, who also called as Neelkanth.


Shri Tryambakeshwar Temple:

One of the ancient temple in Rishikesh, located on the Banks of River Ganga. This temple is a religious abode of Lord Shiva and is also known as one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. The temple is surrounded by splendid Himalayan Ranges. The temple was discovered during the 12th century by Adi Guru Shankaracharya. It is one of the most important temple for Hindus.


Tungnath Temple:

It is the highest Shiva temple in the world, located in the mountain range of Tunganath in Rudraprayag district in Uttarakhand. Tungnath temple is one of the five and the highest Panch Kedar temples. It is located at just below the peak of Chandrashila, an altitude of 12,073 ft. It believed that it is about 1000 years old temple.


Other Major Shiva Temples in Uttarakhand:

  • Baleshwar Temple, Champawat
  • Binsar Mahadev (near Ranikhet)
  • Agasteshwar Mahadev (Agastmuni)
  • OwarahatTemples
  • Gannath Temple (2116m) – 45 km from Almora
  • Kamleshwar Mahadev – 2 km from Jarmola
  • Kamleshwar Mahadev (Srinagar)
  • Kapileshwar Mahadev – 3 km from Pithoragarh
  • Kotmaheshwar Temple
  • Kranteshwar Mahadev (east of Champawat)
  • Madhyamaheshwar (3490m)
  • Motsmanu Shiva Temple at Chandak (7 km from Pithoragarh)
  • Pancheshwar – 37 km from Lohaghat
  • Rudranath (2286m) – 17 km trek from Mandai
  • Shiva Temple (Gopeshwar)
  • Shiva Temple (Karanprayag)
  • Submerged Shivling at Gangotri
  • Tapkeshwar Mahadev near Oehradun
  • Trijuginarayan (1982m) -14 km from Sonprayag
  • Tungnath (3680m) – 3.5 km from Chopta
  • Virneshwar (Shiva) Temple at Binsar

Kasar Devi Temple:

Kasar Devi Temple is one of the renowned temple in Almora. It believed that this temple was built in 2nd century AD. The temple is devoted to Kasar Devi which is located at the height of 2,100 meters above sea level and is popular among the hikers as it provides the stunning views of the surroundings. Kasar Devi Temple is surrounded by Pine and deodar forests.


Mata Murti Temple:

Mata Murti Temple is situated at the distance of 3 kilometers away from Badrinath on the banks of Alaknanda River. The temple is devoted to Mata Murti, who known as the mother of Sri Badrinath. It is one of the most pilgrim site for Hindus.


Gangotri Temple:

Located at 97 kilometers from Uttarkashi, Gangotri Temple is one of the holiest shrine for Hindus. It is believed that it is the place where Ganges descended to Earth on the matted locks of Lord Shiva. It was built by General Amar Singh Thapa of Nepalese forces some time in 18th century. The Maharaja of Jaipur, Madho Singh was renovated the temple in 1935. However, it is said the original temple was founded by Adi Shankaracharya.


Mansa Devi Temple:

Mansa Devi Temple is situated at two and half Kilometers from Haridwar. It is situated on top of the Bilwa Parvat on Shivalik Hills. Mansa Devi temple is one of the holiest for Hindus and most visited place in India. The temple is devoted to goddess Mansa who was the wife of Nag Vasuki and also the brainchild of Saint Kashyap. The temple is also connected with cable car.


Chandi Devi Temple:

Chandi Devi Temple is one of the most popular temple in India, located at the top of Neel Parvat in Haridwar. The temple is known as one of the Shakti Peethas of North India, hence it is one of the most important and holiest temple for Hindu religion. It is believed that it has the powers to fulfil the wishes of devotees. The temple was built by Suchat Singh, the reigning king of Kashmir in 1929. And it believed that the idol of the temple was inaugurated by Adi Shankaracharya in 8th century.


Surkhanda Devi Temple:

Surkhanda temple is the most popular religious shrine for Hindus. It is one of the prime attraction in In Kanatal. The temple lies on the highest point at a height of about 9,995 feet. This temple is devoted to goddess sati.


Jwalpa Devi Temple:

Jwalpa Devi Temple is known as a Shiddh Peeth. The temple is located at the left bank of Nawalika, about 34 km from Pauri on the main, Pouri Kotdwar road. The temple sites are hardly 350m walk from the roadside. The people used to reach there through walk as it is believed that the Goddess of power grants all wishes.


Naina Devi temple:

Naina Devi temple is one of the most impotent temple for Hindus.The temple is located in Nainital at the north side of the Naini Lake. Naina Devi temple is devoted to Goddess Sati. As per Hindu mythology the eye of Goddess Sati fell at this place while Lord Shiva was carrying her mortal remains to Mount Kailash. Hence this place is known as Naina Devi temple.


Maa Hariyali Devi Temple:

Maa Hariyali Devi Temple is located at the height of 1400 meters on the foothill of Himalaya in Rudraprayag. It is one of the popular religious places for Hindus. It is one of 58 siddhi peeth. The temple is also known as Bala Devi, Sitla Mata and Vaishno Devi.


Chamunda Devi Temple :

Another renowned temple of Rudraprayag, Chamunda Devi Temple is also situated at confluence of the holy rivers Mandakini and Alaknanda. It is devoted to Goddess Chamunda as wife of Lord Rudra.


Kuteti Devi Temple:

Kuteti Devi Temple is located at the foothill of Hari Parvat on the banks of Bhagirathi River. The temple is situated at a distance of 2 kilometer from Uttarkashi. Kuteti Devi Temple was built by the daughter and son-in-law of Maharaja Kota. The shrine is surrounded by lush green landscapes and waterfalls from the terraced hills.


Shakti Temple:

Shakti Temple is one of the popular shrine in Uttarkashi. It is dedicated to Goddess Durga. The temple houses huge ‘Trishul’ which is 6 meters high. As per Hindu mythology that Trishul was thrown by Goddess Durga on Devils.


Yamunotri Temple:

Yamunotri Temple is one of the four important Hindu pilgrimages in Uttarakhand. It is situated at the distance of 45 Kilometers from Uttarkashi on the height of 3235 meters above sea level. Yamunotri is the main source of Yamuna. A temple of Yamunori is located here. A hot spring is located here.