Top 10 Temples of Uttarakhand You Must Visit
Uttarakhand nicknamed as the “Land of Gods” conceals many holy shrines that are revered for their spiritual and mythological background. To dive into the holiness of these sacred shrines check out these 10 must visit temples in Uttarakhand.
1. Badrinath Temple
In the celestial town of Badrinath in Chamoli district, sits the holy Badrinath Temple which is considered as the most important of all four Dhams in India. Originally established by Guru Adi Shankaracharya, the Badrinath temple is one of the Panch Badri's dedicated to Lord Vishnu’s Nara-Narayana avatar.
2. Kedarnath Temple
One of the popular Shaivism sites in India, the Kedarnath temple in Rudraprayag district is adorned near the Mandakini river in Kedarnath town. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas that was initially built by the Pandava brothers and was later re-established by Guru Adi Shankaracharya. Since the region experiences harsh weather conditions, the portals of the temple are opened only between April end (Akshaya Tritiya) to Kartik Purnima (the autumn full moon, usually November). During winters the temple deity is brought to Ukhimath, where it is worshipped for six months.
3. Jageshwar Temple
Jageshwar is situated at an elevation of 1,870 mts above sea level and at a distance of 37 kms from Almora. Jageshwar is an important tourist destination of Kumaon and receives thousands of visitors every year. It is situated amidst dense Deodar forest with a stream flowing at its backyard. Some beautiful Kumaoni villages and deodar forests make it a popular off-beaten trek kind of destination.
4. Gangotri Temple
Tucked in the rugged terrains of Garhwal, the 18th century Gangotri Temple in Uttarkashi is one of the holy places among the Chota Char Dhams. Having an impressive height of 20 feet, the pristine white Gangotri temple located along river Bhagirathi is one of the major attractions of Gangotri town. The shrine of Goddess Ganga and the partially submerged Shivlinga carved from the rock are the visitor's attraction. Since the Gangotri temple remains closed during winters you need to plan your visit accordingly.
5. Yamunotri Temple
Enshrining a black marble idol of Goddess Ganga, the Yamunotri temple in Uttarkashi district can be approached by a 5 km trek from Jankichatti situated on the left bank of Yamuna River. Built by Maharaja Pratap Shah of Tehri Garhwal, the Yamunotri temple is one among the Char Dhams and is the first place to visit in the Char Dham circuit.
6.Tungnath Temple
Considered to be more than 1,000 years old, the Tungnath temple located on the Chandranath Parbat in the Rudraprayag district is one of the sacred Panch Kedars. Tungnath is hailed as the highest temple of Lord Shiva perched at an altitude of 3,680 meters above sea level. Being a revered Shaivism site, Tungnath also enshrines the idols of Goddess Parvati along with other gods and goddesses. This temple can be easily reached by commencing a brisk trek that starts from Chopta.
7. Neelkanth Mahadev Temple / Rishikesh
Snuggled at the confluence of Pankaja and Madhumati rivers, the Neelkanth Mahadev Temple is surrounded by the majestic Nar-Narayan mountain ranges. The temple is built on the site where Lord Shiva drank the venom ‘halala’ which was obtained while churning the ocean for Amrit or the ‘elixir of life’. This Shaivism site can be easily accessible as it is located about 30 km away from Rishikesh.
8. Dhari Devi Temple
Cradled in the tranquil banks of Alaknanda River, the Dhari Devi temple at Kaliyasaur in Srinagar Pauri is one of the 108 Shakti Peeths that is believed to change its form from a girl to woman and later to an old lady. The temple is known to embody the upper part of Goddess Sati while the lower half is worshipped at Kalimath temple in Rudraprayag district.
9. Chitai Golu Devta Temple of Almora
Revered as the ‘God of Justice’, the Chitai Golu Devta Temple dedicated to 'Gollu' or 'Goljiya Devta' is dedicated to Lord Shiva's Gaur Bhairav avatar. Situated about 9 km from Almora, the temple is also known as Gwall Devta Mandir among the locals. Several bells are festooned across the temple and those seeking justice write letters to the deity in order to appease him to give honor to them.
10.Nanda Devi Temple of Almora
This ancient temple is dedicated to Nanda Devi, celebrated as the daughter of Kumaon and the patron goddess of the Chand dynasty. An incarnation of Durga Mata, the Nanda Devi is believed to protect the denizens from the evil. It is one of the most visited temples in the Kumaon region and is known for hosting the pompous Nanda Devi Raj Jaat Yatra which is held once in twelve years.
Some other temples which are getting famous now are :- Kartik Swami Temple, Dunagiri, Kainchi Dham
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