The 13 Most-Frequented Temples in Uttarakhand
On April 19, 2023
Often called Devbhoomi (land of the gods), Uttarakhand in India is a place that has abundant natural beauty. Home to several mountains and temples, it is a land steeped in divinity and spirituality. The many temples in Uttarakhand are famous not only for their architectural features but also for their mythological significance. They attract thousands of pilgrims and tourists from all over India and even abroad.
Most Popular Temples in Uttarakhand
Below is a list of the most visited temples in Uttarakhand.
Kedarnath Temple
In Sanskrit, Kedarnath means ‘lord of the field’. The Kashi Kedara Mahatmya says that the name came about because the ‘crop of liberation’ grows here. This renowned Shiva temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines. Supposedly, it was built by the Pandavas originally and restructured by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century AD. It lies on the bank of the Mandakini, a perennial river. Apart from the idols of the major Hindu deities, one can also find images of Parvati and the 5 Pandavas. A conical rock structure inside the temple is revered as the Sadashiva form of Shiva.
Kedarnath is one of the temples in Uttarakhand, which has a rich history. It is a major Shiva temple. The temple stands at a height of about 3583 meters and is 223 km away from the city of Rishikesh. It is a 1000-year-old temple. The temple is made of gray stone slabs, interlocked with each other using iron clamps.
Tungnath Temple
Located among gorgeous mountain ranges in Rudraprayag district, this is the highest Shiva temple in Uttarakhand as well as in the world. It is also the “highest Panch Kedar temple” in the Uttarakhand district. There are five Kedars, and Tungnath temple comes third in the order. It is at a height of 3680 above sea level and dates back to 1000 years. Folklore has it that the Pandava prince, Arjuna, laid the foundation of this temple which was later discovered by Adi Shankaracharya. Legend says that Rama meditated at the Chandrashila peak nearby to free himself from the curse of Brahmahatya.
Local legend says that Shiva’s body appeared as a bull’s body parts at five different locations that came to represent the Panch Kedar. The Pandavas built Shiva temples at each location to worship him and seek his pardon for killing their kith and kin. Each temple symbolizes a part of his body. Tungnath is supposedly the place where the bahu (hands) were seen.
Baleshwar Temple
This popular temple in Uttarakhand is in Baleshwar, which is 76 km from Pithoragarh in Champawat city. It is a National Heritage Monument. The temple architecture is South Indian in style, and it has exquisite stone carvings. The temple was probably built somewhere between the 10th and 12th century AD by the Chand dynasty kings. Vishnu supposedly appeared in his Kurma avatar in Champawat.
Katarmal Sun Temple
A Katyuri monarch by the name of Katarmalla built this famous Sun temple in Uttarakhand in the 9th century. This famous temple in Uttarakhand impresses with its fine architecture. It is at an elevation of 2,116 meters above sea level and 19 km from Almora. Another name for it is Badaditya temple.
There are intricate carvings on the wooden panels and doors. But after a 10th-century idol went missing, the doors and panels were moved to the National Museum, Delhi. It is the second most beautiful temple after the Konark Sun temple.
Mahasu Devta Temple
Mahasu Devta Temple is in Hanol, a village that lies on the banks of the Tons river in the Chakrata region. Devotees worship Shiva as Mahasu Devta here. The deity is the god of justice. Folklore says that a villager found 4 Shivalingas in a field while plowing it. They were named after the 4 sons of a village woman, Deolari Devi, who killed a man-eating demon by the name of Mandarth.
Lakhamandal Temple
The Lakhamandal shrine, one of the famous temples in Uttarakhand, is in the Chakrata region. It is a Shiva temple. One can see remnants of other Shiva temples within the temple compound. The Shivling here is made of graphite, and shines when devotees pour water on it. Mythology says that it was here that the Kaurava prince, Duryodhana, tried to kill the Pandavas by setting fire to the Laksha Grah, or the wax palace where they were staying. Two finely carved statues outside the shrine are supposedly those of Arjuna and Bheema or Danav (evil) and Manav (good).
Adi Badri Temple
Adi Badri temple in Uttarakhand is part of the popular Panch Badri. It is a cluster of 16 shrines belonging to the Gupta period. It lies within the Badrikshetra. As Vishnu’s name is Badrinath, this temple got the name, Adi Badri. Supposedly, Vishnu stayed in Adi Badri during the 3 Yugas - Satya, Treta, and Dwapar - before moving to Badrinath in the Kali Yuga. Adi Guru Shankaracharya is the one who established these temples. The main temple is that of Narayan, which has a black stone idol of Vishnu. There is a prophecy by ancient sages and seers that Vishnu will move to Bhavishya Badri during Satya Yuga, once Kali Yuga ends. Another legend claims that Vyasa wrote the Bhagawat Gita at Adi Badri.
Anusuya Devi Temple
One of the most-visited temples in Uttarakhand, the Anusuya Devi Temple enshrines Goddess Sati. It is in Chamoli. Anusuya was the virtuous wife of Sage Atri. He was one of the Saptarishis. The temple literally lies in the lap of the Himalayas. The sage’s ashram in the form of a cave temple lies 2 km from this temple. It is the only temple in the world where worshippers circumambulate around a river. The temple legend revolves around the mythological story in which Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Parvati sent their husbands to test Anusuya’s virtue.
Augustmuni Temple
Augustmuni temple is in the village of the same name in Rudraprayag district. The temple was the sage’s place of worship. It includes the August Kund and a shrine to Shiva. Local legend says that Sage Augusta killed two man-eating monsters, Aatapi and Vatapi, who were terrorizing the villagers here. This temple in Uttarakhand is well-known for its Helipad and lies on the Char Dham route.
Badhangarhi Temple
This temple in Uttarakhand offers panoramic views of famous peaks like Trishul, Nanda Devi, Panchachuli, etc. The temple is for Dakshin Kali and Shiva. It was built by the Katyuri dynasty, which ruled between the 8th and 12th centuries. Locals call the temple Badhan. The Badhangarhi temple is at an elevation of 2260 meters above sea level and 8 km from Gwaldam town.
Badrinath Temple
Badrinath is one of the most renowned temples in Uttarakhand. It is also part of the Char Dham Yatra or pilgrimage. This comprises 4 major pilgrimages- Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. The temple is dedicated to Shiva. The temple is 3,100 meters above sea level and is located in Badrinath town in the Garhwal Himalayas. It lies on the banks of the Alaknanda river. Adi Shankaracharya established it in the 8th century AD. The temple has traditional wooden Garhwali architecture. Vishnu is the presiding deity here. The temple is open only for 6 months of the year. Heavy snows make it inaccessible during winter.
Baghnath Temple
Baghnath means ‘Tiger Lord’. This popular temple in Uttarakhand is a Shiva temple and finds mention in the Skanda Purana. One can see the amazing sight of the merging of two rivers, Sarayu and Gomti, here. Bageshwar city takes its name from this temple. Bageshwar is a renowned temple town in Uttarakhand, whaere one can find many temples, like the Chandika temple, Sriharu Temple, and Gauri Udiyar, a cave that has idols of Shiva.
Mythology says that Markandeya worshipped Shiva at Baghnath temple. Shiva appeared before him as Vyagreshwar, his tiger avatar, and blessed him. The temple has been in existence since the 7th century. Laxmi Chand, a king of the Chand dynasty, built the present Nagara-style structure in 1450. The brass bells of various sizes and features here are one of the chief attractions, and the stone figurines date back to the 7th century. Shivaratri and the annual Uttarayani fair draw hordes of visitors.
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