Temples In Uttarakhand – A Complete Guidence, also known as Devbhoomi, is one of the most sacred and religious places of India. Every hill, every river and every village here is associated with some deity or the other. There are thousands of temples in this state which are not only important from a religious point of view but are also famous for their history, nature and spiritual power.
1. Char Dham Temples
The most famous temples of Uttarakhand include the four Dhams:
- Badrinath – Lord Vishnu’s temple
- Kedarnath – Lord Shiva’s famous temple
- Gangotri – the origin place of the river Ganga
- Yamunotri – the origin place of the river Yamuna
These four Dhams remain open between April to October and lakhs of devotees visit every year.
2. Panch Kedar – Lord Shiva ke 5 Dham
Panch Kedar is related to the Mahabharata period. These include:
- Kedarnath
- Tungnath (world’s tallest Shiva temple)
- Rudranath
- Madhyamaheshwar
- Kalpeshwar
This temple can be reached through trekking and offers a unique experience amidst nature.
3. Panch Badri – Different forms of Vishnu
The Panch Badri temples are:
- Badrinath
- Adi Badri
- Bhavishya Badri
- Yogdhyan Badri
- Vriddha Badri
All these together form the Vaishnav tradition in Uttarakhand.
4. Devi Temples in Uttarakhand
There are many Shaktipeeths and Devi temples here which are the symbol of Mahila Shakti:
- Nanda Devi Temple – different form in Kumaon and Garhwal
- Mansa Devi – situated on the hills of Haridwar
- Chandi Devi – located on the banks of Ganga in Haridwar
- Dhari Devi – situated near Srinagar, on the banks of Ganga
5. Special Temples of Kumaon
- Jageshwar Dham – a group of 100+ ancient Shiva temples
- Golu Devta Mandir (Chitai) – worshipped as the god of justice
- Kasar Devi Mandir – one of the most powerful spiritual energy zones in the world
6. Main temples of Garhwal
- Neelkanth Mahadev – located near Rishikesh, in dense forest
- Kunjapuri Temple – famous for sunrise and meditation
- Tarkeshwar Mahadev – a peaceful temple in the middle of Deodar forest, near Lansdowne
7. Hidden and old temples
- Katarmal Surya Mandir – near Almora, 9th century Surya Mandir
- Lakhamandal – associated with Mahabharata, a place filled with Shiva Lingas
- Pandavkholi – believed to be the hiding place of Pandavas
Festivities and fairs (Temple Festivals)
- Kumbh Mela – Held every 12 years in Haridwar
- Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra – A sacred pilgrimage held once in 12 years
- Local fairs – Every temple has its own festivals and celebrations
Temple Tourism Tips
- Best time for Yatra: April – October
- Keep light woolens for travel
- Maintain faith and dignity in the temple
- Respect local culture and nature
