Uttarakhand, fittingly known as the land of gods or Devbhoomi is home to some of the most ancient temples and spiritually active shrines. When combined with the natural Himalayan beauty, every visit seems worth it. Apart from the Char Dhams which draw an immense crowd every year, there are other temples that are equally magnificent. Here are some temples of Uttarakhand that possess a rich history and divinity.
List of 11 Most Famous Temples in Uttarakhand
- Rudranath Temple
- Kedarnath Temple
- Badrinath Temple
- Nanda Devi Temple
- Jhula Devi Mandir
- Tera Manzil Temple
- Madmaheshwar Temple
- Jageshwar Dham Temple
- Tungnath Mahadev Temple
- Chitai Golu Devta Mandir
- Neelkanth Mahadev Temple
1. Rudranath Temple
Rudra Nath is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and it is situated in the Garhwal Himalayan range in Uttarakhand. The temple is situated at an elevation of 3600 meters inside a beautiful forest of rhododendrons (Burans). This temple is a distinguished member of the Panch Kedar circuit. Shiva in the form of Neelkanth Mahadev is worshipped in this temple. This is one of the most ancient temples as it is believed to have been built by the Pandavas.
2. Madmaheshwar Temple
Madmaheshwar temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is situated in the Mansoona village of the Garhwal range of mountains; the temple is situated at an elevation of 3500 feet and is a part of the Panch Kedar circuit. The temple follows the traditional North Indian architecture style and contains a jet black navel-shaped Shivalingam which is enshrined in the Sanctum. Separate shrines are dedicated to Parvati and Ardhanarishvara in the temple.
3. Neelkanth Mahadev Temple
Neelkanth Mahadev is a Hindu temple that is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple is perched at a height of 1335 meters and is located about 30 km away from Rishikesh. Neelkanth Mahadev temple is located in the Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. The Shikharas of the Neelkanth Mahadev temple is decorated with marvelous sculptures of various Gods and Goddesses. The main deity is in the form of Shivalinga. This temple complex contains a natural spring in which devotees take a bath before entering the temple complex.
4. Kedarnath Temple
Kedarnath is situated at a very high altitude in the Garhwal Himalayas. Home of Lord Shiva worshipped as lord Kedar, this ancient temple is a major part of the Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand along with Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. Gracing the bank of river Mandakini, the temple is frequented every year by avid devotees from all over the world. Considered one of the toughest pilgrimages in India, people either choose to go by road or opt for the luxurious Chardham Yatra by Helicopter. The temple’s foundation was placed by the Pandavas brothers and later on resurrected by Adi Shankara. Ever since then it continues to be one of the most iconic temples in Uttarakhand.
5. Tera Manzil Temple
Known for the gushing Ganga River, peaceful Ghats, and the iconic Ganga Aarti, 13 Manzil Temple is located in Rishikesh. As the tourists walk towards Rishikesh from Laxman Jhula, they will be greeted with a massive imposing temple structure. This temple is named after its 13 floors, each of which is dedicated to a different god or goddess. The temple stands right next to the Ganga beach and offers a beautiful view of the setting sun by the Ganga River. Located in the heart of Rishikesh town the temple is host to a number of grand and holy puja ceremonies.
6. Tungnath Mahadev Temple
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Tungnath Mahadev is the highest Shiva temple in the world. Located in Chopta, the temple is blessed all around with beautiful snow-clad peaks. The hike up to the temple will be spiritually motivated and equally scenic. The Pandavas brothers had set up this temple which is also a part of the Panch Kedar Yatra circuit. The temple graces the point right below the peak of Chandrashila. Chandrashila is the highest point near the temple which is 1 km away and is believed to be the place where Raavan used to perform intense meditation.
7. Badrinath Temple
Badrinath or Badri Vishal is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is one of the most important Vishnu Darshan temples in India. Located next to the Alaknanda River, Badrinath Mandir is a very pretty and colorful structure that stands out as a contrast to the surrounding greenery. The temple is home to Badri Narayan form of Lord Vishnu and it is also a part of the iconic Char Dham of Uttarakhand as well as all India Char Dham Yatra. Vishnu devotees and Char Dham Yatris from all over the world make it a point to visit Badrinath Dham at least once in their lifetime.
8. Jageshwar Dham Temple
Situated about 40 kms away from the main town of Almora, Jageshwar Dham Temple is also known as the Jageshwar Valley of temples. Blessed by bountiful greenery on all sides, there are numerous different clusters of temples all over the valley that can be a part of your Jageshwar Dham Temple visit. The north Indian style of architecture paired with its incredible location makes this place a must-visit for every tourist visiting Uttarakhand. All the temples monuments in the complex site are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India which is responsible for its maintenance.
9. Chitai Golu Devta Mandir
Situated in Almora, the temple is dedicated to Golu Devta who is an incarnation or an avatar of lord shiva in the form of Gaur Bhairav. The locals in Uttarakhand worship Golu Devta all over and there are several temples dedicated to him over here but the Chitai Golu Devta Temple is considered to be the most sacred one. It is said that the devotees who ask for anything with pure intentions have their wishes come true. Located 9 kms away from Almora the temple is perched on a hilltop and decorated with several holy bells.
10. Nanda Devi Temple
Nanda Devi Temple is one of the oldest and the rarest temples in India which is dedicated to Nanda Devi, an incarnation of the Hindu goddess Durga. The temple, which is a simple-looking structure, is situated in the heart of Almora city and receives hundreds of devotees every day. Set amidst the tranquil natural beauty of the Kumaon hills in Uttarakhand, Nanda Devi is believed to be the ‘destroyer of evil’ and a protecting savior for the local residents of the Kumaon region. The ancient temple is believed to be over 1000 years old and was constructed by the earlier rulers of the Chand Dynasty.
11. Jhula Devi Mandir
Nestled in the incredibly scenic natural beauty of Ranikhet, the temple of Jhula Devi is dedicated to a form of goddess Durga who goes by the name of Jhoola Devi. The idol of the presiding goddess can be seen sitting on a Jhoola and to honor the goddess there are small copper bells tied all over the building. Every devotee that offers prayer here, makes it a point to tie up a small copper bell in order to get their wishes to come true. The temple is over 700 years old and is frequented by the locals as well as Mata devotees from far away. Reachable by road people like to include several other interesting activities in Ranikhet and Nainital during their visit to Jhula Devi Temple.
Read Also: 8 Amazing Hidden Beaches in Sri Lanka
