Uttarakhand is well known as Dev Bhoomi (Land of God). This state is so beautiful that even the deities have selected this state to spend some of the best time of their lives on earth. In addition to pilgrimage circuits, this place is also a heaven for adventure sports and trekking enthusiasts. In this blog, we are going to discuss the top 5 temples in Uttarakhand. If you are planning to visit here, this guide is going to help you a lot. So without wasting time, let’s hop onto some of the best temples of Uttarakhand.
Uttarakhand is the perfect place to experience history, mythology, natural beauty, and cultural heritage. These temples are pilgrimage spots and tell a unique story that resonates with India’s culture, tradition, and spirituality. Whether you visit these temples as a devotee, adventure seeker, or nature lover, these places will leave a permanent mark on your soul.
Kedarnath temple
One of the most amazing and dream destinations for most of the Hindus in India and abroad, Kedarnath yatra is heaven on earth. In addition to being a pilgrimage spot, it is also known for its remarkable beauty and hence a favorite place for both youth and old alike. Located at an altitude of 12500 feet above sea level, Kedarnath temple is part of the holy 12 jyotirlinga, Panch Kedar, Do dham yatra, and Char Dham yatra circuits hosted in Uttarakhand.
Located in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand at an altitude of 12500 feet, surrounded by snow-capped mountains from three sides and a deep valley, with the Mandakini River meandering all around the temple, it makes it a heaven on earth. It is well said that “There is only one difference between heaven and Kedarnath. Do gods live in heaven and Mahadev in Kedarnath” (एक ही अंतर है स्वर्ग या केदारनाथ में। स्वर्ग में देव रहते हैं या केदारनाथ में महादेव).
This temple is not directly connected by road. The last motorable road to this temple is till Gaurikund, which is around 16 km from the temple. You need to trek for this distance. The trekking route of this trek will take you through some of the most scenic locations in the Himalayas, crossing river streams and numerous natural waterfalls, making this journey divine and exciting.
This temple remains closed for almost six months in a year due to heavy snowfall and is generally open in April and May on the occasion of Akshay tritiya and closes in the month of October or November. The best time to visit here is in May to June or September to October, as in July and August this region experiences heavy rainfall, creating a danger of landslides, road blockages, floods, cloudbursts, etc.
Tungnath Temple
The tallest Shiva temple and 2nd temple in the circuit of Panch Kedar temple is Tungnath temple. This is a place where the forelimbs of Lord Shiva are being worshiped as a shilling. It is located near Chopta, which is another top tourist destination and well known as Switzerland of India. From Chopta, you need to trek for around 3.5 km, passing through wide bugyals and dense forests, to reach the Tungnath temple. This temple also remains closed for six months in a year due to heavy snowfall, making this region inaccessible for normal tourist to visit here. It opens in May and closes in October or November. On the closure of the temple, the symbolic identity is being transferred to Makkumath temple, which is located at a distance of about 29 km from this temple. Makkumath acts as a winter seat of Lord Tungnath.
In addition to a pilgrimage spot, this place is also popular among trekkers for its natural beauty. Every year, millions of trekkers and nature lovers visit this place. Chandrashila Peak (Moon Rock), which is located at a distance of just 1 km from Tungnath Temple, is a place that provides a 360-degree view of snow-capped mountain peaks and deep valleys all around the peak. This peak also has a mythological importance, and as per the holy scriptures, it is said that Lord Rama had meditated at this place for atonement from his sin of Brahmahatya (for killing Ravana).
Triyuginarayan Temple
The third most important temple of this circuit is Triyuginarayan Temple. Because this is the same place where Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati got married. This is known as Triyuginarayan because it is proudly telling the story of first love since three yugas, i.e., Satyuga, Dwapar, and Treta Yug. As per the legend, this is the place where both the deities got married, and Lord Brahma acted as a head priest while Lord Vishnu performed the role of brother of Maa Parvati and other deities as the witnesses of the first love marriage.
This temple is also known as the Akhand dhuni temple due to the perpetual fire that is burning in the compound of this temple. As per the locals and priests, this fire has been alive since the marriage of both the deities. Devotees visiting here offer wood and sesame seeds in the fire, keeping it live. This temple is also getting popular as a wedding destination, and many celebrities are taking an interest in getting married at this point.
Dhari Devi temple
Well known as the protectorate of char dham temples, Dhari Devi is one of the most famous temples of Uttarakhand. Located in the middle of the Alaknanda River, this district is credited with keeping the water level of the river Alaknanda in control. In this temple, the upper body part of Maa Dhari Devi is being worshiped, while her lower body part is being worshiped at Kalimath, near Kedarnath temple.
Locals have great devotion for this temple, which is believed to be a miraculous and very powerful temple. There is one famous incident about this temple. In the year 2012–13, the government was planning to build a dam project near this temple. So they decided to replace the deity of this temple with some other place. Even over widespread protest by locals and priests of this temple, government officials had moved the idol to some other temple. On the same day, Uttarakhand had witnessed the most devastation of this century.
It is also said about this temple that the deity of this temple changes her form. In the morning you will get a dirty face as a child, while in the afternoon she will appear as a young lady, and in the evening she will turn into an old lady. This temple is located in the middle of Rudraprayag and Srinagar, en route to the Char Dham yatra.
Badrinath temple
Last but not least, Badrinath temple is well known as the temple of Satyug and is an integral part of the main char dham yatra, which includes the visits to Dwarka, Rameshwaram, and Puri in addition to Badrinath temple. This is the only temple in this circuit that remains closed for six months in a year due to heavy rainfall. In this temple, Lord Vishnu is being worshiped. In addition to being a pilgrimage spot, this temple is also known for its remarkable beauty. Tucked in the middle of snow-covered mountain peaks Nar and Narayan, with Neelkanth peak working as the crown of this temple. This is the only place where the river Saraswati can be seen. It is said that after this place, the river Sarashwati vanished.
