Sacred Temples in Uttarakhand for a Deeply Spiritual Experience

The magnificent state of Uttarakhand lying peacefully on the foothills of the majestic and holy Himalayas, is dotted with ancient and incredible sacred temples. With references found in various holy Hindu and mythological texts Devbhoomi has always been the place for attaining enlightenment and having a spiritual experience. Nowadays even foreigners from all over the world have identified the unique peace and tranquillity that this place has to offer making it a hub for spiritual tourism. Adorned with holy shrines and with numerous pilgrimages criss crossing here are some of the most significant temples that you must visit:

Perched on top of the lush green Chandrabadni mountain the temple is an important shakti peeth where the torso of goddess sati is said to have fallen. Located on the border of devprayag and pratap nagar tehsil reaching the temple in itself is a complete adventure. As a ritual people visiting the temple tie a cloth canopy on the ceiling over the shri yantra once annually which is done by the priest here while blindfolded. The temple also serves as a host to a grans fair that takes place here which can be one of the best times for you to visit.

Situated in the deeply spiritual destination of Almora and the hub for mediation and yoga this temple is probably one of the most visited temples in Uttarakhand. Lined on both sides entirely with brass temple bells the temple is dedicated to an incarnation of lord shiva called gaur bhairav or the lord of justice. It is believed that anyone who deeply believes in the problem solving powers of the lord and ties a bell here, gets all his wishes come true. The temple is located 8 kms away from the main town of almora and can be easily reached via a road journey.

Blessed with the natural beauty of ranikhet this traditional temple is dedicated to an incarnation of goddess durga or jhooladevi since the idol of the goddess is placed on a swing or a jhoola. According to local beliefs the temple is 700 years old and the idol of the original deity was stolen in 1959 and shares a similar feature with that of chitaigolu temple. It is also believed that the goddess fulfils all the wishes of her devotees and they make it a point to come here and tie a bell in the temple once their wishes are fulfilled. The temple is located in a beautiful location 7 kms away from Ranikhet.

Located at a distance of 41 kms from the main town of Rudraprayag this temple is known for being one of the oldest temples of India and serves as the home to the presiding deity of Kedarnath. people visit this wood and stone temple to offer their prayer to lord kedar when the routes get blocked and inhospitable for yatra. The temple is constructed in the place which is believed to be the wedding spot of Usha (the daughter of vanasur) and Anirudh (Lord Krishna’s grandson). There are several other ancient temples dedicated to lord shiva, Parvati and others making it incredibly holy.

This group of 124 big small and medium sized temples adorn the almora region and is one of the finest examples of magnificent architectural brilliance that prevailed in this region. The complex is believed to be 2,500 years old and is set against a mesmerising backdrop of gently rolling hills and gurgling streams. The place consists of stone sculptures, lingams, carved altars and amongst unparalleled peaceful environment. The place used to provide a rest stop for people on their pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar during the ancient ages.

Situated in the scenic district of Rudraprayag is one of the most important places of worship for devotees of lord Shiva. This jyotirlinga is surrounded by the majestic Kedar dome mountain ranges and the holy Mandakini River flows past it and finally merges with Alaknanda river in devprayag to form the holy river of ganga. The ancient temple was revived by the great philosopher and sage Adi Shankaracharya during the 8th century in order to reignite a feeling of oneness among the Indian population. It is a part of the holy Chardham Yatra and can also be visited as a part of the do dham badrinath kedarnath yatra package. Either way it really is an experience to remember.