From being the birthplace of yoga to home to innumerable gods and goddesses, a spiritual holiday in Uttarakhand will help make your life much better and happier. Dotted with ancient big and small temples, this hill state is home to some of the best temples in India not just for its spiritual value but also for the impeccably scenic views and pure ambiance it has to offer.
Here are the famous temples of Uttarakhand which should make their way to your bucket list:
1. Kedarnath Dham, Rudraprayag
The glories of this timeless temple can never cease to amaze the pilgrims and devotees alike. Perched atop a hill the journey to this holy abode of Lord Shiva is a challenging one but deeply rewarding. The actual date of the temple construction is not known however it was revived as a spiritual center and a part of the holy Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand by the great 8th-century philosopher, sage, thinker and theology enthusiast Adi Shankaracharya.
Placed on the bank of Mandakini River and having being visited by the Pandava brothers themselves this ancient temple holds immense value in the life of devotees.
2. Chitai Golu Devta Temple, Almora
Golu Devta Mandir is one of the most pious temples in Uttarakhand where the locals worship this avatar or incarnation of Lord Shiva. Devbhoomi is dotted all over with numerous temples dedicated to the deity but the Chitai Golu Devta Temple of Almora is considered to be the holiest one.
Located at a mere distance of 9 kms from the city center it is believed that anyone who worships the Lord with a pure heart and dedication has their wishes fulfilled by the god himself. The unique feature of this temple is the presence of numerous brass bells that not only beautify the place but evokes a sense of deep spirituality.
3. Mata Naina Devi Temple, Nainital
The charming hill city of Nainital is famous for its glimmering lake and scenic views. It is also the home to one of the most sacred Shaktipeeths in India. The temple is situated on top of a small hill overlooking the scenic Naini Lake which proves to be extremely convenient. You can plan a wonderful day out consisting of a fun boat ride on the lake and then taking the blessings of goddess Naini Devi.
As per the legends, the temple houses the eyes of the goddess, hence proving to be one of the most significant and important places of goddess worship in India.
4. Tungnath Mahadev Temple, Rudraprayag
Famous for being the highest Shiva temple in the world Tungnath Mahadev in Chopta is a must-visit temple not only for devotees but also for outdoor adventure lovers as well. The cobblestone path leading up to the temple entrance is a magical experience as it is bound on all sides by beautiful rhododendron flowers, high altitude wildflowers, and the snow-clad hills that will keep you company throughout the trip.
This is one exhilarating journey that is open for people of all ages and guarantees an experience of a lifetime.
Note: If you wish to explore more, then you can walk 1 km ahead and check out the Chandrashila peak for a better 360-degree view of the Himalayas.
5. Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Rishikesh
Lord Shiva is also referred to as Neelkantha to commemorate his selfless act towards volunteering to keep the poison in his throat. The temple is situated at a distance of 30 kms from Rishikesh on an elevation of 1,330 Metres above sea level and is bound by the Nar and Narayan mountain ranges.
Considered to be one of the most highly revered temples of Lord Shiva in India it is surrounded by impeccable dense green forest cover and offers magnificent views of the river and valleys below. The temple structure is intricately designed and brightly colored to give it a beautiful look even from far away.
6. Yamunotri Temple, Uttarkashi
Dedicated to goddess Yamuna and marking the origin Point of Yamuna River this temple is placed gently on the flank of the holy Bandarpoonch Parvat. Set against the backdrop of the cascading silver waterfalls, it is this temple that marks the starting point of the holy river of Yamuna from the Champasar glacier.
The only way to reach the temple is by walking or taking a pony or Palki ride of 8 kms from Janki Chatti. The route is extremely narrow and hangs off the face of a mountain but it is equally scenic and rewarding.
7. Kasar Devi, Almora
This 2nd-century temple dedicated to an incarnation of goddess Durga is one of the most popular temples in Uttarakhand. It is not only a deeply spiritual healing center but it also has all the NASA scientists confused due to its location on the Van Allen Belt. This location helps a meditating individual to feel extremely positive and refreshed as compared to meditating somewhere else.
This is also the very place where Swami Vivekananda had meditated for a long time and one can witness one of the most magical sunsets ever. Apart from the geomagnetic forces the peace and serenity experienced here is incomparable.
8. Kamakhya Devi Temple, Pithoragarh
Surrounded by impeccable greenery and blessed with bountiful natural beauty including snow-clad mountain peaks and deep rolling valleys, this holy temple is dedicated to goddess Kamakhya Devi. Situated at a simple distance of 7 km from the main city center of Pithoragarh and a major pilgrimage center not only for Shakti devotees but also for Hindus from all over the world.
It is believed among devout believers that offering your prayer to the goddess here people will be blessed with lifelong marital bliss and complete freedom from all mental and physical ailments. Another factor that makes this temple immensely important is that it is the only Kamakhya Devi Temple in the entire Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.
9. Badrinath Dham, Chamoli
This is probably one of the most celebrated temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu in India. Placed against the backdrop of the twin peaks of Nar and Narayan and gracing the banks of the holy river Alaknanda, this colorful temple is truly one of a kind. Being a Char Dham temple this place springs to life during the peak seasons of the pilgrimage during the months of May to early July.
The temple holds a lot of relevance in the life of avid Vaishnavites who make it a point to at least make a visit here once in a lifetime.
10. Triyuginarayan Temple, Rudraprayag
This holy ancient temple whose date goes beyond the perception of time, is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. However, this holy place marks the exact spot where Lord Shiva had married the goddess Parvati in the presence of rishis, munis, and gods. It is a popular Hindu pilgrimage site which is marked by the presence of a perpetual flame that is believed to have been burning since the time of the holy marriage.
It is also said that couples seeking lifelong partnerships should definitely pay a visit to this temple which is also surrounded by beautiful green fields and gently rolling hills on all sides.
11. Katarmal Sun Temple, Almora
Some of the great places to travel in Uttarakhand in less budget would be the Katarmal Surya Temple. It is a 9th century temple, about 19 Kms from Almora. It is the second sun temple of India after Sun temple of Konark. It is about 2,116 m above sea level. It was built by a Katyuri King named Katarmala in ancient architectural design that boasted beautiful intricate wooden carvings on the doors and panels.
12. Jageshwar Temple, Almora
These are a group of over 100 temples that date back between 7th and 12th century. They are situated among beautiful canopy of tall cedars and Shivalik hills of Jageshwar town of Almora district in Uttarakhand. The temples are mostly dedicated to Lord Shiva with around 180 Shiva lingas in the premises of the temple along with other temples dedicated to Surya, Vishnu, Shakti and Kuber.
Vridh Jageshwar is only 40 km from Almora with innumerable temples of Shiva and the legends that exist of these.
Bageshwar is about 75 km from Almora. Bageshwar is famous for the confluence of the Rivers, Sarayu and Gomti. The ancient temple dedicated to Shiva, built by the Katyuri kings attracts many pilgrims to this site, especially in January on the religious occasion of Makar Sankranti. There are other places to visit in Uttarakhand from Almora such as Baijanath and Gananath.
13. Patal Bhuvaneswar, Pithoragarh
Gangolihat, 110 km away from Almora, is an important religious center. Patal Bhuvaneswar is a limestone cave temple dedicated to lord Shiva, about 14 km from the town of Gangolihat in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. These caves have spectacular stalactite and stalagmite formations that interestingly hold uncanny resemblance to several deities.
The caves hold historical importance with Hinduism. The caves have a narrow entry that open up to a number of caves formed by the river. There are also some other temples in the area surrounding, such as Mahakali Temple, Haat Kalika temple, Mostamanu Temple and Ghunsera Devi Temple.