10 temples of Lord Shiva In Uttarakhand
Nestled in the lap of the mighty Himalayas, Uttarakhand is a land of ancient temples and spiritual bliss. Amongst all the deities worshipped in this divine land, Lord Shiva holds a special place in the hearts of devotees. Renowned as "Devbhoomi", Uttarakhand houses numerous temples dedicated to Lord Shiva that have been attracting pilgrims for centuries. So, if you're planning a spiritual journey to Uttarakhand and seeking peace amidst nature's beauty, then here are ten must-visit temples of Lord Shiva that will leave an indelible mark on your soul!
Vishwanath Temple,
The Vishwanath Temple, also known as the Pashupatinath Temple, is one of the most important temples of Lord Shiva in Uttarakhand. It is located in the town of Rudraprayag, at the confluence of the Mandakini and Alaknanda rivers. The temple is believed to have been built by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century CE.
The temple complex contains a number of small shrines and temples, including those dedicated to other deities such as Ganesha, Parvati, and Hanuman. The main shrine is situated on a raised plinth amidst a courtyard. The sanctum sanctorum houses a lingam, which is revered as a symbol of Lord Shiva.
Visitors to the temple can offer prayers and offerings to Lord Shiva, and partake in various rituals such as lingam puja and abhisheka. The temple complex also contains a water tank where devotees can take a holy dip.
Gopinath Temple- Gopeshwar:
The Gopinath temple is located in the town of Gopeshwar, in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. The temple is one of the five Pancha Kedar temples, which are dedicated to Lord Shiva. The other four temples in this group are the Kedarnath, Badrinath, Tungnath and Rudranath temples.
Gopinath temple is believed to be built by Adi Shankaracharya, and is said to be the place where he attained enlightenment. The temple is situated at an altitude of 1370 m above sea level, and offers stunning views of the Himalayan mountains.
The main attraction of the temple is the Shivlingam, which is made of black granite. It is believed that this Shivlingam was worshipped by Lord Rama during his 14-year exile from Ayodhya.
The temple complex also houses a number of smaller shrines, including those dedicated to Goddess Parvati, Hanuman and Ganesh. There is also a small pond called Surya Kund, where devotees can take a holy dip.
The best time to visit Gopinath temple is between April and October, when the weather is pleasant and cool.
Baijnath Temple – Bageshwar,The Baijnath Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the town of Bageshwar in Uttarakhand. The temple was built in the 12th century by the Katyuri king, Bharaspati Deva. The temple is situated on the banks of the Gomti River, at an elevation of 1,316 metres (4,318 ft).
The main sanctum of the temple houses a lingam (an iconic symbol of Lord Shiva), which is believed to have been installed by Shankaracharya (a revered 8th-century philosopher and theologian). The temple complex also contains a number of other shrines and temples, dedicated to various deities.
Every year, thousands of pilgrims visit the Baijnath Temple to offer their prayers and worship Lord Shiva. The temple is also a popular destination for tourists and travellers who come to explore its architectural beauty and religious significance.
Jageshwar Dham – AlmoraIf you are looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, Jageshwar Dham in Almora is the perfect place for you. Surrounded by forests and mountains, this temple complex is a haven of peace and tranquility. Jageshwar Dham consists of 125 temples, all dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temples date back to the 9th and 10th centuries, and are a beautiful example of North Indian architecture.
The complex also has a museum which houses artifacts from the temples, as well as a library with a collection of ancient texts. Jageshwar Dham is the perfect place to come if you want to learn more about Hinduism and the history of India.
Neelkanth Mahadev – Rishikesh
Neelkanth Mahadev, located in Rishikesh, is one of the most revered temples of Lord Shiva in Uttarakhand. The temple is situated atop a hill and offers breathtaking views of the river Ganga and the surrounding mountains. devotees from all over India come to this temple to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva.
The temple is believed to be built by Adi Shankaracharya and houses a large statue of Lord Shiva. The temple complex also has a number of smaller shrines dedicated to other deities such as Ganesh, Hanuman, Parvati, and Vishnu. There is also a small water tank inside the complex where devotees can take a dip to purify themselves before entering the main shrine.
The best time to visit Neelkanth Mahadev is during the Shivratri festival when lakhs of devotees throng to the temple to offer their prayers.
Kalpeshwar Mahadev – Chamoli
Kalpeshwar Mahadev is one of the most sacred temples of Lord Shiva in Uttarakhand. It is located at an altitude of 2,200 metres in the Himalayan range near the town of Chamoli. The temple is believed to be over 1,000 years old and is a popular pilgrimage site for Hindus. The main shrine of the temple is a natural cave which has a Shivlingam inside it. There are also several other shrines and temples within the complex.
Rudranath temple – Chamoli
The Rudranath temple is one of the most important temples of Lord Shiva in Uttarakhand. It is located in Chamoli district and is one of the five Panch Kedar temples. The temple is situated at an altitude of 2,286 metres above sea level and is surrounded by dense forests. The temple is believed to have been built by the Pandavas during their exile.
The main idol of Lord Shiva in the Rudranath temple is made of black granite and is about three feet tall. The idol is worshipped in the form of a lingam. There are also many small shrines dedicated to other deities like Ganesh, Parvati, Hanuman, etc. inside the temple complex.
The Rudranath temple attracts a large number of pilgrims from all over India every year. The best time to visit the temple is between April and October when the weather is pleasant.
Tungnath temple – Rudraprayag
The Tungnath temple is one of the most revered temples of Lord Shiva. It is situated at an altitude of 3, 680 m in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. The temple is believed to be more than 1000 years old and is a part of the Panch Kedar group of temples. It is said that Lord Shiva himself had built this temple.
The temple complex comprises five temples, out of which the main temple is dedicated to Tungnath, the second highest Shiva Lingam in the world. The other four temples are dedicated to Uma, Ganesh, Vishnu and Nandi respectively. The main attraction of the temple is the breathtaking view of the Himalayan ranges from its premises.
Every year, thousands of devotees visit this temple to seek blessings of Lord Shiva. The temple remains open for pilgrims from April to November.
Madhyamaheshwar temple – Rudraprayag
The Mandhya Maheshwara temple is located in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. The temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples of Lord Shiva. It is believed that Lord Shiva appeared in the form of a lingam at this place.
The temple is situated at an altitude of 3,133 metres above sea level. The main attraction of the temple is the natural Shivlingam which is made of black granite. The Shivlingam is about 2.5 metres high and 1 metre in circumference. There are also two other smaller Shivlingams in the temple complex.
The Mandhya Maheshwara temple is open from 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM for darshan. There is no entry fee for visiting the temple.
The Kedarnath temple is one of the most important temples of Lord Shiva. It is situated in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand. The temple is believed to have been built by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century CE. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga temples of Lord Shiva. The Kedarnath temple is a major pilgrimage site for Hindus and attracts thousands of pilgrims every year.
The Kedarnath temple is located at an altitude of 3,583 m above sea level. The temple complex comprises three main structures: the Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum), the Mandapam (hall) and the Nandi mandapam (hall with a statue of Nandi). The temple complex also has several other smaller shrines and temples.
The Kedarnath temple is built in the traditional North Indian architectural style with a pyramidal roof structure. The main entrance to the temple faces east and there are four smaller entrances on the other three sides. The main shrine houses a large lingam (phallic symbol) of Lord Shiva.
The Kedarnath temple complex also has a number of other shrines and temples dedicated to various deities such as Ganesha, Parvati, Hanuman, Kubera and Vishnu. There are also a number of small water bodies within the complex which are considered holy by pilgrims.
Kedarnath temple – RudraprayagConclusion
Uttarakhand is home to some of the most beautiful temples of Lord Shiva in India. All ten temples mentioned here are highly renowned for their peaceful and spiritual ambience, offering a unique experience to visitors. Each temple has its own significance, making it worth visiting at least once in your lifetime. If you’re planning a pilgrimage or simply looking for an opportunity to connect with divine energy, these Shiva temples in Uttarakhand are perfect destinations.