Top 8 Temples in Uttarakhand to Visit

Uttarakhand, also known as “Land of Gods” or Devabhoomi, is a north Indian breathtaking, mesmerizing landscape, spiritual significance, and adventure opportunity. Located in the lap of the Himalayas, home to some of the most sacred and revered Hindu temple pilgrimage sites, which include the Char Dham Yatra like Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. These attract millions of people every year, where the Ganga River enters the plains, hosts the Grand Kumbh Mela, and pilgrim drawings around the world. Rishikesh is renowned as the “Yoga Capital of India,” which offers cool retreats for adventure enthusiasts and spiritual seekers and comes with the opportunities of river rafting, trekking, and meditation by the holy river Ganges. In this blog, we are going to cover the “Top 8 Temples in Uttarakhand to Visit.” 

1. Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath means “Lord of the Fields” and has been taken from the Sanskrit word Kedar (Field) Nath (God). Kedarnath Temple is one of the most revered and sacred pilgrimage sites dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, in India, situated at an altitude of 3,586 meters and is covered by a snow-capped scenic landscape. Kedarnath is part of Char Dham Yatra, Do Dham Yatra, and Panch Kedar and counted in the 12 Jyotirilingas. This temple is renowned for its temple trek, which is filled with immense spiritual energy. That's why people and devotees love to come to the Kedarnath Temple.

The history of Kedarnath Temple:

According to legend, it is believed that the Pandavas of the Mahabharata built the Kedarnath Temple to get forgiveness from Lord Shiva for killing their brother in the Kurukshetra war and for sins, but Lord Shiva wanted to avoid them and turned himself into a bull. The second one from Pandavas: Bhima saw the bull grazing, then Bhima immediately understood that the bull was Lord Shiva, and Bhima caught the bull by the hump, but the bull-formed Lord Shiva disappeared into the ground, and after some time he reappeared in parts of the hump, raising in Kedarnath, his four limbs appearing in Tungnath, his face in Rudranath, his navel and stomach in Madhyamaheshwar, and his hair appearing in Kalpeshwar, which is called in present time Panch Kedar.

2. Badrinath Temple

Badrinath temple is located in the Chamoli District of Uttarakhand, India. Badrinath Temple is situated at an altitude of 3133 meters along the banks of the Alaknanda River. This temple is one of the Char Dham and Chota Char Dham Yatra and one of the 108 Divya Desams, which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This temple is the most visited pilgrimage site in India, having a record of 2.8 million visits in 2 months in 2022. This temple trek has immense spiritual energy, and people and devotees love to plan trips for this temple.

The history of Badrinath Temple:

According to Vedic scripture and some accounts, this shrine was worshiped in some form in the Vedic period. Later, in Ashoka's time, the spread of Buddhism converted this shrine into a Buddhist shrine. The temple was a Buddhist temple until Adi Shankaracharya revived the shrine and converted it into a Hindu temple in the 8th century.

3. Tungnath Temple

Tunganath temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located in Rudraprayag District in Uttarakhand, India. This temple is the highest temple in the world and the highest temple in the Panch Kedar—Tungnath temple, one of the Panch Kedar. Tungnath Temple is situated at an altitude of 3680 meters, which is below the peak of Chandarshila, and this temple is connected to the Legends of Pandavas, Heroes of the Mahabharata epic. This trek is loved by people who like to do snow-capped treks.

The history of Tungnath Temple:

According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva and his wife, Goddess Parvati, both reside in the Himalayas. Lord Shiva resides at Mount Kailash, and Goddess Parvati is known to be Shailaputri, which means Daughter of the Mountain. According to legend, the Pandavas, after they defeated their cousin brother in the Kurukshetra war, wished to atone for their sins to Lord Shiva, but Lord Shiva disappeared and converted in the part that included Tungnath Temple.

4. Yamunotri Temple

Yamunotri Temple is the most revered and sacred temple, which holds immense spiritual energy, located in the western region of the Garhwal Himalayas at an altitude of 3291 meters in Uttarakashi District, Uttarakhand, India, which is the main headquarters. This temple is dedicated to the goddess Yamuna, which has a black marble idol of the goddess. This is the full-day ho journey.

The history of Yamunotri Temple:

This temple was twice destroyed by flood and snow before being rebuilt. This temple is located on the Bandarpoonch backdrop. Furthermore, this temple is a revered part of Chota Char Dham.

5. Gangotri Temple

Gangotri is one of the Chota Char Dham Pilgrims' sites in Uttarakhand, which is the origin of the Ganges river. This temple is located at an altitude of 3200 meters above sea level in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, in India, and is dedicated to the goddess Ganga. The source of the Ganga River, named Bhagirathi, originates from the Gangotri glacier, which confluences with the Alaknanda River in Devprayag, and then the river acquires the name Ganga.

The history of Gangotri Temple:

The original Gangotri Temple was built by Amar Singh Thapa, a general of Nepal, and later in the 19th century restored by King Madho Singh of Jaipur.

6. Jageshwar Temple

Jageshwar Temple is an ancient pilgrimage site dedicated to Lord Shiva, which is a group of 125 stone temples. Jageshwar temple is located at an altitude of 1870 meters in the Almora district of Uttarakhand, and this temple is surrounded by dense deodar forest. The Jageshwar temple attracts many people and devotees, as well as travelers alike, who are seeking peace and divine blessing. The architecture of this temple features wooden elements, stone carving, tall spires, and characteristics of Nagara-style temple construction. Currently, this site is managed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The history of Jageshwar Temple:

These temples are from the 8th century to the 18th century, during the Katyuri & Chand rule. Over the centuries, they have been renovated, particularly during the reign of Katyuri King Shalivahandev, who played a major role in their restoration and conservation. There is an inscription of Malla Kings on the premises of the main temple, which proves their deep devotion and respect for Jageshwar.

7. Neelkanth Mahadev Temple

Neelkanth Mahadev Temple is a sacred temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and located at an altitude of 1330 meters in the Garhwal Himalayas, and this temple is located 32 km away from Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. This temple is covered by a lush, green, dense forest, which will offer you a breathtaking view of the Nar-Narayan mountain range. Pilgrims and Shiva devotees visit the temple throughout the year, but it draws giant crowds during Maha Shivaratri and the Shravan month when grand celebrations and special rituals take place.

The history of Neelkanth Mahadev Temple:

This is the place where Lord Shiva drank the halahala, the deadly poison that came out during the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), and his throat turned blue, and hence he is called Neelkanth (blue throat).

8. Baijnath Temple

Baijnath Temple is an ancient and historic temple complex of Lord Shiva in the Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand. Located on the banks of the Gomati River at a height of 1125 meters above sea level, it is a prominent spiritual and architectural landmark of the region. Believed to be built in the 12th century by Katyuri kings who ruled Kumaon during that time. The temple complex is renowned for its intricate stone carvings, beautiful sculptures, and rich heritage for both the devotees and history lovers. Surrounded by natural beauty, Baijnath Temple is still a popular pilgrimage and a testimony to the ancient Indian architecture.

The history of Baijnath Temple:

The temple built in the 9th to 12th centuries AD is a protected monument of the Archaeological Survey of India. As per legend, King Bhagirath did extreme penance to please Lord Shiva and bring Ganga down to earth for the salvation of his ancestors. Furthermore, the Pandavas, after the Mahabharata war, performed “Deva Yajna” at this holy place to seek pardon for the lives lost during the war. The temple has deep spiritual significance and is a major pilgrimage place for devotees.