In this travel guide, we have discussed the top 12 most popular temples in Uttarakhand that are worth visiting for feeling spiritual vibes.
There are so many worth-traveling places in Uttarakhand. The temples or religious places are among them. The state of Uttarakhand is known as the “Land of Gods,” and more specifically, it is known as the “Abode of Shiva,” which is revered by millions of Hindus across India. In addition, Uttarakhand is the location of the well-known tiny Char Dham.
A visit to these Char Dhams is one of the tasks of life for every Hindu, and it is convenient for those who are unable to make a pilgrimage to the more famous Big Char Dham spread across the four corners of India.
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Before exploring the most popular spiritual destinations in Uttarakhand deeply, let’s have a quick look at them with their locations.
| Temples In Uttarakhand | Location |
| Badrinath Temple | Badri to Mata Murti road, Badrinath |
| Kedarnath Temple | Kedarnath, Uttarakhand |
| Jageshwar Temple | Aartola, Jageshwar valley, Uttarakhand |
| Gangotri Temple | Gangotri, Uttarakhand |
| Yamunotri Temple | Yamunotri, Uttarakhand |
| Tungnath Temple | Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand |
| Neelkanth Mahadev Temple | Kotdwar – Pauri Rd, Kotdwar, Uttarakhand |
| Dhari Devi Temple | Kalyasaur, Uttarakhand |
| Chitai Golu Devta Temple | Chitai, SH 37, Almora, Uttarakhand |
| Nanda Devi Temple | Dharanaula, Almora, Uttarakhand |
| Madhyamaheshwar Temple | Madhyamaheshwar Temple Trek, Uttarakhand |
| Jhula Devi Mandir (Ranikhet) | Chaubatia, Uttarakhand |
Most Famous Temples of Uttarakhand
Interested in visiting the most famous temples in Uttarakhand? Here is a list of the best temples to visit in Uttarakhand for a unique and spiritual experience.
1. Badrinath Temple
The holy Badrinath Temple, which is regarded as the most significant of all four Dhams in India, is found in the paradisiacal town of Badrinath, which is located inside the Chamoli region. The Badrinath temple is one of the Panch Badri temples, and it was originally established by Guru Adi Shankaracharya.
This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in his Nara-Narayana avatar. It is considered to be one of the most important as well as most popular temples in all of Uttarakhand. If you find yourself in Uttarakhand, make to visit this sacred site.
Location – Badri to Mata Murti road, Badrinath, Uttarakhand
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2. Kedarnath Temple
The Kedarnath temple is located in the Rudraprayag district of Kedarnath town, close to the Mandakini river. It is known as one of the most important Shaivism pilgrimage sites in India. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas that was initially constructed by the Pandava brothers and was later re-established by Guru Adi Shankaracharya.
This particular Jyotirlinga is located in the state of Uttarakhand in India. Because the weather is so dramatic there, the temple gates can only be opened between the end of April (Akshaya Tritiya) and the full moon in September (Karthik Purnima). Every winter, the temple’s divine is moved to Ukhimath so that people can pay their respects to it there during the cold months.
Location – Kedarnath, Uttarakhand
3. Jageshwar Temple
Every year, hundreds of tourists make their way to Jageshwar because it is such an important tourist attraction in Kumaon. It is in the middle of a thick forest of Deodar trees, and a creek runs through its backyard. People love to visit this temple because it’s so beautiful.
It is a well-known place to trek off the beaten path because of its beautiful Kumaoni towns and dense deodar forests. It is undoubtedly one of the best religious places in Uttarakhand. If you go to Uttrakhand, don’t forget to visit the Jageshwar temple.
Location – Aartola, Jageshwar valley, Uttarakhand
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4. Gangotri Temple
Gangotri Temple in Uttarkashi is one of the holy places that are considered to be part of the Chota Char Dhams. It was built in the 18th century and is in the rough terrain of Garhwal. Gangotri’s white Gangotri temple, which is 20 feet tall and stands on the banks of the Bhagirathi River, is one of the most popular places to go in Uttarakhand.
Tourists come to see a shrine to the goddess Ganga and a Shivlinga that was carved out of a rock and is partly submerged. Because the Gangotri temple is closed during the winter, you will need to plan your trip accordingly.
Location – Gangotri, Uttarakhand
5. Yamunotri Temple
Jankichatti, which is located on the left bank of the Yamuna River, is the starting point of the five-kilometre-long trek that leads to the Yamunotri temple in the Uttarkashi district. The Yamunotri temple is home to a black marble idol of Goddess Yamuna.
The Yamunotri temple is the first stop on the Char Dham circuit and was constructed by the Maharaja Pratap Shah of Tehri Garhwal. The Yamunotri temple is one of the four holy sites known as the Char Dhams.
Location – Yamunotri, Uttarakhand
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6. Tungnath Temple
The Tungnath temple is in the Rudraprayag district on the Chandranath Parbat. It is one of the five holy sites called the Panch Kedars. It is thought to be older than one thousand years. At an elevation of 3,680 metres above mean sea level, Tungnath is widely recognised as being the most elevated temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Tungnath is a holy location for followers of Shaivism, and in addition to glorifying idols of other gods and goddesses, it is also home to idols of Parvati. Anyone who wants to see this temple can start a short hike from Chopta that leads to it.
Location – Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand
7. Neelkanth Mahadev Temple
The spectacular Nar-Narayan mountain ranges completely enclose the Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, which is tucked away in a secluded spot at the confluence of the Pankaja and Madhumati rivers. It is one of the most visited temples in Uttarakhand.
The temple was constructed on the spot where it is believed that Lord Shiva drank the venom known as “halala” after obtaining it by churning the ocean for Amrit, also known as the “elixir of life.” This Shaivism location is located approximately 30 kilometres away from Rishikesh, making it an easy destination to reach.
Location– Kotdwar – Pauri Rd, Kotdwar, Uttarakhand
8. Dhari Devi Temple
It is believed that the deity of the Dhari Devi temple in Kaliyasaur in Srinagar Pauri, which is one of the 108 Shakti Peeths, transitions from the form of a young girl to that of a woman, and then into that of an elderly woman. The temple is nestled on the peaceful banks of the Alaknanda River.
It is said that the temple houses the upper half of the goddess Sati, while the worship of the goddess’s lower half takes place in the Kalimath temple in the Rudraprayag area.
Location – Kalyasaur, Uttarakhand
9. Chitai Golu Devta Temple
The Gaur Bhairav version of Lord Shiva is honoured at the Chitai Golu Devta Temple, which is also called the Gollu Temple or the Goljiya Devta Temple. People worship Gollu as the “God of Justice.”
The temple is also known as Gwall Devta Mandir among the locals and is located approximately 9 kilometres away from Almora. The temple is decorated with a number of bells, and individuals who are seeking justice submit letters to the god in an effort to satisfy him and ask that he bestow respect to them. Apart from this temple, you can also explore these tourist sites in Almora.
Location – Chitai, SH 37, Almora, Uttarakhand
10. Nanda Devi Temple
Nanda Devi, who is revered as the daughter of Kumaon and the patron goddess of the Chand dynasty, is honoured with the construction of this historic temple. Nanda Devi is considered to be an incarnation of the goddess Durga, and it is thought that she guards the populace against evil.
It is also renowned for being the location of the grand Nanda Devi Raj Jaat Yatra, which takes place once every twelve years and is considered to be one of the most popular temples in the Kumaon region.
Location – Unnamed Road, Dharanaula, Almora, Uttarakhand
11. Madhyamaheshwar Temple
One of the many temples dedicated to Shiva that can be found in Uttarakhand is the Madhyamaheshwar temple. The Madhyamaheshwar temple is one of the Panch Kedar temples that can be found in Uttarakhand.
It is devoted to the god Shiva. From the viewpoint of this temple, the peaks of Kedarnath, Chaukhamba, and Neelkanth may be seen in exquisite detail. It is undoubtedly one of the best religious places in Uttarakhand. If you go to Uttarakhand then don’t forget to explore this temple.
Location – Madhyamaheshwar Temple Trek, Uttarakhand
12. Jhula Devi Mandir (Ranikhet)
The Jhula Devi Mandir is considered to be one of the oldest temples in Uttarakhand. It was constructed in the eighth century. The Jhula Devi Temple can be found close to Ranikhet. It is one of the best temples to visit in Uttarakhand because of its beauty.
This is a centre of adoration for Goddess Durga, and her statue is hung from a swing made of wood (jhula). Jhula Devi Mandir is the name of the temple because of this reason. If you go to Uttarakhand then don’t forget to go to Jhula Devi Mandir.
Location – Chaubatia, Uttarakhand
Conclusion – Most Famous Temples In Uttarakhand
As Uttarakhand is called the “Land of Gods,” it is home to a variety of holy places valued for their mystical and spiritual significance. There are so many small to very big, unknown to globally known temples that attract tourists from every corner of the world.
You can visit various temples in Uttarakhand. If you go there, you should not forget to visit the temples that we have mentioned in this blog post.
The state is not only famous for its temples but also for its natural heritage, high mountains, clean rivers, hiking and treks, and most importantly for its peaceful environment.
That’s all about our discussion on the most famous temples in Uttarakhand. We would like to recommend you to visit Uttarakhand and explore these temples.
FAQs – Scared Sites in Uttarakhand
1. Which is the highest temple in Uttarakhand?
Tungnath is the highest temple in Uttarakhand which is devoted to Lord Shiva. The temple is located at an altitude of 3,690 m (12,106 ft) above sea level.
2. How many famous temples are there in Uttarakhand?
Although there are so many temples from less popular to very popular in Uttarakhand, so we can give you the exact number. But, if we talk about the most popular temples in Uttarakhand, we can give you a number. There are a total of 141 temples that attract major tourists visiting Uttarakhand.
3. Which is the oldest temple in Uttarakhand?
Lakhamandal temple, devoted to Lord Shiva is considered the oldest temple in Uttarakhand that was built circa the 12th – 13th century CE.
4. Who built the Badrinath temple?
Guru Adi Shankara, a very famous Indian saint built the Badrinath temple in the ninth century.
5. Which is the most famous temple in Almora?
Jageshwar Dham Temple ( a group of temples) is a very famous temple in Almora which is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
6. Which temple is famous in Nainital?
Mukteshwar Temple, one of the ancient sacred sites in Uttarakhand is a famous temple in Nainital.
7. Why is Uttarakhand called Devbhoomi?
The word Devbhoomi means “the land of God”. Uttarakhand is called Devbhoomi because it has the most Hindu temples than any other state in the country. Apart from this, it had been chosen by Munis and Rishis to do prayer or Tapasya of God from ancient times.
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