India is a country where the wisdom, spirituality, and purity of nature are deeply ingrained. India is home to many religious places, from the Himalayan foothills to the Arabian Sea in the south. Uttarakhand is known as “the land of the gods” or “Devbhumi” since it has several temples and pilgrimage destinations. The Great Himalayan Ranges’ snow-covered mountains serve as the backdrop to numerous religious sites and shrines in the state of Uttarakhand. These sacred locations in Uttarakhand envelop us in their tranquility and spirituality. Here are some of Uttarakhand’s most important religious destinations.
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1. Kedarnath
The most well-known holy site in Uttarakhand is Kedarnath, a small village 86 kilometres from Rudraprayag. The Kedarnath temple is a stunning monument in the Himalayan foothills that is devoted to Lord Shiva. Kedarnath, which was constructed by the Pandavas, is one of the 12 holiest Hindu sanctuaries to Lord Shiva, according to Hindu mythology. The first of the “Panch Kedar” pilgrimage sites, Kedarnath Temple is one of the four major locations in India’s “Chota Char Dham,” a significant Hindu pilgrimage circuit of the Northern Himalayas.
The temple cannot be reached directly by road. We must hike 22 kilometers uphill from Gaurikund to the temple. From April through November, the temple is only accessible to the public for six months. Nearest airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
Nearest railway station: Rishikesh
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2. Badrinath
Badrinath, a town in the Chamoli district, is a well-known spiritual destination in Uttarakhand famed for the Badrinath Temple. The most sacred location, devoted to Lord Vishnu, is the Badrinath temple, which is close to the banks of the Alakananda river. It is among the well-known pilgrimage sites in India. The most significant festival observed at the Badrinath Temple is “Mata Murti ki Mela.” Due to the severe weather, Badrinath Temple, located in the Garhwal mountain ranges of the Himalayas, is only accessible to the general public from April to November.
Places to Visit:
- a group of hot sulfur springs called “The Tapt Kund.”
- Two water ponds in the temple are called “Narad Kund.”
- Surya Kund
Nearest airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
Nearest railway station: Rishikesh
3. Jageshwar Temples
Jageshwar Temples are a collection of 125 old Hindu temples from the 7th and 14th centuries that are situated in “Almora,” Uttarakhand. The most well-known celebrations of this temple are the Shivaratri festival, which is held in the early spring, and the Jageshwar Monsoon festival, which is held in July and August. In Uttarakhand, it is a holy site that must be visited.
Locations to Visit:
Airavat Gufa caverns, rivers “Jata Ganga” and “Sam Ganga”
Caves of Brahma Kund Patal, Bhuvaneshwar
Nearest Airport: Pantnagar Airport
Nearest Railway Station: Kathgodam
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4. Tungnath
One of the highest temples in the world, Tungnath is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is situated 3,680 metres above sea level. The tallest of the five “Panch Kedar” temples, it is also. This temple, one of India’s architectural wonders, is thought to be a thousand years old. It takes 5 kilometres of hiking to get to the temple. The well-known event observed at this revered location in Uttarakhand is called “Maha Shivratri.” April through August are the finest months to visit Tungnath.
Places to Visit: Chandrashila Trek, Kanchuka Kharak Musk Deer Sanctuary.
Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
Nearest Railway Station: Rishikesh
5. Rudranath
One of the five “Panch Kedar” Temples honouring Lord Shiva is Rudranath. Rudranath, one of the must-see holy sites in Uttarakhand, is situated at a height of 3,600 metres above sea level and is surrounded by a thick forest. Nearby to this Rudranath Temple comes the holy river Rudraganga, which contains a grey stone idol of Lord Shiva. The well-known yearly celebration of this temple takes place on the full moon day in the Hindu month of Sravan (July–August).
Places to Visit:
- Sacred water tanks (Kunds) of Surya Kund
- Chandra Kund
- TaraKund
- Mana Kund.
- The famous mountain peaks like Nanda Devi, Trishul, and Nanda
- Ghunti.
Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
Nearest railway station: Rishikesh
6. Gangotri
Gangotri, a town in Uttarakhand’s Uttarakashi district, is a revered location on the banks of the Bhagirathi River that is a must-see for tourists. According to tradition, Goddess Ganga arrived here after Lord Shiva let the river flow free from his hair’s strands. The “Chota char Dham” pilgrimage route includes it. The temple is open from May 1 to November 30. It opens on the day of Akshaya Tritiya. For the remaining six months, the temple is closed. Compared to other treks, Gangotri hiking is a little difficult.
Places to visit: Kedar Tal, Gangotri Glacier, Surya Kund, Dharali
Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
Nearest Railway Station: Rishikesh
7. Yamunotri Temple
The Yamuna deity is honored at the Yamunotri temple in Uttarakhand’s Uttarakashi district. The location of this temple is 3,291 meters above sea level. The Yamuna River originates at the “Yamunotri” Glacier. The “Chota Char Dham” pilgrimage circuit includes it. Every year from April to November, the temple is open. The holy site of Yamunotri is a must-visit destination in Uttarakhand.
Places to visit: Hot water springs, the village ‘Kharsali,’ Shani Dev Temple
Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
Nearest Railway Station: Rishikesh
8. Rishikesh
Rishikesh is a stunning spiritual location in Uttarakhand that is close to the Ganges River and situated in the foothills of the Himalayas. Rishikesh, well-known for its many temples, takes us on a spiritual trip. With the beauty of the snow-covered Himalayan mountains, Rishikesh is a spiritual location that should not be missed when in Uttarakhand. Yoga and meditation are very popular in this city. The ideal time to visit Rishikesh is from March to June.
Places to visit: Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Rishikesh valley, Triveni Ghat
Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
Nearest Railway Station: Rishikesh
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9. Haridwar
Haridwar, a well-known Hindu pilgrimage site in Uttarakhand, is well-known for its nightly Ganga Aarti Ceremony (a form of river worshipping event), during which devotees float miniature lamps onto the river. Haridwar is situated on the banks of the Holy River Ganga. The months of November through March are the ideal times to visit Haridwar. The “Kumba- Mela,” which is held every 12 years, is the most significant festival in Haridwar. Millions of pilgrims from all around the country will be at Haridwar during this period.
Places to visit:
- seven holy places called “Sapta Puri.”
- Chandi Devi Temple,
- Mansa Devi Tempe
Nearest airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
Nearest Railway Station: Haridwar
10. Devprayag
In India, Devprayag in the Uttarakhand region is a well-known holy site. One of the holy convergences, indeed. Devprayag is a significant Hindu pilgrimage destination that is encircled by three holy peaks: Giddhanchal Parvat, Dashrathanchal Parvat, and Narsinghanchal Parvat. Hindu mythology describes Devprayag as the holy site where the sacred Ganga river was created by the confluence of the Alakananda, Bhagirathi, and Saraswati rivers.
Places to visit: Dasharathshila, Raghunathji Temple, Chandrabadani Temple
Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
Nearest Railway Station: Rishikesh
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FAQ
1. Is an ID card needed to enter the temples?
Answer: No!
2. Is having a tour guide necessary for trekking?
Answer: It is better to have a tour guide. Trekking in these places is very challenging. So an experienced tour guide is needed for these travels.
