The glorifying Uttarakhand is a peaceful state which has been conferred with the epithet of “Devbhoomi”, the land of gods. To live up to its name the state possesses various sacred shrines that are visited by thousands of devotees each year.
Uttarakhand houses many sacred Hindu temples like Chota Char Dham, Panch Kedar, Panch Prayag, Panch Badri, Shakti Peeth and Siddha Peeth. These holy shrines are adorned in the mountain areas in the serenity of the Himalayas, making the aura divine. One can surrender in the divine intervention of Hindu gods and enrapture in the spiritual bliss of the hill temples.
There are temples of representing “divine knowledge”, Durga, the (fire) form of lord Shiva, goddess par excellence, Chandika, representing kali in her most terrible forms has nine temples in Garhwal and two in Kumaon, Sitala, the goddess of small pox has temples dedicated to her in Almora, Srinagar, Jageshwar and other places.
The land of thousand temples, Uttarakhand has been a religious and spiritual magnet since antiquity. For thousands of years, sages and saints have walked to the Himalayan abode of Lord Shiva and seek blessings from the Vasudev, The Almighty. There are numerous centuries old shrines and temples in Uttarakhand revered by the devotees.
Browse through the List of Top Hindu Temples in Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand is the land of pilgrimage where devotees and sages have travelled to abolish their sins and seek blessings from the Lord. Haridwar is one of the Sapta Puri or seven holiest ancient cities in India and a major pilgrimage site. There are temples and ashrams in Rishikesh where one could relax and meditate. Devprayag is another holy site where the confluence of rivers gives rise to the holy Ganges.
The revered shrines of Kedarnath and Badrinath along with Gangotri and Yamunotri make up Chota Char Dham circuit which witnesses huge footfall of pilgrims and devotees every year. The Panch Kedar temples are set of five temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. In addition, there are many temples dedicated to local deities or Ishta Devta or Devis.
The state holds a religious significance in the Hindu Vedas. The temples of Uttarakhand have been divided into two categories namely Kedarkhand- which houses the temples of Garhwal division and Manaskhand- which has the temples of Kumaon division of Uttarakhand. Every temple has a mythological associated to it which has been luring the devotees to pay obeisance at these holy temples.
The state of Uttarakhand is completely dotted with the temples of various Gods and Goddesses, representing the abiding faith of the people not only belonging to this region but across the world have in them, the reverence with which they look up to them, and the obeisance they pay in the temples constructed in their names.
Devotees and spiritual seekers can find many religious places to visit in Uttarakhand. Thousands of pilgrims partake in annual Chota Char Dham Yatra and cover treacherous terrain to seek blessings from the Lord. Uttarakhand tourism bore the brunt of 2013 Uttarakhand floods but Char Dham shrines were largely unscathed. Many devotees prefer Char Dham Yatra packages which cover everything from temple visit, accommodation and transportation.
