The Panch Badari (Panchbadris, or Pancha Badri) refers to five sacred shrines dedicated to the worship of Lord Vishnu in different forms, located in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India. These temples are of immense religious significance in Hinduism, particularly within the Vaishnavite tradition. Each temple is associated with unique legends, historical significance, and distinct architectural features. Below is a detailed exploration of each of these five sacred sites: 1. Vishal Badari (Badrinath) Location : Badrinath, Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. Significance : Vishal Badari, commonly known as Badrinath, is the most prominent and central shrine among the Panch Badaris. It is one of the Char Dhams (four sacred pilgrimage sites) and is located at an elevation of 3,133 meters (10,279 feet) above sea level. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu meditated here, protected by Adi Shesha, the serpent king, while Goddess Lakshmi assumed the form of a Badri tree (jujube) to provide ...

Lakshman Sidh Mandir is a revered religious site located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. This sacred place holds significant importance in local folklore and Hindu tradition due to its dual historical and spiritual associations. According to tradition, the Lakshman Sidh Mandir was established by Lakshmana, a disciple of the sage Dattatreya, as a sacred center of power. This site is one among the 84 sidh peeths (centers of spiritual power) linked with Dattatreya, an esteemed figure in Hinduism known for his wisdom and mystical teachings. In addition to its connection with Dattatreya, the temple is steeped in the legends of the Ramayana. It is believed that Lakshmana, the brother of Lord Rama, performed penances at this site. Legend states that Lakshmana sought redemption here for the sin of killing Ravana, the demon king who was also a Brahmin. This act of penance underscores the temple's significance as a place of spiritual purification and penance. A notable feature of the Lakshma...

Surkanda Devi Temple, nestled near the village of Kaddukhal in the picturesque state of Uttarakhand, India, stands as a testament to Hindu spirituality and mythology. Perched at an altitude of approximately 2,750 meters (9,022 feet), this sacred shrine is situated atop a hill, providing devotees with not only a place of worship but also breathtaking views of the surrounding natural beauty. Surkanda Devi Temple Story Dedicated to Goddess Surkanda, the temple carries a profound historical and mythological significance. Legend has it that this is the very site where Mata Sati's head fell during the tumultuous events following the infamous Daksha Yajna. In an attempt to pacify Lord Shiva, who was distraught and wandering the universe with Sati's lifeless body, Lord Vishnu intervened by cutting her body into pieces. This act restored balance to the universe, and the temple was initially known as Sirkanda before adopting its current name, Surkanda Devi Temple. It is revered as on...

Baba Baukh Nag temple is located at Silkyara in Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand. The location where the makeshift Baba Baukh Nag temple stands, having recently provided protection for 41 trapped miners in Silkyara, Uttarkashi, serves as a testament to the deep-seated belief that our mountains have historically safeguarded and sustained humanity. According to local folklore, the temple's removal at the entrance to the tunnel during the construction of the Char Dham Marg is believed to have incurred the wrath of Baukh Nag. The Tranquil Retreat of Bhagavan Sri Krishna: After the intense and pivotal Battle of Kurukshetra, Bhagavan Sri Krishna, seeking solace and tranquility, ventured into the majestic mountains that adorned the landscape. Among these sacred peaks, Baukh Nag Tibba emerged as a resting place for the divine entity. The serenity of the mountainous terrain provided a serene backdrop for Bhagavan Sri Krishna to reflect and find solace. The Enchanting Melody and the Emergence...

Rudraprayag, nestled in the pristine Himalayan ranges, holds a significant place in the spiritual tapestry of India. This sacred town is steeped in Hindu religion importance and history, with a story that revolves around the devout sage Narada and his penance to please Mahadeva Shiva. According to local legend, Rudraprayag is the hallowed ground where Sage Narada undertook rigorous penance to seek the blessings of Mahadev Shiva. Narada's unwavering devotion and austere practices captured the attention of Shiva, who appeared before the sage. Pleased with Narada's dedication, Mahadev Shiva bestowed upon him the profound knowledge of the science and art of music. This divine encounter is believed to have taken place at the Rudranatha Shiva temple, a sacred site that stands as a testament to the spiritual vibrancy of Rudraprayag. The geographical setting of Rudraprayag adds to its mystique. It is strategically located at the confluence of two mighty rivers, Alakananda and Manda...

Aathon festival, also known as Sathon Aanthon Vrat, is mainly observed in the Soar valley of Pithoragarh and adjoining areas of western Nepal. In 2025, Aathon is from August 30 to September 1. The vrat and festival observed in Bhadrapad month is dedicated to Shiva and Goddess Parvati – Maheswar and Gaura. The three-day festival begins on the Shukla Paksha Saptami day in Bhadrapad month. Aathon is observed for the welfare of the family and for good harvest. It is one of oldest forms of Gaura Worship in the country. The main ritual includes tying of ‘dor’ on the right hand by women – a sacred thread. This thread is tied till the next Aathon Festival. Seeds of five grains and fruits are offered to Goddess Gaura for prosperity of the family. On the Ashtami day, women in the village offer prayers before the murtis of Gaura and Maheshwar – the murtis are made by the men of the village. On the navami day, married women do prayers to Dub Dhaga or Mangalsutra. At the end of...

When the Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand is closed after Diwali for winter, the swaroop of the Shiva (Panchamukha Doli) from the temple is carried to the Ukhimath Temple . Shiva as Kedarnath resides during the harsh winter (till Akshaya Tritiya day) at the Ukhimath Temple . Kedarnath mandir is usually closed on the Bhai Dooj day, two days after Diwali. The Swayambhu Shivling worshipped in Kedarnath temple is given the samadhi roop shringar on the final day. The Shivling is covered with bhagambar, bhringraj flowers, bhasma, and regional flowers and leaves ( बाघंबर, भृंगराज फूल, भस्म, स्थानीय शुष्क फूलों- पत्तों).  The doors of the the sanctum sanctorum are closed when Bhakut Bhairavnath is summoned as he is the protector deity during the harsh winter season when people are not present in the temple. (भकुंट भैरव नाथ के आह्वान के साथ ही गर्भगृह तथा मुख्य द्वार बंद किया गया। साथ ही पूरब द्वार को भी सीलबंद किया गया।) कपाट बंद होने के बाद भगवान केदारनाथ जी की पंचमुखी डोली शीतकालीन...

Sidhbali Temple is located on the banks of Khoh River and is surrounded by Shivaliks. It is around 3 km from Kotdwar in Pauri Garhwal District in Uttarakhand. Sidhbali Mandir is a sacred pilgrimage for Nath community as the Guru of Naths, Guru Gorakhnath, meditated here for several years. Kotdwar Sidhbali Dham is also one of the 84 Siddha Peethas. It is believed that Hanuman gave darshan to Guru Gorakhnath here. The main murti worshipped in the shrine is that of Hanuman – in a Pindi form. Later a murti of Hanuman in standing posture holding mace and mountain was added by devotees. The mandap area of the shrine has pictures of Hindu deities. All pictures are hand drawn by artists from Rajasthan. The temple complex also has murtis of Goddess Kali and Santoshi Ma. Regular bhandaras are held here on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday. The most important day in the shrine is the Jayanti day of Sidha Baba. Rudra Abhishek, Rudra path and Shobha Yatra are part of the festivities. ...

Mostamanu is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located around 8 km from Pithorgarh in Uttarakhand. The shrine nestles on a hillock and it is believed that Mostamanu Temple was a shakti shrine earlier. It was converted into a Shiva temple later. The fair and festival in the temple is famous for its unique rituals. The temple is also witness to the annual ritual in the Dhunga Bhool area. The shrine is a conical structure and the inside of temple has be renovated and tiles are pasted around.  Hindu Temple Architecture in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand: A Comparative Study Introduction: Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, two states nestled in the Indian Himalayas, are renowned for their distinct Hindu temple architecture. Both regions have been influenced by their geography, climate, and cultural history, resulting in unique styles that, while sharing some similarities, exhibit significant differences as well. Historical Context: Himachal Pradesh: The architectural st...

Gangotri Temple in Himalayas is part of the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand. It is located in Uttarkashi. Gangotri Temple architecture is influenced by Katyuri style and it has five small shikhars of 20 feet height. The shrine faces east and the first rays of sun falls on it. The sanctum sanctorum is built on a raised platform and has murtis of Goddess Ganga, the main deity, Goddess Yamuna , Mahalakshmi, Annapurna, Saraswati and Bhagirath. A murti of Adi Shankaracharya is also found here. Legend has it that King Bhagirath performed intense austerities here for 5500 years to bring Ganga down from heaven so that she can wash away the sins of his ancestors. Four other small shrines are located in the vicinity of the Gangotri Temple and they are dedicated to Shiva, Ganesha, Hanuman and Bhagirathi. Ganga is known as Bhagirathi at the source and later takes the name Ganga after the confluence with Alakananda River at Devprayag. The first aarti in the temple is performed a...

There is a 5-meter high trident at Gopinath Temple in Gopeshwar – Uttarakhand. It is believed that Shiva threw this trishul on Kamdev. Legend has it that Shiva was performing intense Tapas after the death of Sati . There was total imbalance in the universe. To bring back the universe into its prior state, Devas deputed Kamdev to arouse passion in Shiva so that he returns to worldly life. It is believed that Shiva threw a trident at Kamdev for disturbing his Tapas. Later Kamdev was burned down to ashes by the third eye of Shiva. Gopinath Temple also known as Rudranath Mandir is a located about 10 km from Chamoli on the way to Ukhimath. The main murti worshipped in the temple is a Shivling. The trident is about 5-meter high and has a diameter of 20 cm. The trishul is made of eight different metals and stands outside in open air. In spite of being in open air for several centuries, the trishul has no weathered. Rain, sun, snow and wind has not effect on the trident. ...

Joshimath Narasimha Temple is located on the National Highway 7 on the way to Badrinath Temple in Uttarakhand. Also known as Narsingh Badri Temple, this is an ancient temple of Ugra Narasimha with the striking man-lion form of Lord Vishnu at Jyotirmath, the earlier name of Joshimath.   Of all the temples in the region, this temple is the most magnificent. Short History Of Joshimath Narasimha Temple   Carved from the Saligrama, the murti of Ugra Narasimha at the Joshimath Mandir was supposedly crafted in the 8th century AD during the reign of King Lalitaditya Yukta Pida of Kashmir. As in Badrinath, Lord Narasimha gives darshan to devotees in padmasana (sitting) posture. Devotees believe that the murti is not crafted but self manifested from the Shaligram shila. The murti is about 10 inches high and remarkably detailed, sitting in a lotus position. To the right of Narasimha we can have darshan of Mata Sita, Rama, Hanuman and Garuda. Against the left...

A small but extremely beautiful and holy Jwalaji Temple, dedicated to Goddess Durga, is located at the top Benog Hill in Mussoorie. Benog hill (2104 meters) is a small trek and one can have a beautiful view of Aglar River valley from here. The temple is around 9 km west of Mussoorie town. There is no eternal flame in the temple. The temple is only named after the Jwalaji form of Goddess Durga. There is only a small but beautiful stone murti of Goddess Durga in the small temple. Goddess Durga is worshipped as Jwalaji – the eternal flame – in Hinduism. Symbolically, it represents the infinite energy that is responsible for the universe. When Mother Goddess withdraws the energy, darkness envelops in the universe. The limited human mind has tried to capture the unlimited in the form of eternal flame. Maa Durga worshipped here is a wish fulfilling deity. Devotees in large number visit the shrine offer prayers for their wishes to be fulfilled. It is believed that walk...

Bilkeshwar Mahadev Temple is an ancient shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva at Haridwar in Uttarakhand. The popular belief is that Goddess Parvati performed intense Tapas here to get Shiva as her husband. She survived by eating Bilwa leaves and hence the Shivling here is known as Bilkeshwar. The temple is located atop the Bilwa Mountain and it is near to Hari-ki-Pauri in Haridwar. The Shivling worshipped in the temple is under the canopy of Sheshanag. The Gauri Kund located here was created by Brahma. He created the pond to quench the thirst of Goddess Parvati. It is considered meritorious to take holy dip in the pond. Thousands of people arrive here to have a holy dip in Shravan month and during Makar Sankranti. There is widespread belief that prayers offered here never go unanswered. Unmarried girls get good husband after performing abhishek and offering bilva leaves to the Shivling here. It is believed that if a devotee offers Bilva leaves here then the devotee will n...

Uttarayani Mela and Festival held at Bageshwar in Uttarakhand during Makar Sankranti is one of the largest fair in the Kumaun region. The fair is organized for a week during the second week of January. In 2026, the Uttarayani Mela and Festival is on January 14. Important pujas and rituals are held on this day. The rituals on the day are dedicated to Surya, the sun god. Thousands of people attend the fair. The most important aspect of the festival is the trade that takes place during the period. Numerous rare produce from the high mountains like furs, yak tails, musk, borak, dry fruits, fresh fruits etc are traded by Bhotiyas and other hill people. Animals like ponies, goats and sheep are also traded during the fair.

Ek Hathiya Deval Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva but worship is not offered in this Shiva Temple. The temple is located at Baltir Village around 70 km from Pithoragarh. The shrine got the name Ek Hathiya Temple because the temple was constructed in a night with a single hand by a sculptor who had lost his one hand. Ek hath means one hand. The Shivling in the temple is carved out of the mountain. No puja and archana is offered in the temple. Devotees merely have darshan of the Shivling. The temple door is on the west. The height of main mandap is 1.85 meter and the breadth is 3.15 meter. Story of Ek Hathiya Deval Temple in Uttarakhand There lived a sculpture in the region and he was famous for carving sculptures and building temples. Once he lost a hand in an accident. The sculpture continued with is work but the villagers of the region stopped giving him work. An angry sculpture decided to leave the village but before leaving the village, he carved a temple...

Anand Bhairav is a calm and benign form of Lord Shiva. This form of Shiva is also known as Batuk Bhairav. An ancient Anand Bhairav Temple in India is located at Haridwar in Uttarakhand. The shrine is near the famous Maya Devi Temple in Haridwar . The murti of Anand Bhairav in the shrine is unique and it is in the form of a Shivling – with a prominent moustache, nose and eyes carved on the holy Shivling. There is also a red color pindi near the main Anand Bhairav murti in the sanctum sanctorum. The ancient temple, which is a small structure, was renovated during the 20 th century. The subsidiary deities worshipped in the temple are Dattatreya in sitting posture, Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha, Kartik and Goddess Kali. The temple has a small but unique navgraha temple. Navgrahas, or nine planets, are worshipped here along with their vehicle or vahana. There is also anther Ganesh murti near the Navgraha shrine.

Uttarakhand, known for its spiritual and natural beauty, is home to several renowned cave temples. These temples are not only significant for their religious importance but also for their historical and architectural value.  Gauri udiyar is a cave temple located around 8 km from Bageshwar in Uttarakhand. This large caves shrine is dedicated to Hindu God Shiva. Numerous idols of Shiva are placed in the cave measuring 20 X95 Sq Mts. The shrine attracts scores of devotees throughout the year. Special pujas are performed here during Shivratri, Shravan month and the Navratras. In Shravan month, Kanwarias visit the shrine in large numbers. Here are some of the popular cave temples in Uttarakhand: Patal Bhuvaneshwar Cave Temple : Location : Pithoragarh district Description : This ancient cave temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is believed to be as old as the Earth itself. The cave is 160 meters long and 90 feet deep and contains intricate limestone rock formations that resem...

Purnagiri Temple at Purnagiri in Champawat is dedicated to Mother Goddess Shakti. The popular shrine in Uttarakhand state of India is accessible throughout the year and is at an altitude of 3000 meter above sea level on the Annapurna Mountain. The shrine is around 20 km from Tanakpur, 171 km from Pithoragarh and 92 km from Champawat. Purnagiri is also known as Punyagiri because River Kali descends from here to the plains and gets the name Sharda. Some scholars are of the view that the navel of Goddess Sati fell here after the infamous incident at the Daksha Yajna. Thus, the temple is also a Shakti Peetah. It is also considered one of the 108 Siddhpeetahs. Mahakali manifestation is worshipped here as per the Siddhapeetah tradition. The temple has the murti of Goddess Purnagiri sitting atop a lion. She has numerous hands and she holds various weapons. She is with a crown and is draped in sari. The most important festival in the temple is Chaitra Navrati. Purnagiri ...

Adi Badri Temple is located on the Karanprayag-Ranikhet road in Chamoli District in Uttarakhand. The belief is that it was the original abode of Lord Vishnu in Badrinath form before he moved to the present Badrinath temple. A 3 feet high murti of Bhagavan Vishnu is worshipped in the temple. The shrine is around 18 km from Karanprayag. Story of Adi Badri Temple The popular belief is that Bhagavan Vishnu resided as Badrinath at Adi Badri Temple in the first three yugas – Satya, Dwapara and Tretya Yugas. In Kali Yuga, he moved to the present Badrinath Temple. Another legend has it that in future, the road from Joshimath to Badrinath Temple will be blocked by a mountain. When this will happen the murti of Vishnu will be shifted to Adi Badri again. It is also believed that Bhagavad Gita was composed by Sage Vyasa here taking direct lessons from Vishnu. There are total sixteen temples cramped into a small space (12.5 meters X 25 meters). The most important among them is ...