Mahashivratri is a grand festival dedicated to Lord Shiva that will be observed on 26th January; devotees celebrate this day by going to temples to seek the blessings of the almighty. Uttarakhand, called ‘Land of Gods,’ has many Shiva temples, all of which have much mythological import and natural beauty. From the highly revered Kedarnath Temple of the Himalayas to the tranquil Mukteshwar Temple in the Kumaon Hills, these divine places attract people to come and seek blessings.
Here are some of the Shiva temples you could visit in Uttarakhand this Mahashivratri for an eventful, soul-stirring experience.
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Kedarnath Temple, Rudraprayag:
Standing in the midst of the Himalayas, this holy temple is one of the most revered Shiva temples and a key part of the Char Dham Yatra. Surrounded by the majestic Himalayas, it is believed to have been originally built by the Pandavas of the Mahabharata. The temple is open during the summer months, but the winter sees the ceremony of moving the idol to Ukimath since heavy snow brings closure to the temple.
Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Rishikesh:
Heavily wooded and stunningly picturesque surroundings adorn this Neelkanth Mahadev Temple that lies 32 km from Rishikesh in Pauri Garhwal, amidst the Nar-Narayan mountain ranges. This temple is associated with the Samudra Manthan legend, wherein Lord Shiva consumed the poison, thus making his throat blue. The shikhara of the temple exhibits this legend through intricate carvings, which makes it an important pilgrimage centre.
Tungnath Temple, Chopta:
The temple is situated at 3,680 meters in Chopta, just below the Chandrashila peak. It is the highest Hindu shrine to Shiva in the world and is one of the Panch Kedars, believed to have been built by Arjuna, one of the Pandavas. The architecture of the temple is very similar to that of Kedarnath and Madhyamaheshwar; during the winter, the deity is moved to Mukunath.
Agasteshwar Mahadev Temple, Rudraprayag:
18 km from Rudraprayag, on the bank of the Mandakini River, the temple is dedicated to Sage Agastya, believed to have meditated here. The temple is set in a calm environment, orientated toward good meditation. A very large fair is organised here every year during the time of Baisakhi, drawing large crowds of devotees.
Mukteshwar Temple, Nainital:
Located at 2,286 meters in the Kumaon Hills, the Mukteshwar Temple is a sacred Shiva shrine 51 km away from Nainital. The temple has a Shiva Lingam and surrounding idols of Vishnu, Brahma, Ganesh, Nandi, and Parvati. Nearby is another tourist site, the famous rock-climbing venue Chauli ki Jali, making it an adventure-lover’s and spiritually inclined destination.
