Golu Devata Temple, Ghorakhal, Uttarakhand
Golu Devata Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Golu
Devta, a tribal deity (form of Lord Shiva) located in Ghorakhal in Nainital District
in the state of Uttarakhand, India. Golu Devta or Lord
Golu or Goril Devta is the legendary God of the Kumaon and
eastern Garhwal region of Uttarakhand State.
Ghorakhal literally means ‘a pond for water to horses’. Ghorakhal is a
picturesque site, with natural serenity and placidity.
Legends
For brief details, please refer below link;
The Temple
This Temple is situated at an altitude of 2000 meters
above the sea level. It is situated near Bhowali and is the seat for Army school,
known as Sainik School Ghorakhal,
established in 1966 at the Ghorakhal Estate of the Nawab
of Rampur. This Temple is situated on Ghorakhal hill overlooking the
school and Bhimtal lake. Some scenes of Madhumati 1958
classic by Bimal Roy, which was shot extensively around
Nainital had some scenes shot at Ghorakhal as well. Also, Vivah 2006
movie had few scenes shot at this temple.
Golu Devta is seen in form of Lord Shiva, his brother
Kalva Devta is in form on Bhairava and Garh Devi is form of Shakti. The
Ghorakhal temple is characterized by the large number of bells hanging in the
premises. These bells are hung by the devotees as offerings making a wish or in
thanksgiving on the fulfillment of one’s wish. Sacrifices of goats are offered
to the deity which was, at one time, a sort-of law court, that decided several
pleas received from the distressed people of the region.
Prayers
Ghorakhal Golu Devta Temple is one of a kind temple, in
that place the devotees come with prayers, not only with devotion, but with a
physical piece of paper. These are left in the Golu Devta temple. Visitors can
see the plain papers, to legal bond papers, beautiful colourful sheets, to even
some job application forms hang here. Once the prayers are answered the devotee
comes back and puts up a brass bell. Looks like size of the bell is
proportional to the prayer answered since you’d see bells of all sizes hanging
here, thousands or lakhs in number.
It is popular belief that Golu Devta dispenses quick
justice to the devotee. Golu Devta is offered Ghee, Milk, Curd, Halwa, Poori,
Pakauri and head of Goat sacrificed. Two Male Goat sacrifice (Bali) is
performed. Preferred black in colour. One in the temple of Golu Devta and the
other outside temple in remote location. The sacrificed goat is received as
Prasada of pooja. Golu Devta is known as God of justice and prayed with great
pride and enthusiasm.
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 5 Kms from Bhowali Market,
15 Kms from Bhimtal, 16 Kms from Nainital Bus Stand, 17 Kms from Nainital, 33
Kms from Kathgodam Railway Station, 58 Kms from Almora, 67 Kms from Pantnagar
Airport and 314 Kms from New Delhi Airport. It is situated near Sainik School Ghorakhal.
Location
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