Rajarajeshwari Temple, Ranihat, Uttarakhand

Rajarajeshwari Temple, Ranihat, Uttarakhand

Rajarajeshwari Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to goddess Rajrajeshwari located in Ranihat, an outskirt of Srinagar Town in Srinagar Tehsil in Pauri Garhwal District in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. This temple is considered as the largest temple of Srinagar in the Shakta tradition. The temple is situated on the right bank of Alaknanda river, right in front of Srinagar SSB Campus. The temple complex is one of the state protected monuments in Uttarakhand declared by Archaeological Survey of India.

History

The temple is believed to be built in 9^th century CE but the idols enshrined in the temple are dated to the 4^th century CE. The idol of Mahishasura Mardini enshrined in the northern niche is dated to 11^th century CE. Devadasi system is practiced in this temple during ancient times.

The Temple

This temple is facing towards east and enclosed within a compound wall. The temple consists of sanctum, antrala and maha mandapa. The maha mandapa is supported by eight pillars. The maha mandapa is provided with three entrances on the eastern, northern and southern side. The superstructure over tha mandapa is of pyramidal style. The shikara over the sanctum follows nagara style of architecture. The shikara is about 30 feet tall.

The shikara is crowned with amalaka with kalasa on top of it. The antrala has a superstructure called sukhanasi. It looks like a shorter extension of the shikara. The sanctum enshrines an image of Mother Rajarajeshwari (Goddess Parvati). She is seen sitting in Padmasana posture in quadrilateral form on the navel of the reclining Lord Shiva. There is another idol of the goddess  Rajarajeshwari behind the red curtain. The darshan of this idol is completely forbidden.

There are shrines dedicated to various Hindu deities can be found in the temple premises. All these shrines follow nagara style of architecture. The idol of Mahishasura Mardini enshrined in the northern niche is dated to 11^th century CE. There is an image of Nrivaraha in the maha mandapa. He is seen lifting the Bhudevi with the help of the left hand and knee by raising the feet on Sheshnag. This idol is older than the Mahishasura Mardini idol.

Festivals

Navratras and Chaitra Mas are the festivals celebrated here with much fanfare.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 2 Kms from Srinagar Bus Stand, 5 Kms from Srinagar, 8 Kms from Maletha, 32 Kms from Devprayag, 36 Kms from Pauri, 38 Kms from Rudraprayag, 101 Kms from Rishikesh Railway Station, 104 Kms from Rishikesh, and 118 Kms from Dehradun Airport. Srinagar is situated on Devprayag to Rudraprayag route. The temple is situated right in front of Srinagar SSB Campus.

Location

Chandika Devi Temple, Simli, Uttarakhand

Chandika Devi Temple, Simli, Uttarakhand

Chandika Devi Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to goddess Sakthi located in Simli Village in Karnaprayag Tehsil in Chamoli District in Uttarakhand, India. The temple is also called as Raj Rajeshwari Temple and Govind Group of Temples. The temple is situated on the banks of Pindar river. The temple complex is one of the state protected monuments in Uttarakhand declared by Archaeological Survey of India.

The Temple Complex

The temple complex houses shrines of Gol, Govind, Gunsai, Chandika Devi and Raj Rajeshwari Devi. The prominent shrine is dedicated to Chandika Devi. All these shrines follow Nagara style architecture. There is an ancient Peepal tree covering the entire temple complex under its shade. The devotees used to sacrifice goats and fowls to the goddess Chandika Devi in ancient times but now this practice is replaced by coconut offerings.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 6 Kms from Karnaprayag, 39 Kms from Rudraprayag, 44 Kms from Gopeshwar, 61 Kms from Gwaldam, 84 Kms from Baijnath, 126 Kms from Ranikhet, 173 Kms from Rishikesh Railway Station, 176 Kms from Rishikesh and 190 Kms from Dehradun Airport. The temple is situated on Karnaprayag to Baijnath route.

Location

Sitabani Temple, Ramnagar, Uttarakhand

Sitabani Temple, Ramnagar, Uttarakhand

Sitabani Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to goddess Sita located inside the Sitabani Reserve near Ramnagar Town in Ramnagar Tehsil in Nainital District in Uttarakhand, India. The temple is situated inside the Sitabani Reserve near the famous Jim Corbett National Park.

Legends

As per legend, the temple is believed to be the hermitage of Sage Valmiki, the author of Ramayana. It is said that Sita lived in this place during her exile before facing the Agni Pariksha. She entered into the lap of Mother Earth here during Agni Pariksha. Hence, the place came to be called as Sitabani / Sitavani.

The Temple

The temple is situated inside the Sitabani Reserve. The temple is actually a twin shrine. The principal shrine enshrines an image of goddess Sita with her sons Lav and Kush. The shrine next to it is dedicated to Lord Shiva. There is an ancient temple dedicated to Sage Valmiki is also situated in the reserve. Few amlaka stones, a headless image of dancing Ganesha, doorjambs and architectural fragments can be found scattered around the temple premises.

There is a Kund located at lower level opposite to the temple. Sitabani reserve is famous for bird watching. The dense Sal forests of the reserve is home to tigers, leopards, elephants, spotted deer, sambhar, wild boar etc. There are about 35 Royal Bengal tigers in this reserve. Sitabani is open throughout the year for Safari tour and there is no limit of vehicles entering the area. Sitabani forest department issues permit for this safari.

Festivals

Rama Navami is celebrated here with much fanfare. A fair is conducted during Rama Navami.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 23 Kms from Ramnagar, 23 Kms from Ramnagar Bus Stand, 24 Kms from Ramnagar Railway Station, 50 Kms from Kashipur, 73 Kms from Nainital, 81 Kms from Pantnagar Airport and 240 Kms from Dehradun. Ramnagar is gateway to the Jim Corbett National Park. There are regular buses from Ramnagar to Nainital, Ranikhet, Haldwani, Tanakpur, Haridwar, Dehradun, Kashipur, Moradabad, Meerut and Delhi. Bus services are also available to Jaipur. National Highway 121 which starts from Kashipur and ends at Bubakhal, Uttarakhand passes through Ramnagar.

Location

Narayan Koti Group of Temples, Uttarakhand

Narayan Koti Group of Temples, Uttarakhand

Narayan Koti Group of Temples are group of Hindu Temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Narayan Koti Village in Ukhimath Tehsil in Rudra Prayag District in Uttarakhand State, India. This temple complex is state protected monument under Archaeological Survey of India.

Legends

As per legend, Lord Krishna showed his one crore Narayana forms to the Pandavas when they were in bad mood for not been able to meet Lord Shiva.

History

The temples were believed to be built in 9^th century CE. The temple group is mentioned in Kedarkhand.

The Group of Temples

The temple complex contains around thirty ancient temples. The major temple is dedicated to Lakshmi Narayana. The temple complex houses the temples of all nine planets namely Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Sun, Moon, Rahu and Ketu. It is unique to see all temples in the same temple complex. The temple complex also houses temples of Veerabhadra and Satya Narayana. The temple complex has a Kund named Virabhadra Kund / Brahma Kund. Two streams namely Ganga and Yamuna flow into the Kund.

Connectivity

The temple complex is located at about 3.5 Kms from Guptkashi Bus Stand, 4 Kms from Guptkashi, 19 Kms from Ukhimath, 27 Kms from Sonprayag, 47 Kms from Rudraprayag, 180 Kms from Rishikesh Railway Station, 183 Kms from Rishikesh, 206 Kms from Haridwar, 197 Kms from Dehradun Airport and 220 Kms from Dehradun. The temple complex is situated at about 4 Kms from Guptkashi on the Rudraprayag-Gaurikund highway.

Location

Narayan Group of Temples, Devrara, Uttarakhand

Narayan Group of Temples, Devrara, Uttarakhand

Narayan Group of Temples are group of Hindu Temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Devrara Village in Tharali Tehsil in Chamoli District in Uttarakhand State, India. This temple complex is state protected monument under Archaeological Survey of India.

The Group of Temples

The temple complex consists of five shrines. The major shrine consists of sanctum and mandapa. The sanctum enshrines an intricately carved image of Lord Vishnu. The shikara over the sanctum follows nagara style. Most of the other shrines in the complex consists of only sanctum and follows nagara style.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 9 Kms from Tharali, 39 Kms from Baijnath, 53 Kms from Karnaprayag, 172 Kms from Nainital, 178 Kms from Chamoli, 189 Kms from Kathgodam Railway Station, 238 Kms from Dehradun Airport and 261 Kms from Dehradun. The temple is situated at about 9 Kms from Tharali on Baijnath to Karnaprayag route.

Location

Jamdagni Temple, Than, Uttarakhand

Jamdagni Temple, Than, Uttarakhand

Jamdagni Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Sage Jamdagni, father of Lord Parashuram, located in Than Village in Rajgarhi Tehsil in Uttarkashi District in Uttarakhand, India. The temple is situated on the banks of Yamuna river. The temple lies along the Yamunotri trek route and offers an excellent view of Bandarpunch range.

The Temple

This temple is facing towards east. The temple consists of sanctum and mandapa. The mandapa is a wooden structure in the form of hut. The sanctum is structure but the shikara is crowned with wooden structure and is of three tiers. There is a shrine for Shaileshwar in the temple premises. Gangayan Kund, located at Gangnani is considered as the temple tank associated with this temple. The water from the tank is used for the rituals conducted in the shrine.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 11 Kms from Barkot, 36 Kms from Lakha Mandal, 136 Kms from Dehradun, 161 Kms from Dehradun Airport, 174 Kms from Rishikesh Railway Station, 187 Kms from Haridwar and 383 Kms from New Delhi. The temple is situated on Barkot to Yamunotri route.

Location

Surya Temple, Palethi, Uttarakhand

Surya Temple, Palethi, Uttarakhand

Sun Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Surya located at Palethi Village in Devprayag Tehsil in Tehri Garhwal District in Uttarakhand, India. This temple is considered as one of the oldest temples in Uttarakhand. The temple has been declared a monument of national importance under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1958.

History

The Temple is believed to be built in post-Gupta period in 7th century CE. There is a dilapidated Brahmi inscription in this temple. It is considered as one of the oldest inscriptions in Uttarakhand after the Ashokan Rock edicts of Khalsi in Dehradun District.

The Temple

This Temple is facing towards east. It consists of sanctum and entrance porch. The sukanasa of the entrance porch has a carving of Surya riding a chariot pulled by seven horses. The shikara over the sanctum follows Phamsana style. The shikara is about 7.5 metres tall. The sanctum enshrines two images of Surya.

Both the images are 1.2 meters tall. Shrines of Parvathi and Ganesha are in dilapidated state. There is a shrine for Lord Shiva in good condition in the temple complex. Idols of Surya, Ganga, Yamuna, Parvati and Ganesh can be seen in the open area of the temple complex.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 13 Kms from Hindolakhal, 32 Kms from Devprayag, 34 Kms from Devprayag Bus Stand, 69 Kms from Tehri, 80 Kms from New Tehri, 103 Kms from Rishikesh Railway Station, 106 Kms from Rishikesh, 119 Kms from Dehradun Airport and 133 Kms from Haridwar. The Temple is situated at about 13 Kms from Hindolakhal off the Devprayag to Jakhnidhar route.

Location