"Like no other mountains on earth; like no other place on earth;
Himalayas belong to the humanity".

Raghunath Temple  The Raghunath Temple, dedicated to Ram, an incarnation of Vishnu, is situated at the confluence of the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi Rivers at Dev Prayag. Named after Raja Devsharma of Maharashtra, Dev Prayag has a number of temples including a Devi Temple with a resonating bell. The sculptures on the walls display both Buddhist and South Indian influences. The presiding deities of the temple are Raghunath, Janki, and Lakshman. One quaint custom here is that all the pujas are conducted by Telgu speaking priests, descendants of centuries-old settlers. It is about 71 Kms. from Rishikesh.

 Buda Kedar Temple  This temple is situated at the confluence of the Bal Ganga and Dharam Ganga rivers, at a motorable distance of 59 Kms. from Tehri. It is believed that Duryodhan offered Tarpan here. According to legend, it is at this temple that the Pandavas encountered Rishi Balkhily at Bhrigu Parvat when they were on the lookout for Shiva after the Kurukhshetra battle. The Rishi directed them to the site of the confluence to meet an old man mediating there. But when the Pandavas got there, the old man vanished and instead, a Shivling appeared there. Rishi Balkhily instructed the Pandavas to embrace the Shivling in order to free themselves from their sins. Their impressions are stamped on this Shivling -the biggest Shivling in northern India.

 Surkanda Devi  The sacred shrine of Surkanda Devi is situated at an elevation of 3,030 Mts. above sea level near a small village -Kaddukhal. The temple, which is about 40 kms. from Mussoorie and 24 kms from Chamba is accessible through a walk of about 2kms from the motorable road connecting Kaddukhal. The entire route from Mussoorie to Chamba passes through a forest and is worth visiting .The snow covered Himalayas, seemingly within reach, add to the natural splendor of the place. A big local fair is held here in the month of June every year, attracting tourists from all over.

Kunjapuri   The temple of Kunjapuri, clearly visible from Rishikesh, is surrounded by the eternal Himalayas. Situated at an elevation of 1,645 Mts., it is about 30kms. by a motorable road en route Yamunotri-Gangotri. A week long fair is held here during Durga Ashtami every year.

Chandrabadani   Chandrabadani, the last of the holy triad, is perched atop a hill. One can approach the temple either from Kandikhal, en-route Srinagar-Tehri, from where one has to walk about 8 Kms. to the temple; or from Jamnikhal, en route Dev Prayag -Tehri via a link road upto Jurana (8 Kms.) and then take a bridle path (2 Kms.) upto the temple.

Yamunotri Temple

Gangotri Temple 

Vishwanath Temple   The Vishawanath temple is the most important and ancient holy shrine of Uttarkashi, located at distance of 149kms. from Rishikesh on the Rishikesh- Gangotri route. Shiva, the presiding deity of this temple, is worshipped here. Every evening, the sound of bells and the chanting of mantras greet visitors.
With in the courtyard of the Vishwanath temple and to the front of it, is the Shakti temple, dedicated to the goddess of strength. The massive brass trident projecting from this temple bears inscription describing how the Vishwanath temple was built. According to it, the temple was built by King Gyaneshwar, whose son Guh, a great warrior, built the trident, which stands 26ftin height and whose base has Sanskrit inscriptions on it.

 Duryodhan Temple    The local inhabitants of Saur built the Duryodhan temple. Legend goes that Krishna, who had stage - managed the show granted Bhubruvahan eternal life after the war. Consequently, his head was placed on the top of a tree that overlooked the war field. And so, his helpless head watched the Kauravas lose the war, making protesting noises, inciting them to fight harder; advising them about new strategies; shedding tears at their every defeat.
Bhubruvahan's tears still flow today, so say the local people. It is those tears of intense, helpless, uncontrollable sorrow, that now make the river Tamas or Tons. That is why waters from this river are never used for drinking.
Along with the Duryodhan temple, the inhabitants also built the Karna Devta Temple at Sarnauli and both together forms the Kshetrapal of the area.

Karna Devta Temple    The legend associated with the Karna Devta Temple is the same as that of the Duryodhana Temple. The local inhabitants built this. From Netwar one has to climb up for a mile and a half to reach Sarnaul. It is known for its serenity and sylvan charm.

Mahasu Devta Temple   The deity of 'Mahasu' is worshipped in the village of Hanol, on the eastern bank of the Tamas (Tons). The temple of this deity is situated 1429 Mts. above sea level and 188kms from Dehra Dun. It was originally constructed in the 'Huna' architectural style, but over the ages it acquired a mixed style. According to the legends, a demon lived here and devoured at least one man from the nearby villages, everyday. In Mandrath, one of the villages, a man decided to defy this tyrant.
He worshipped Shiva who directed Deolari Devi, one of his woman devotees, to help the man. On hearing his story she requested her four sons to go to Mandrath. She also asked the man to plough his fields. On doing so he discovered four Shivalings- Subsequently named Massu, Pavasi, Vasik and Chalda, after the names of Deolari Devi's four sons, whom she sent in search of the Demon. The sons of Deolari Devi surrounded the demon from all sides and in a battle lasting several days, the demon was killed. The villagers rejoiced and Shiva was worshipped as Mahasu ever after.

 Bharat Temple  This ancient temple is located at the center of Rishikesh. The main temple is named after Bharat, Ram's brother who meditated here during the Tretayug along with his brother Shatrughan. Two life-size statues of a Yaksha and a Yakshni (Demi-God and Demi-Goddess) were discovered when this temple was being renovated. Made of red sandstone and possibly dating back to the 22nd century A.D., they are representative of the Mathura school. But the oldest statue here is that of the Jain sage, Mahavira. Among others is an idol of Indra on an Elephant dating back to the Shunga Period. Red sandstone Buddha head belonging to the Gupta age was also discovered. The other temples in the vicinity are dedicated to Ram (or Raghunath), Lakshman and Shatrughan.

Tapkeshwar Temple  The Tapkeshwar Mahadev temple was originally called Tapeshwar and Tapkeshwar is a distortion of the same. The structure is considered one of the 'Siddh Peeths' mentioned in the Skanda Puran. According to a legend the
warrior-sage Dronacharya had mediated on the banks of river Tamas or Tons, which traversed through a deep gorge during Dwapar Yug. That is why this caved temple is called Drona Gufa. A remarkable feature of this cave temple is the natural formation of two Shivlings-including the one Dronacharya worshipped. The Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple is in Garhi, in the cantonment area at a distance of 5 Kms. from Dehra Dun city.

 Lakhamandal Temple

Badrinath Temple  The Badrinath Temple is located on the Right Bank of the holy river Alaknanda. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is 15Mts. in height in form of a cone with a small cupola of a gilt bull and spire.
Adi Guru Shankaracharya established the present temple in the 8th century A.D.but according to the legend, the Badrinath temple dates prior to the Vedic Age. The temple has three parts- Garbha Griha (The sanctum sanctorum) Darshan Mandap (for puja) and Shobha Mandap (for devotees to assemble). The temple has 15 idols finely sculpted in black stone.
Badrinath temple attracts an ever-increasing number of secular visitors each year because of its great scenic beauty and attractive recreational spots in the vicinity.

Adi Badri Temple   The main Temple is of the Lord Narayan that is distinguished by a raised platform in the pyramidal form. Here a black stone idol of Lord Vishnu is enshrined. Local tradition attributes the building of the temples to Adi Guru Shankaracharya. It is situated at a distance of 17Kms from Karnaprayag and is easily approachable by motorable road. On way to Ranikhet are some beautiful remains of 16 small temples belonging to the Gupta period.

Hemkund Sahib

Yog-Dhyan Badri Temple  This temple is named afterthe Pandu kings. The Yog Dhyan Badri temple is located at Pandukeshwar. It is 24kms short of Badrinath on Rishikesh -Badrinath highway. According to a myth, Pandavas handed over Hastinapur to king Parikshit & retired here.

Bhavishya Badri Temple   Dense forests near Tapovan surround the Bhavishya Badri. The Bhavishya Badri is at a distance of about 17 Km. east of Joshimath. Pilgrims trek beyond Tapovan up the Dhauliganga River to reach this holy spot. The idol of narsingha (the god with the head of lion) is enshrined here. Traditionally, it is believed that a day will come when the present route to the Badrinath will be inaccessible and the Lord Badrinath will be worshipped here and this is why the place is called Bhavishya Badri.

Narasingha Temple   The Narasingha temple is situated in the heart of Joshimath on the old route to Badrinath through the bazaar area. Of all the temples in Joshimath, the Narasingha temple is the most magnificent. Carved from shaligram ,it was supposedly crafted in the 8th century during the reign of King Lalitaditya Yukta Pida of Kashmir.

The Narasingha legend is a fascinating one. Hiranyakashyap, the demon king, worshipped Vishnu and received a boon that made him invincible and invulnerable to both man and beast. The boon also protects him from death, during day and night, indoors or outdoors. Thus assured of immortality, the demon king showed his true colors and declared himself to be  God. To end his tyranny Vishnu assumed the form of Narasinghaor half-lion. He then slayed Hiranyakashyap, when the sun had just half set,  and it was neither day nor night. The act was done at the thresholds, making it neither indoor nor outdoor.  People believe that one day the hand of the idol will finally fall off and it is supposed that Badrinath shrine will shift to Bhavishya Badri.

Gopeshwar Temple  Gopeshwar, possessing a very pleasing climate is 10 Kms. from Chamoli. The temple is topped by a dome and twenty-four door leads to the sanctum which is 30-sq. ft. in area. There are several broken idols around the temple, which support the theory that in ancient times there were several more temples in Gopeshwar. A gleaming trident, made of eight different metals, dating back to the 12th century, bears inscriptions attributed to Anek Malla, King of Nepal, who reigned in the 13th century. It is believed that while brute force cannot move this trident, the slightest touch by a true devotee can cause a tremor in it. Gopeshwar, according to legend is where Shiva had reduced Kamadeva (Eros, Cupid) to ashes. It is also known as Ratishwar, Pashvishwar or Gosthal.

Uma Devi Temple    The Uma Devi temple is situated at the confluence of the Pindari and Alaknanda Rivers in the town of Karnaprayag, 11kms from Gauchar and174 kms from Rishikesh. The old temple is named after Uma Devi or Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. Close to it on Maha Mrityunjay Parvat is a Shiva temple. Large crowds congregate here on Shivratri and the place is considered to be the holiest in the region, after Kedarnath. The earthquake of 1803 A.D. destroyed the entire temple, but Adi Guru Shankaracharya had it rebuilt.The generally quiet Karnaprayag bustles with activity when pilgrims pour in, as it is a sacred place and also very well connected to other places.

Rudranath Shiva Temple   Close by is the "Water of Salvation" from a stream called It is one of the Panch Kedar. Lord Shiva is worshipped here as 'Neelkanth'. The temple is situated amid thick woods at a height of 2,286 Mts. above sea Level. From Gopeshwar 4 Kms. motorable road is available upto Village Sagar from where 20 Kms. trek leads to Rudranath, Iaitarini. The frosted peaks of Nanda Devi, Trishul and Devisthal look down over fragrant, flower-filled meadows, as you trek through the 20 Kms. linking Sagar to Rudranath. Cross-country treks from Gopeshwar to Joshimath via Rudranath, Urgam and Nandi Kund, or vice-versa, can be delightful. Incidentally, Rudranath is where Lord Shiva's face is supposed to have appeared.
Added to the glories of natural beauty is another interesting site for tourists; fairly close to the temple. In the crevices of some rocks are a few old, rusted swords. The people of Nandi Kund believe that these belonged to the Pandavas.

Kamleshwar Mahadev Temple  The Kamleshwar Mahadev temple is situated in the heart of Srinagar town. According to Legend, after slaying Ravan, Shri Ram prayed for all the departed souls of the epic war. It was here, in Srinagar that he worshipped Shiva with a thousand lotuses everyday. Shiva decided to put his devotion to the test. So one day, Shiva made one lotus disappear. When Ram found a Lotus missing, he made up his mind to pluck out one of his own eyes and offer it to the Lord. Shiva was so impressed that he appeared in person and stopped Ram from performing this sacrifice. This is why Shri Ram is called 'Kamleshwar' or the lotus-eyed. On the night of Vaikunth Chaturdashi, which normally falls in November, this temple witnesses score of childless couples praying for fertility. It is said that Lord Shiva always answers their prayers.

Neelkanth Mahadev

Kanva Rishi Temple   The temple stands on the bank of the river Malini, 14 Kms. from Kotdwar. The original Ashram structure got buried with the passage of time but a temple built about four decades ago now houses the idols of Kanva, Bharat, Shakuntala and Dushyant. Kanva Ashram is where the celestial nymph Menka left her daughter Shakuntala. This is where Rishi Kanva brought her up and this is where Dushyant saw and married her. After Dushyant left for his kingdom Rishi Durvasa came to the Ashram, but Shakuntala lost in her own thoughts was unable to receive him in the customary way. This enraged Durvasa, who cursed her saying that that the man she loved would forget her, and thus, the pregnant Shakuntala was not recognized by Dushyant and had to return to Kanva Ashram, shocked and hurt. A brave son named Bharat was born to her here. Later, of course, Dushyant remembered her and sought her forgiveness and Bharat eventually become a famous king of Aryavrata. He was known for his valour. It is believed that India is named 'Bharat' after him.

Jwalpa Devi Temple
The old 'Siddh Peeth' of Jwalpa Devi is situated on the Right Bank of the Nawalika River, 34 Kms. from Pauri, on the Pauri-Kotdwar Road. There is an interesting story in the Skanda Puran in connection with the birth of the river Nawalika. It is said that Maharshi Chyvan had an Ashram on Dhudhatoli hills. He was known for his miraculous medicines prepared from herbs and roots. Hundreds of people throng this temple daily for it is believed that one's wishes are granted by the Goddess an oft-repeated tale goes like this: Daityaraj Pulom's daughter Sachi wanted to marry Devraj Indra. She prayed to Jwalpa Devi who appeared to her in the form of Dipiman Jwaleshwari and her wish was fulfilled.  Attached to this popular temple is a residential school for boys, who are taught Sanskrit here.

Gaura Devi Temple   The temples of goddess Raj Rajeshwari and ruins of the old palace provide unique examples of the architectural heritage of Garhwal. Dewalgarh was the kingdom of the king of Garhwal. Folklore claims that even during the Satyayug, King Sashibindu's son Dewal ruled here. Dewal, who gave the place its name used to worshipped Gauri Mata in the form of Raj Rajeshwari Devi. In fact it was Kuber who is supposed to have received the Devi's blessing and built this temple.
Next to the temple on a slightly higher place is the huge boulder called Som-Ki-Danda. Inscriptions on this are in Pali, the language used during the Ramanuj Period. Beautiful carved figures features inside the temple and the view of the Himalayan range from here is simply breathing. This temple is situated 19 Kms. from Srinagar towards Rudraprayag and slightly away from main road.

Kedarnath Temple     The shrine of Kedarnath, like Badrinath, is held in equally high esteem and is visited by a large number of pilgrims every year. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Omkareshwar Shiva Temple    This Omkareshwar Temple at Ukhimath features superbly crafted and a carefully maintained icon of Lord Shiva. According to folklore, Usha, daughter of Banasur had lived here once, thus giving Ukhimath its name. In fact, Ukhimath is dotted with temples dedicated to Usha, Shiva, Parvati, Annirudh and Mandhata, including one with an image of Mahadev with 5 Heads-similar to the one in Kedarnath. An idol of Usha's confidante, Chitralekha, also exists. And among the several copper plates discovered, two relate to land to endowments for the Kedarnath temple made by the King of Nepal in 1797 A.D. and by the mother of an official of the court of Nepal in 1891 A.D. Near by is the Deoria Tal Lake, which catches the reflection of the Badrinath peak, mirroring its grandeur.

Tungnath Temple   The Tungnath temple is situated at a height of 3,000 Mts. atop the Chandranath Parvat, 30 Kms. from Ukhimath-Gopeshwar road. To reach this place it requires a strenuous trek through dense forest. In this temple of Shiva where the dome spans 16 doors, a 2.5-ft. tall idol of Adi Guru Shankaracharya is located alongsides the Lingam. The Nandadevi temple is also situated at Tungnath, not far from the awe-inspiring Akash Ganga waterfall, so called, because the water looks as though it is descending from heaven. The spectacular Chaukhamba, Kedarnath and the Gangotri-Yamunotri peaks add to the splendor.

A story goes that Rishi Vyas told the pandavas that they were guilty of killing of their own relatives and their sins would be expiated only if Shiva pardoned them. So the Pandavas began to look for Shiva. Shiva kept avoiding them, as he knew that the Pandavas were guilty. So the Lord took refuge under ground and later, his body parts resurfaced at five different places. These five places, where five magnificent Shiva temples stand, are now known as the
'Panch Kedar' . Each one is identified with a part of his body: Tungnath is where his hands were supposedly seen. Kedarnath his hump; Rudranath, his head; Kalpeshwar, his hair; and Madmaheshwar, his naval.During the severe winters months, a number of priests' move from this temple to Mukunath, 19 Kms. away.

Madmaheshwar Shiva Temple
The Shiva temple, near the source of the Madmaheshwar River, is the second Kedar. According to a legend, when Lord Shiva was avoiding the Pandavas, he sank into the earth at Kedarnath with a desire to elude them and his torso surfaced here at Madmaheshwar. Located amidst serene environs, the temple has no crowd of Pandas, Pujaries, shops or the bustle of the major pilgrimage centres. The temple is closed for six months during winter when the silver idols are taken ceremonially to Ukhimath for worship. Only the Shivling remains. The navel reappeared at this shrine after disappearing at Kedarnath. This Shrine is 30 kms from Guptkashi. The temple can be approachable by a trek through the famous Sidha Peeth of Kalimath. Wild, unparalleled scenic beauty and incredible landscapes distinguish the distance from Kalimath to Madmaheshwar. Chaukhamba, Kedarnath and Neelkanth peaks are visible from here. Gaundar, at the conflux of Madmaheshwar Ganga and Makandya Ganga, is the last place that is worth a visit before one reaches this shrine.

Vishnu Temple
This magnificent temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, lies in the village of Triyuginarayan on the ancient bridle path that connects Ghuttu to Sri Kedarnath. It is similar in architectural style to the temple of Kedarnath making this village an important pilgrimage centre. According to a legend, Triyuginarayan was the capital of the legendary Himavat and is the place where Lord Shiva wedded Parvati during the Satyug. The fire for the divine wedding was lit in the huge four cornered Havan Kund. All the sages attended the wedding ,of which Lord Vishnu himself  was the master of ceremonies.
Remnants of that celestial fire are believed to be burning in the havankund even today. Pilgrims offer wood to the fire that has seen three Yugs - hence the name Triyuginarayan. The ashes from this fire are supposed to promote conjugal bliss.
There are three other Kund in this village; Rudra kund, Vishnu Kund and Brahma Kund. These are the kund where the Gods bathed at the time of Lord Shiva-Parvati's wedding. The water in these kunds flows from the Sarswati Kund, which is said to have, sprang from Lord Vishnu's Navel. Woman seeking children bath here, believing that it cures infertility.

Dhari Devi Temple   The Dhari Devi temple is located on the bank of river Alaknanda. According to a local myth, once a severe flood washed away a temple and Dhari Devi idol was trapped against a rock near the village Dharo. Thousands of devotees on their way to Badrinath pay homage to the goddess. The temple is at a distance of 15.5 Kms. from Srinagar (.5 Kms on-foot) on the Srinagar-Badrinath highway.

 Maa Hariyali Temple   This enchanting temple of Maa Hariyali Devi is at an altitude of 1371 Mts. and around it, for miles together, one can witness a captivating view of forested land and a majestic range of mountains. According to the Hindu mythology when Mahamaya was conceived as the seventh issue of Devaki, Kansa threw Mahamaya violently on the ground. Consequently, several body parts of Mahamaya got strewn all over the ground. One part-the hand-fell at Hariyali Devi, Jasholi. Since then it became a revered Siddh Peeth. There are 58 Siddh Peeths in all. Maa Hariyali Devi is also worshipped as Bala Devi and Vaishnav Devi. The temple houses a regally bejeweled idol of Maa Hariyali Devi, astride a lion. During Janamashtami and Deepawali this place is visited by thousands of devotees. On these occasions, the devotees accompany the doli of Maa Hariyali Devi, covering a distance of 7 Kms. to reach Hariyali Kantha. The temple houses chiefly three idols namely, Maa Hariyali Devi, Ksharapal and Heet Devi. From Hariyali Kantha one can see the mountain range in semi-lunar spread. The splendor of the range is sure to fill one's heart with awe.
The Siddh Peeth of Maa Hariyali Devi is 25 Kms. from Nagrasu. Nagrasu falls in between Gauchar and Rudraprayag.