Top Pilgrimage Places in Uttarakhand | Religious Places in Uttarakhand

Pilgrimage Places

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1. Haridwar | Pilgrimage Places in Uttarakhand

Pilgrimage Places In the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, Haridwar, also called Hardwar, is a historical religious centre. It is one of the must-see sites in Uttarakhand vacation packages and one of the most well-known pilgrimage destinations close to Delhi. It is situated around 208 km from Delhi and 192 km from Chandigarh.

Haridwar, which means “Gateway to God” and is situated on the banks of the River Ganges, is one of the seven holiest sites for Hindus. It is the location where the Ganges River runs into the plains. It acts as a gateway to Uttarakhand’s Char Dham pilgrimage sites, which include Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. One of the popular tourist destinations near Chandigarh is Haridwar.

2. Rishikesh | Pilgrimage Places in Uttarakhand

Rishikesh is a sacred city on the banks of the Ganges located in Uttarakhand at the foot of the Himalayas. It is a well-known tourist destination in Uttarakhand and one of the major pilgrimage sites close to Delhi. Dehradun is 42 km away, Chandigarh is 201 km away, and Delhi is 233 km away.

Rishikesh is the starting point for the Char Dham pilgrimage and the entrance to the upper Garhwal area (Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath, and Kedarnath). One of the top destinations near Chandigarh is Rishikesh. There are several well-known temples and ashrams in Rishikesh. The key tourist spots in Rishikesh are Triveni Ghat, Neel Kanth Mahadev Temple, Swarganiwas Temple, and Bharat Mandir.

3. Neelkanth Mahadev | Pilgrimage Places in Uttarakhand

Neelkanth Mahadev Temple is a historic Hindu temple situated at an altitude of 1330 m in the Pauri Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, 26 km from Rishikesh and 50 km from Haridwar. One of the most revered tourist destinations in Rishikesh is this.

One of the most revered sacred sites devoted to Lord Shiva is Neelkanth Mahadev Temple. It is close to the Nar-Narayan mountain ranges and is surrounded by thick forest. The temple is located at the meeting point of the Pankaja and Madhumati rivers and is surrounded by the valleys of Manikoot, Brahmakoot, and Vishnukoot. It is a destination that you simply must see while in Rishikesh.

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4. Kunjapuri Devi Temple | Pilgrimage Places Uttarakhand

The hillside Kunjapuri Devi Temple has situated 27.5 km from Rishikesh and 11 km from Narendra Nagar. One of the most famous Hindu sanctuaries in Uttarakhand, the temple is located at a height of 1676 metres.

One of the three Siddha Peethas built by Jagadguru Shankaracharya in the Tehri district, the Kunjapuri Temple is dedicated to Goddess Parvati. Surkanda Devi and Chandrabadni are the district’s additional two Siddha Peethas. This temple, which is perched on a hill, offers a stunning view of the majestic Himalayas as well as the holy cities of Haridwar and Rishikesh. From here, one can also see snow-covered Garhwal Himalaya peaks including Swarga Rohini, Gangotri, Banderpunch, and Chaukhamba temple.

5. Badrinath Dham | Pilgrimage Places in Uttarakhand

Badrinath is an old holy town in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli region, 293 kilometres from Rishikesh, 335 kilometres from Dehradun, and 523 kilometres from Delhi. It is situated along the banks of the River Alaknanda in the Garhwal Himalayan ranges at an elevation of 3133 m, close to the boundary between India and Tibet. It is one of the most well-known places of worship in India and one of the most well-liked tourist destinations in Uttarakhand for the Char Dham pilgrimage.

The most significant of the four well-known Char Dham pilgrimage destinations are Badrinath, Puri, Dwarka, and Rameshwaram. Along with Kedarnath, Yamunotri, and Gangotri, it is also visited as part of the Chota Char Dham pilgrimage in Uttarakhand’s Himalayan area. Badrinath has considerable mythical significance and is surrounded by the Nar and Narayana hills and mountains and the Nilkantha summit.

Throughout various ancient documents and traditions, this sacred town is referred to as Badari or Badarikashram. According to the Mahabharata, the two incarnations of Vishnu, Nara and Narayana, meditated at Badrinath. On their trip to heaven, the Pandavas are said to have passed through Badrinath.

6. Kedarnath Dham | Pilgrimage Places in Uttarakhand

 

Kedarnath dham is a town and a popular pilgrimage site located in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district, 224 km from Rishikesh, 264 km from Dehradun, and 439 km from Delhi.

Hindus travel frequently to Kedarnath, which is one of the four major tourist attractions in Uttarakhand that make it up the Chota Char Dham pilgrimage, along with Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. It is situated at a height of 3584 metres close to Chorabari Glacier, the river Mandakini’s head. Of the four Char Dham sites, it is the most isolated and is flanked by stunning peaks covered in snow.

7. Gangotri Dham | Pilgrimage Places in Uttarakhand

Gangotri is a popular pilgrimage town in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, which is located at a distance of 98 km from Uttarkashi, 242 km from Dehradun, 264 km from Rishikesh, 288 km from Haridwar, and 483 miles from Delhi. It is situated on the banks of the revered Bhagirathi River at an elevation of 3100 metres in the Garhwal Himalayan Range. It is among the top pilgrimage places in India and among the most well-liked tourist destinations in Uttarakhand.

8. Gaumukh | Pilgrimage Places in Uttarakhand

The source of the Bhagirathi River, Gomukh or Gaumukh, is located in Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand, 19 km from Gangotri. Because the nose used to exactly resemble a cow’s face, the word “Gomukh” literally means “Face of a Cow.” It is a popular hiking and pilgrimage site close to Gangotri.

Gomukh is one of the main sources of the Ganges River.. Incredible to see Bhagirathi rising from a huge cavern near Gaumukh. With a maximum of 30 km and a width of 4 km, it is India’s second-largest glacier after Siachen and is situated at a height of 13,200 feet. The river’s name at its source is Bhagirathi, but when it reaches Devprayag and the Alaknanda, it turns into Ganga. The river travels 2,480 km from Devprayag to the Bay of Bengal.

9. Yamunotri Dham | Pilgrimage Places

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Yamunotri is one of the four Chota Char Dham pilgrimage sites and is located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. It is 46 km from Uttarkashi, 134 km from Gangotri, 138 km from Mussoorie, 176 km from Dehradun, 209 km from Rishikesh, 224 km from Haridwar, and 415 kilometres from Delhi. It is one of the most well-known places to visit in Uttarakhand and one of the greatest sacred pilgrimage sites in all of India.

Yamunotri, the origin of the Yamuna River, is revered as the home of the Yamuna goddess. This temple, which is located at a height of 3293 metres atop Bandarpunch Parvat, is the westernmost in the Garhwal Himalayas.

According to geography, the Champasar Glacier, which is situated 4421 metres below Bandarpunch Mountain, is the source of the River Yamuna. The Champasar Glacier is located close to Yamunotri Temple, around 1 km upstream from the riverbed, although getting there requires a 10-kilometre hike from the temple. The shortest route by road from Janki Chatti, where Yamunotri Temple is situated, is a 5 km trek.

10. Vasuki Tal in Uttarakhand

Vasuki Tal also called Vasuki Lake, is a mesmerizing lake located at a height of 4135 m in the lovely highlands of Kedarnath in Uttarakhand, 8 km away from Kedarnath. It is very well among Uttarakhand treks as well.

Vasuki Tal offers a breathtaking view of multiple Himalayan peaks and is surrounded by extremely high mountains. Lord Vishnu is said to have taken a bath in this lake in the past. Vasuki Tal provides an amazing view of the interior rock stacks of the lake as it runs through the clear water. This stunning lake offers a nice perspective of the Chaukhamba highlands that are nearby. The Vasuki Tal is bordered by a variety of stunning, vibrant blooms, including a well Brahma Kamal. In the winter

11. Tungnath Temple | Pilgrimage Places in Uttarakhand

One of the Panch Kedar temples, Tungnath has located 3 km away from Chopta, 32 km from Ukhimath, 88 km from Kedarnath, and 73 km from Rudraprayag. At 3,680 metres above sea level, Tungnath is the tallest Shiva temple in the world. It is situated on the Chandranath Parvat in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district. It is a well-known pilgrimage site and a popular trekking location in Uttarakhand.

Lord Shiva is honoured in the Tungnath temple. The third temple in the Panch Kedar sequence, the temple is thought to be 1,000 years old. Adi Shankaracharya discovered the existence of this holy temple. According to legend, Vyas Rishi informed the Pandavas that only Lord Shiva could forgive them for murdering their own cousins during the Mahabharata battle because they were responsible for the crime. Because the Pandavas were guilty, Lord Shiva kept avoiding them when they searched for him in the Himalayas. Lord Shiva disguised himself as a bull and sought refuge underground to flee the Pandavas.

12. Rudarnath Temple | Pilgrimage Places in Uttarakhand

Rudranath, a temple to Lord Shiva, is situated in the Chamoli region of Uttarakhand and is 25 km from Gopeshwar, 83 miles from Ukhimath, and 140 km from Kedarnath. It is located in the Garhwal Himalayan Mountains at a height of 2286 metres. The third temple to be visited on the Panch Kedar pilgrimage circuit is Rudranath. It is well-known as a place of worship and for trekking in Uttarakhand.

The Pandavas, the protagonists of the Hindu epic Mahabharata, are said to have founded the Rudranath temple. As according to legend, the Pandavas travelled to the Himalayan Mountains to seek out the deity Shiva in order to atone for the sin of murdering the Kauravas during the epic Kurukshetra War.

13. Kalpeshwar Temple | Pilgrimage Places in Uttarakhand

Located in the picturesque Urgam valley in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, Kalpeshwar is a pilgrimage site dedicated to Lord Shiva that is located at a distance of 12 km from Helang, 27 km from Joshimath, 56 km from Gopeshwar, and 215 km from Kedarnath. It is located in the Garhwal Himalayas at an altitude of 2200 metres. It is a section of the well-known Panch Kedar and a great trekking trail near Joshimath.

The Panch Kedar pilgrimage circuit, which comprises 5 Shiva temples in the Garhwal area, contains Kalpeshwar Temple as the fifth temple to be visited. The only Panch Kedar temple that is accessible all year round is Kalpeshwar. The Lord Shiva statue in this little stone temple is made of stone. A cave with a naturally carved image of hair strands is close to the temple. These are said to be Lord Shiva’s hair strands that appeared at Kalpeshwar. Lord Shiva is often called Jatadhar or Jateshwar as a result. The famous Kalpavriksha is located at Kalpeshwar. This tree is said to fulfil all of a person’s wishes.

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14. Hemkund Sahib | Pilgrimage Places in Uttarakhand

Hemkund Sahib is a famous Sikh temple that can be found in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand at a distance of 18 km from Govind Ghat, 42 km from Badrinath, and 36 km from Joshimath. It is one of the 508 important Sikh pilgrimages and is also known as Gurudwara Hemkunt Sahib. In addition to being one of the most beautiful places in the Himalayas, it is close to the Valley of Flowers and a popular trekking location in Uttarakhand.

Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, is honoured in the Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib. This Gurudwara is surrounded by seven snow-capped mountain peaks and is located at an elevation of 4329 metres. Both Sikhs and Hindus visit this gurudwara, which is the highest gurudwara in the world. Guru Gobind Singh is thought to have spent a significant amount of time in meditation here. Lakshman, Lord Ram’s younger brother, and Rishi Medhasa of the Markandeya Purana allegedly performed penance at this site.

15. Pandukeshwar | Pilgrimage Places in Uttarakhand

Pandukeshwar is a holy village in the Chamoli region of Uttarakhand, located 22 km from Badrinath and 21 km from Joshimath. It is located on the route to Badrinath at a height of 6300 feet. It’s a well-known pilgrimage site situated halfway between Joshimath and Badrinath.

According to mythology, King Pandu, the illustrious Pandava father from the Mahabharata epic, founded Pandukeshwar. After surrendering his reign to his older brother Dhritarashtra, he was living at Pandukeshwar with his wives Kunti and Madri.

16. Kainchi Dham | Pilgrimage Places in Uttarakhand

Kainchi Dham is a religious pilgrimage site situated in Kainchi on the Nainital – Almora Road in Uttarakhand, 17 km from Nainital and 8 km from Bhowali. In the local dialect, the word “Kainchi” denotes two abrupt hairpin turns, thus the name. It is a well-known temple in the state of Uttarakhand and one of the top attractions in Nainital. Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, and Mark Zuckerberg, the creator of Facebook, are two well-known visitors to the temple. A more well attraction included in Nainital package deals is this one.

17. Jageshwar | Pilgrimage Places in Uttarakhand

Jageshwar is a Hindu pilgrimage town in the Almora district of Uttarakhand, located 37 km from Almora. It is located on the banks of the Jataganga River at an altitude of 1870 metres.

The historic center of Lakulish Shaivism was Jageshwar (Lakulish is 28th Avatar of Shiva). Lakulish, or Shiva with a wooden stick, has a long history that dates back to the Gujarat region of modern-day India. The temple city is made up of 124 large and small temples, many of which have been preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India. These include the Dandeshwar Temple, the Mritunjaya Temple, the Nanda Devi or Nava Durga, the Kuber Temple, the Pyramidal Shrine, and the Surya Temple. The Mritunjaya Temple is the oldest and the Dandeshwar Temple is the biggest.

18. Mukteshwar Dham | Pilgrimage Places in Uttarakhand

Mukteshwar Dham is a Hindu temple in Mukteshwar town close to Nainital, Uttarakhand, 49 km. Another name for it is Mukteshwar Temple, and it is one of the good pilgrimage sites near Nainital.

A white marble Shiva Linga is located at the 350-year-old temple Mukteshwar Dham, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. In the Hindu scriptures, this temple is listed as one of the top eighteen shrines to Lord Shiva. Puranas claim that this is where Lord Shiva is said to have slain a demon and given him Mukti. The main shrine is accessed via a set of stone stairs that are part of the temple’s simple architecture. In addition to the revered Shiva Lingam, it also has representations of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Goddess Parvati’s consort.

Pilgrimage Places

19. Triyuginarayan Temple | Pilgrimage Places in Uttarakhand

Triyugi Narayan Temple is a historic Hindu temple located in Triyuginarayan hamlet in Rudraprayag District of Uttarakhand, 27 km from Kedarnath, 13 km from Gaurikund, and 10 km from Sonprayag. It is located at a height of 1980 metres.

It is Lord Vishnu’s temple near Triyugi Narayan. The current temple is thought to be the work of Adi Shankaracharya. This temple provides a sweeping view of the snow-covered mountains and the beautiful Garhwal hill area. Tri signifies three, Yugi represents Yuga, and Narayan is another name for Vishnu. These three terms are combined to create the phrase Triyuginarayan.

20. Baijnath Dham | Pilgrimage Places in Uttarakhand

Baijnath is a small ancient town situated on the banks of the Gomti River in the Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand, India, 17 km from Kausani and 21 km from Bageshwar. One of the best sites to visit in Kausani is Baijnath, which is most known for its ancient temples.

Baijnath, formerly known as Kartikyapura, served as the seat of government for the Katyuri kings of Uttaranchal in the 12th and 13th centuries AD. Baijnath is known for its Lord Vishnu temple, the Baijnath Temple. The Baijnath Temple was constructed in the 12th century, and according to tradition, Lord Shiva and Parvati were wed here at the meeting spot of the Garur Ganga and the Gomti rivers. A stone stairway built on the orders of a Katyuri queen leads up to the temple from the river.

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