Major Religious Sites of Uttarakhand

Major Religious Sites of Uttarakhand

Major Religious Sites of Uttarakhand : Uttarakhand, nestled in the lap of the Himalayas, is often called the “Land of Gods” due to the many Hindu temples and pilgrimage sites located across the state. As the abode of gods according to Hindu mythology, Uttarakhand has been a major Hindu pilgrimage destination for centuries.

Some of the most revered Hindu temples like Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Hemkund Sahib, and Jageshwar are situated in the higher Himalayan peaks of Uttarakhand. The holy river Ganga, which is considered the most sacred river by Hindus, originates from Gangotri glacier in Uttarakhand.

Besides ancient Hindu shrines, Uttarakhand also has many Sikh gurudwaras and shrines of other religions making it a center of religious diversity. The natural beauty and serenity of Himalayas adds to the divinity of these religious sites which attract lakhs of pilgrims every year from India and abroad.

Key Religious Sites in Uttarakhand

Some of the major religious sites of Uttarakhand are:

Badrinath Temple

• Dedicated to Lord Vishnu
• Situated at an altitude of over 10,000 feet in Chamoli district
• One of the most sacred pilgrimages in India along with the Char Dham sites
• Also known as Badri Vishal
• Surrounded by snow-capped peaks of Neelkanth, Nar, Narayan and other mountains

Kedarnath Temple

• One of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva in India
• Located at an extreme height of 11,755 feet near Chorabari Glacier in Rudraprayag district
• Can be reached by 14 km uphill trek from Gaurikund
• Surrounded by majestic snow-clad peaks

Gangotri Temple

• Origin of River Ganga in Gaumukh Glacier
• Situated at an altitude of 10,200 feet in Uttarkashi district
• One of the prime pilgrimage spots along with Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath
• Surrounded by magnificent Himalayan peaks

Yamunotri Temple

• Dedicated to Goddess Yamuna
• One of the four dhams of Uttarakhand
• Located at an elevation of 3293 meters in Uttarkashi district of Garhwal region
• Pilgrims have to trek 5 km from Jankichatti to visit the shrine

Hemkund Sahib

• A famous Sikh pilgrimage site situated in Chamoli district
• Located at height of 15,200 feet near Valley of Flowers National Park
• Surrounded by seven snow clad peaks and glaciers
• Has a Sikh Gurudwara and Lakshman Temple next to a crystal clear lake

Tungnath Temple

• Dedicated to Lord Shiva
• Situated at a height of 12,073 feet above sea level
• Makes up the Panch Kedar temples along with Kedarnath, Rudranath etc.
• Offers majestic views of Chaukhamba, Kedar and other Himalayan peaks

Jageshwar Temple Complex

• Located at an altitude of 1870 meters in Almora district near Jageshwar village
• Consists of a cluster of 124 large and small stone temples
• Dedicated to Lord Shiva
• Surrounded by Deodar trees and date back to the post-Gupta and pre-medieval eras.

Binsar Mahadev Temple

• An ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary
• Situated at an elevation of 2480 metres
• Surrounded by thick oak and rhododendron deodar forests
• Offers a majestic 300 km wide view of the Himalayan range

Triyuginarayan Temple

• Located at an altitude of 2,490 meters near Sari village
• The holy fire lit here is said to have witnessed the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati
• Makes up the Swayambhu Kshetras along with Kedarnath temple
• Surrounded by Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary

Religious Diversity of Uttarakhand

The major religions followed in Uttarakhand constitute Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism and Christianity.

As per the 2011 Census data, Uttarakhand has over 83% Hindu population while Muslims make up for 14%, Sikhs 2.34%, Buddhists 0.31%, Jains 0.05%, Christians 0.37% and other religions 0.13% of the total population.

Some prominent religious sites of different faiths in Uttarakhand include:

Islam

• Piran Kaliyar Sharif Dargah – A 13th century Sufi shrine near Roorkee dedicated to Alauddin Ali Ahmed Sabir

Sikhism

• Hemkund Sahib – One of the most revered Sikh pilgrimages near Valley of Flowers National Park
• Gurudwara Nanak Matta Sahib – Associated with visit of Guru Nanak Dev Ji to Uttarakhand

Buddhism

• Mindroling Monastery – A Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the Nyingma sect near Dehradun
• Sanga Choeling Monastery – Largest Buddhist monastery in Uttarakhand situated near Pithoragarh

Jainism

• Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir – A famous Jain temple situated in Delhi that originated in Hastinapur, Uttarakhand

Christianity

• St. John’s Church – Anglican church established in 1844 at Landour Cantonment near Mussoorie

Geographical Distribution

Most of the Hindu religious sites and temples are concentrated in Garhwal and Kumaon divisions of Uttarakhand due to the hilly pilgrimage circuits like Char Dham and Panch Kedar.

The Char Dham circuit consists of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath while Panch Kedar includes Kedarnath and four Shiva temples – Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheshwar and Kalpeshwar.

Garhwal region also has various Shakti Peetha temples like Nagnath, Rudranath, Jwalpa Devi, Chamunda Devi etc. Almora district is known for ancient stone temples like Jageshwar while Haridwar has been a holy city for Hindus situated at the foothills.

Travel Information for Pilgrims

The Char Dham and Hemkund Sahib pilgrimages take place mainly between April and October months. Gangotri temple remains closed during winters due to heavy snowfall.

Pilgrims need to be prepared for extreme cold climate and high altitudes especially for Char Dham yatra. Enough warm clothes, proper shoes, hats, gloves etc. must be carried by pilgrims.

One needs to be physically fit to trek to these religious sites situated at high Himalayan altitudes between 10,000 to 15,000 feet. Pony, palanquin, helicopter services are available at many places for old age people or physically unfit pilgrims.

Proper accommodation facilities like guesthouses, hotels, ashrams are available at all religious sites but prior booking is recommended during peak seasons. Vegetarian food is available along the pilgrimage routes.

Conclusion to Major Religious Sites of Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand’s magnificent mountains and sacred rivers have been home to the major religion of Hinduism since ancient times. Some of the holiest Hindu temples and sites of immense religious importance are situated across Garhwal and Kumaon regions of Uttarakhand.

Besides being the origin of Hinduism, Uttarakhand also houses prominent religious sites of other faiths like Sikhism, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity. Its pristine natural beauty combined with the divinity and grandeur of Himalayan peaks and glaciers make Uttarakhand the perfect destination for a religious tour.

FAQ’s on Major Religious Sites of Uttarakhand :

What are the major religious sites in Uttarakhand? 

The major religious sites in Uttarakhand include Badrinath Temple, Kedarnath Temple, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara, Tungnath Temple, Jageshwar Temple Complex, Binsar Mahadev Temple etc.

Which Hindu pilgrimages make up the Char Dham circuit? 

The Char Dham circuit consists of the four Hindu pilgrimage sites – Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath situated in the Garhwal Himalayan region of Uttarakhand.

Where is the Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara located?
Hemkund Sahib is located near Valley of Flowers National Park in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand at an altitude of 15,200 feet. It is an important Sikh and Hindu pilgrimage site.

What are the Panch Kedar temples? 

The Panch Kedar temples include the 5 temples dedicated to Lord Shiva – Kedarnath along with Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheshwar and Kalpeshwar situated in different parts of Garhwal region.