Maha Kali Temple, Gangolihat

the  shakti  temple. The Goddess  Kali  as  represented  in  her fierce form conquering  the  demon, is  offered sacrifices of  lambs and goats. In the
direction opposite of  the Kali  temple about 2 Km. away is   situated  the Chamunda  temple which  is  believed  to  be  in  the  centre  of an area of
wilderness exclusively possessed by spirits and  demons conquered by  the Goddess in her  fierce aspect. The temple has an aura of mystery and
weird charm and during the dark hours of night the spirits are believed to have a free sway outside the temple premises.

Patal Bhuvaneshwar : The exposure  of Patal Bhuvaneshwar (Lord Shiva in  the  underground temple complex)  is one of  this unique way to help
mankind. 16 Km. to  the north-east of  Gangolihat and 20 Km. to the south of Berinag is situated the Patal Bhuvaneshwar cave temple. It is 91 Km.
away from the district head  quarter and situated  at a height  of  1350  meters above sea level. The temple place comes under village Bhuvneshwar
which is in the tehsil Didihat.The way to the temple is through a narrow  tunnel shaped cave,  giving  a very thrilling experience.  The main  passage 
way opens into several small caves which have in them  the stone carvings  of  many  traditional Gods & Goddesses and can evoke weird romantic
fancies and images in the religiously inclined person. The cave temple of Patal Bhuvaneshwar is traditionally believed to be the abode of thirty three
crore deities.

Bhuwneshwar Cave Temple

Mostamanu :  Some six Km. by  bus and  then 2 Km. on  foot  to  the north of Pithoragarh  is situated  the temple dedicated  to  Mosta God. The
temple premises are a center of a big lively fair held in August  - September every year.

Mostamanu Temple

Nagmandir of Berinag : About one Km uphill  to the south of  Berinag proper  in a romantic setting flanked in the north by a  cluster  of  trees and
to  the   further south by a ravine,  is the location of the famous snake temple which is  dedicated  to  one of  several manifestations of Lord Vishnu.  
Legends  say  that  the   place  was  named  Berinag  after  the  Nagveni King Benimadhava.  It is believed  that when  the pants from  Maharashtra 
came to settle here they saw coiled snakes of allcolours in a very large  number and  as a mark  of   reverence  to  them  they built a snake   temple
sometimes in  the fourteenth century. It is a popular  belief that Lord Krishna after conquering  Kalinag advised him to leave  river Jamuna  and settle  
somewhere  amidst  the  snowy peaks,  and  that, Kalinag followed  by  many  others  came  to a  place somewhere around here.

Lateshwar Temple, Barabe                                 Photo : Deep Chauhan

Sirakot : Built by Reka Kings, the Sirakot fort cum temple is situated at a distance of 2 Kms away from Didihat town which is some 52 Kms from
the district headquarters.The outer part of the fort was used by the King as household accommodation

Sirakot Temple                                                                      Photo : Deep Chauhan

where the temples of Shiva  &  Bhairab    were built  in  the  inner part.  They are now in  a state  of ruins.  The  hilltop   on    which    the    fort     is   situated    offers  a remarkably  clear    and    fascinating   view    of   the Himalayan ranges. Ghunsera Devi Temple :  The  Ghunsera   caves  are located in the middle of a lofty hill on the top of which is situated the Asurchula  temple. The  stone  images  of Gods  and  Goddesses  are  believed   to   have    been installed by the  Khol  kings of Kartikeya pura. Two  of the stone images found here are said  to belong  to the Gupta period. Thal Kedar :  Eight Kms on motor roads to the  south  of Pithoragarh and thence  after a  climb along a narrow pathway  flanked   by   dense  vegetation  is    reached  the Kedar  temple situated at a height of 2000 meters.

Nakuleshwar Temple : This temple has  its location at a place about two km. removed from the village Shiling which it self is  about four Km away
from  Pithoragarh. The word Nakuleshwar  is   derived  from  a  combination  of  two  words : Nakul

meaning  Himalaya   and Ishwar meaning God and hence, Shiva  the Himalaya God. The architectural design  of   the  main temple  is splendid and appears to have been modeled on  the stylistic pattern of Khajuraho. In all, there are some thirty eight   stone  images  of  Shiva-parwati, Uma-Vasudev,  Nauvarga, Surya, Mahishasur  mardini, Vaman, Kurma, Narsingh etc. many of  which are broken and disfigured because of neglect and age. Kamaksha Temple :  To  the north east  of  Pithoragarh at a distance of about  7  Kms near  the  army  contonment base  is  situated  the  Kamaksha temple on  the  top  of  a hillock over looking the surrounding mountain ranges. Kapileshwar Mahadev :   In   the  Soar   Valley  right   above  the  villages  of Takaura and Takari overlooking Pithoragarh town, is situated the  cave  temple dedicated to  Mahadeva.  The legend goes that the great sage kapil  meditated here. The  passage through the cave is very long and branches  out   to several indeterminate destinations and has hence been closed. The temple  is situated some  ten  meters  deep  inside the cave.  There  is another cave temple of this kind also dedicated to Mahadev at a place called Rai  which is about half a Km to the north-east on Dharchula-Pithoragarh road. <--  Mahishasur Mardini at Nakuleshwar

Ulkadevi Temple :  On  Pithoragarh chandak  motor  road  close  to   where  the tourist rest house is situated stands the Ulkadevi temple besides 
which has also been built a memorial  for the martyrs who laid down their lives in defense of the mother land. The temple offers a remarkable view of
the sprawling Soar Valley.

UlkadeviTemple            Photo: Mrigesh Pandey

Jayanti Temple Dhwaj : Eighteen Km from Pithoragarh on Didihat road  is situated  a place called Totanaula  from where after a 3 Km long  steep
and  tough climb  is  reached  the  Jayanti temple. On  the  way,  some  200  ft.   below   the  main

temple, is situated  the cave temple  of  Lord  Shiva. From the hill top where the Jayanti temple is situated the Panch- chuli  and  Nandadevi peaks of   Himalayas   in   all   their splendour    can   be  clearly sighted. Arjuneshwar : Ten Km from the west of  Pithoragarh town on the top of a hill at a height of   6000  ft.  is  situated  the Shiva  temple  called  Arjune- shwar believed  to have been built   by  Arjuna   the   great warrior & the supreme archer.

Dhwaj Temple                                                                                      Photo : Mrigesh Pandey

The  principal  among   them are   Laxminarayan  temple  and Shivalaya  in  the town  and Shiva,   Hanuman,  Chatkeshwar, Gurna Devi and Igyara
devi around  the town. 

Buddha Temple, Sukoli (Pithoragarh)

Then  again  there  are temples dedicated  to  local Gods  like Gangnath, Bhumia, Airi, Chamu, Badan, Haru, Balchan, Churmal, Gabila, Chipla and
so on. These latter Gods are a class apart from the divine order and are Gods restricted to specific areas, families and castes.

KOT GARI Devi : Situated about 9 Kms from Thal the temple of  Kotgari   is held to be the final divine court of appeal for the deprived and the victim

 

Aatwar at Kot Gari                                                                                               Mrigesh Pande

of cruelty and injustice.

	Back to Top
District Profile | Flora & Fauna | Excursions | Temples | Transport | Route to Kailash | Peaks & Passes | Legends | Climate

Rivers | Chotta Kailash | Education | Heritage | Trekking Routes | Glaciers | Statistical Info.

Web site developed at :  National Informatics Centre, District Unit,   Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand)  INDIA             Phone :  91-5964-24162, 28017   E-mail :  uapit@nic.in