Famous religious places in Uttarakhand

The Famous religious places in Uttarakhand: Hill state Uttarakhand is a beautiful state of India which is also known as Devbhoomi or the land of gods. After all, why not with its natural beauty, peace, and sanctity, this state has famous religious places like Kedarnath, Badrinath, Rishikesh, Haridwar which remain the center of faith for the people of Hindu religion.

The pilgrimage site of Uttarakhand is also an important part of the Char Dham Yatra performed by Hindu pilgrims. This state of the north is also the origin of major rivers of the country including Ganga and Yamuna. Uttarakhand is also home to the Valley of Flowers, which has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Famous religious places in Uttarakhand

Apart from the famous religious place of Uttarakhand, Chota Char Dham Yatra, Panch Kedar, Panch Badri, and Panch Prayag are also famous in Uttarakhand. Boasting the true essence of spirituality, each religious place and temple in Uttarakhand has its own history that will take you to the immortal era of divinity. Overall, this state is an ideal place for Hindu pilgrims and peace seekers.

Also Read: Famous Hanuman Temple in Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand is counted among the most important religious places in Uttarakhand of Hindus due to the many holy temples of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu to Lord Ram. Badrinath and Kedarnath are the two pilgrimage centers that have been here for centuries. Badrinath is one of the four dams and one of the holiest sites. Kedarnath is also as holy and a sightseeing place as Badrinath.

There is an ancient Shiva temple here, where one of the 12 Jyotirlingas is situated. Gangotri is the place on earth that Ganga is believed to have touched first. Goddess Ganga came here in the form of a river. Yamunotri is the source of the Yamuna River and has a holy shrine to its west. Haridwar is situated on the banks of the river Ganges. It is an ancient pilgrimage center for Hindus. Rishikesh is the gateway to all the holy places.

Top 10 Famous religious places in Uttarakhand

The Himalayan state of Uttarakhand has a special place on the spiritual map of India and in the hearts of all religiously inclined Indians. There are many religious places scattered in Uttarakhand and each place comes with a distinct spiritual identity that sets it apart from any other place. The ‘Top 10’ list of religious places in Uttarakhand include some of the most famous places in Uttarakhand.

Haridwar: Uttarakhand most prominent religious place

If we talk about the top 10 famous religious places in Uttarakhand, then its name of Haridwar comes first in the mind of all pilgrims. Haridwar is a very popular religious center for all Hindus across the country. The name Haridwar is taken from ‘Har-ki-dwar’ which means ‘gateway to God’s world’. It was an ancient and highly religious city receiving the Ganges River in the plains. The ‘Har-ki-Pauri’ Ghat with deep flowing Ganges is considered extremely auspicious. Many important Hindu rituals like the Shradh ceremony, Ashti Visarjan ceremony, Mundan ceremony, etc. are performed on Har-ki-Pauri.

Also Read: Famous Ghats in Haridwar

This sacred ghat is said to have been visited by two important deities of Hindu deities, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, during the Vedic age. The large footprint on a stone slab at Har-ki-Pauri is believed to be similar to that of Lord Vishnu. The Ganga Aarti of Har-ki-Pauri is a magnificent sight and enchants the pilgrims on the divinity and beauty of the sight. Haridwar is also famous for some of the most revered temples in the country like Chandi Devi Temple, Maya Devi Temple, Mansa Devi Temple, Daksha Mahadev Temple.

Rishikesh: Gateway to Char Dham Yatra and Major Religious Place

As we move towards the mountains of Uttarakhand from Haridwar, we get to see Rishikesh. It is the famous yoga capital of the country, Rishikesh, situated at the foothills of the Himalayas. Rishikesh is also known as the gateway to the Char Dham Yatra. The serene shimmering stream of the holy Ganges flowing through Rishikesh, the Himalayan ranges in the horizon, and several serene ashrams and yoga therapy centers make Rishikesh an ideal center for yoga and deep spiritual meditation.

Also Read: Rishikesh Yoga Capital of the World

The Triveni Ghat of Rishikesh is quite famous in the pilgrimage circuit and the Aarti on the banks of the Ganges in the evening is very famous here. According to popular belief the three mighty holy rivers of the Indian subcontinent, the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the mythical river Saraswati, flow together as a combined stream below the ground at this particular point. Laxman Temple, Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Rishikand, Ram Jhula, Laxman Jhula, some other places of Rishikesh are quite famous among the pilgrims. Rishikesh is considered to be the gateway to Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. It is said that by meditating on this place one attains salvation. Every year a large number of pilgrims from the ashrams come here for meditation and peace of mind. Foreign tourists also come here regularly in search of spiritual happiness.

Panch Kedar: main shrine of Lord Shiva in Uttarakhand

Panch Kedar (Five Kedars) is the collective name of the five Shiva temples of Hindus. These temples are located in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand state. There are some legends related to these temples according to which the Pandavas built these temples.

Also Read: Panchkedar 5 Temples of Lord Shiva

Uttarakhand, Kumaon-Garhwal and Doti part of Nepal, hides the boundless natural beauty in its womb, amidst the mountain ranges of the Himalayas, bearing the eternal message of eternal Hindu culture, Kedarnath, a symbol of unshakable faith, and the names of Nav Kedar, including the other four Peeths. are known from. Devotee pilgrims have been thankful and successful, having visited these holy places for centuries. Panch Kedar is also called the five houses of Lord Shiva in Uttarakhand. ‘Panch Kedar’ is found in Kedarnath, Rudranath, Tugnath, Madhameswaresh, Kalpeshwar. Myths believe that the five parts of Lord Shiva were scattered in different directions as they attempted to avoid diving into the Pandavas as an ox. Each of these five regions comes with a Shiva temple and is collectively called ‘Panch Kedar’.

Panch Badri: The main religious place of Lord Vishnu in Uttarakhand

Like Panch Kedar of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu has 5 Dhams, which are known as Panch Badri. These include Shri Badrinath Dham. Panch Badri has also been called the second Baikuntha in the religious texts. Devotees love to visit these holy places. Like Shri Badrinath Dham, there is a tradition of opening and closing the doors in the rest. Actually, these 5 temples are also part of Badrinath Dham. Although some of these places remain open throughout the year, some have a tradition of opening and closing the doors similar to the Chardham.

Panch Prayag: The confluence of the Ganges with five rivers

Panch Prayag is the name given by the Ganges River to the five holy confluences of rivers in Uttarakhand. Five episodes, namely Devprayag (confluence of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda), Rudraprayag (confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini), Vishnu Prayag (confluence of Alaknanda and Dhauli Ganga), Karna Prayag (confluence of Alaknanda and River Pinder), Nandraprayag (confluence of Alakandra and Nandakini) is considered extremely auspicious for religious rituals and the main religious site in Uttarakhand.

Apart from Uttarakhand Char Dham Yatra, there are often three other important pilgrimages in the pilgrims like Panch Kedar Yatra, Panch Badri Yatra, Panch Prayag Yatra, all four pilgrimages take place in Uttarakhand which have special significance in their own right. The confluences of the Garhwal-Himalaya region are considered the most sacred after the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati at Prayag, as it is the origin of the Ganges, Yamuna, and their tributaries. The places where they meet are considered to be the major pilgrimage centers. It is here that the rituals of Shradh take place.

Char Dham Yatra: Most famous religious place in Uttarakhand

The Char Dham Yatra, Chhota Char Dham or Uttarakhand Char Dham, is one of the holiest pilgrimage circuits in the Himalayan mountains of Hinduism. It is located in the districts of Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli in the Garhwal division of the state of Uttarakhand and the four Dhams of this circuit are Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. Out of these, Badrinath Dham is also the northernmost of the four Dhams of India. Although these four places have their own characteristics, they are seen as a unit in the form of Chardham.

Gurudwara Shri Hemkund Sahib: a religious place of Sikhs in Uttarakhand

Gurdwara Shri Hemkund Sahib is a famous pilgrimage site for Sikhs located in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, India. It is situated high in the Himalayas between seven mountains on the banks of an icy lake. Nishan Sahib swings on these seven mountains. The Gurdwara Shri Hemkunt Sahib is adorned here. This place is mentioned in the Dasam Granth composed by Guru Gobind Singh. For this reason, it holds special significance for those who believe in the Dasam Granth.

Where thousands of devotees come to visit every year in summer. It is extremely difficult to reach Hemkund from October to April due to snow. Earlier there was a temple here which was built by Lakshmana, the son of Lord Rama. The tenth Guru of the Sikhs, Gobind Singh had offered prayers here. Later it was declared a Gurudwara. In this scenic pilgrimage, the reflection of the high snow peaks from all around looks very picturesque and full of adventure in the giant lake. In this lake, water comes from the Hathi Parvat and the Sapta Rishi mountain ranges. A small stream originates from this lake which is called Himganga.

Guptkashi: Secret abode of Lord Shiva

Guptkashi has great importance like Kashi (Varanasi). Ancient Vishwanath Temple, Ardhanareshwar Temple, and Manikarnika Kund, where the two rivers of Ganga and Yamuna are believed to meet, are the main attractions in Guptkashi. Located in the Rudraprayag district of the Garhwal division of Uttarakhand, Guptkashi is situated on the beautiful bank of the Mandakini river in Kedar Ghati.

Three Kashis are famous in India: Uttarkashi on the banks of Bhagirathi, second Guptkashi, and third Varanasi. There is a pool in Guptkashi named Manikarnika Kund. People take bath in this. In this, two streams keep falling equally, which are named Ganga and Yamuna. There is a temple of Vishwanath in front of the kund. Adjoining this is the temple of Ardhanarishvara which is dedicated to Lord Shiva, very few people know that there is another form of Shiva which is Ardhanarishwar. Actually, Shiv Ji took this form of his own free will. He wanted to give the message of the people through this form that men and women are equal.

Ukhimath: Winter abode of Lord Shiva

Ukhimath, a holy place in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, is believed to have derived its name from ‘Usha’, the daughter of ‘Banasur’. The place offers an opportunity to visit various temples dedicated to many Hindu deities such as Usha, Shiva, Aniruddha, Parvati, and Mandhata Temple. Nearby is another famous temple, Omkareshwar Temple which is known as the abode of Lord Kedarnath during the winter season. A beautifully crafted idol of Lord Shiva is enshrined in this temple. Here Lord Kedarnath resides in winters when the doors of Kedarnath temple are closed and worship is done here during winters.

Triyuginarayan Mandir

It is a Hindu temple located in the Triyuginarayan village of Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. The ancient temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Lord Narayana is seated with Bhudevi and Lakshmi Devi. This fame is credited to this place as the site of the marriage of Goddess Parvati to Shiva by Vishnu and thus is a popular pilgrimage site. Vishnu performed the duty of Parvati’s brother in this divine marriage, while Brahma became the teacher of this marriage sacrifice. A special feature of this temple is a continuous fire, which burns in front of the temple. The flame is believed to have been burning since the time of the divine marriage. Thus, the temple is also called Akhand Dhuni Mandir. Coming travelers take the ashes of this havankund with them and believe that it will make their married life happy. The Brahmashila in front of the temple is believed to be the actual site of divine marriage. With this, all the holy lakes near it are filled. The names of the lakes are Rudrakund, Vishnukund, Brahmakund and Saraswati Kund. Bathing is done in Rudrakund, Marjan in Vishnukund, Achaman in Brahmakund and Tarpan is done in Saraswati Kund.