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Devi Temples

Saptashrungi

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The Saptashrungi is a Hindu Temple that in Vani at a distance of about 60 km from Nashik. The temple is situated on a mountain and is one of the most visited and religious places for pilgrims. It is located in Nanduri, Kalwan taluka which is a small village in Nashik. The temple is also popularly known as one of the “three and half Shakti Peethas” of Maharashtra. The temple is also one among the 51 Shakti Peethas located on the Indian subcontinent and is a location where one of Sati’s (first wife of Lord Shiva) limbs, her right arm is reported to have fallen. Shree Saptshrungi Gad is one among the four shaktippetha temple in Maharashtra, other being Mahalakshmi temple Kolhapur,Tuljapur Bhavani Temple, Mahur Gad Devi temple in Mahur. The Devi is said to be swayambhu (self-manifested) on a rock on the sheer face of a mountain. She is surrounded by seven (sapta-in Sanskrit) peaks (shrunga-in Sanskrit), hence the name- Sapta Shrungi Mata (mother of the seven peaks).

The image of the Devi is huge-about 10 feet tall with 18 hands, holding various weapons. The idol is always coated with Sindoor, which is considered auspicious in this region. It is holding the weapons like Strings of Beads Battle Axe, Mace Arrow, Thunderbolt Lotus, Bow Water Pot, Cudgel Lance, Sword Shield, Conch Bell, Wine Cup Trident and Noose Spinning Disc which is known as the Sudarsana Chakra. At the foot of the hill, from where one starts climbing the steps, there is the head of a buffalo, made in stone which is believed to be a demon. The temple, which sort of sticks to the cliff, is 1230 meters above sea level. Saptashrungi is a place where Goddess Bhagawati dwells. It is one of the most important of the places of Goddesses in Maharashtra. There is an old path with steps cut out of the mountain, which starts right at the foothills. However, now, a motorable road has been built, which goes up to an altitude of 1150 meters. From this place one has to climb around 500 steps to reach the shrine and that will take about forty five minutes to reach.

History and Legend of Saptashrungi

  • The mythology of Daksha yaga and Sati’s self immolation is said to be the story of origin behind the Shakti Peethas. The mythology says Shakti Peethas were formed due to the falling of body parts of the corpse of Sati Devi. This happened when grief-stricken and agitated Shiva was carrying Sati’s dead body round the world on his shoulders, and Vishnu had cut her body into pieces with his Sudarshana Chakra.
  • Shiva traveled around the world and these fifty one body parts of Sati fell at different locations in the subcontinent, and all these places came to be known as Shakthi Peethas (abode of goddess Shakthi or Durga). Her right arm fell on the Saptashrungi hills and the place became holy, and a Shakthi Peeth came to be established here.
  • Saptashrung mountain was a part of the forest called Dandakaranya mentioned in the Ramayana. It is mentioned that Lord Rama, along with Seeta, had come here to pray to Amba and seek her blessings. As per the story depicted in Ramayana, Hanuman carried the herbal medicine for wounded Laxmana from this hill. There are about 108 water reservoirs on the hill, known as Kundas.
  • Saptashrungi Devi is believed to be Mahishasur Mardini, the slayer of the demon Mahishasur, who took the form of a buffalo. It is believed that the Devi Mahatmya, a sacred book which extols the greatness of Devi and her exploits was composed at this place by the sage Markandeya, who performed rigorous penance on a hill opposite the one on which the Devi resides, which is now named after him.

Significance of the Saptashrungi Temple

  • The Holy Flag of Goddess Bhagawati flutters in the north of Saptashringa Garh. Hoisting of the Flag is a privilege of a particular family. The ritual of Flag hoisting on a specific day is witnessed by thousands of devotees. People believe that the Goddess fulfills their wishes. So this place is frequented by devotees throughout the year.
  • There are several other shrines close to the Saptashrungi temple. Some of these shrines include Jalagumpha, Kalikund and Suryakund, Shivtirtha, Markendeya Darshan, Tambultirtha and SatichaKada.
  • She is also known as Brahmasvarupini (“one who has form of Brahma”). The goddess is reported to have appeared from the kamandalu (water-pot) of the creator-god Brahma. The Goddess is believed to be settled here. As the Goddess took form here and resided at Saptashrungi, it is considered the original location of the Goddess.

Saptashrungi Temple Timings

The temple opens at 6 AM to 6 PM from all days of the week and public holidays. There is an aarti that is performed after that and takes 15 to 20 minutes to take the darshan of the shrine, if you are standing in a queue.

Saptashrungi Temple Food Timings

During the special festivals like Navratri and poornima the food is offered for free.Low cost but clean food is also available in the Priest’s  houses. During other days people have to pay a donation of Rs. 15 to get the prasaddam. The timings for it is 11AM to 2PM and 7PM to 9 PM. There are also many restaurants nearby where there are many options present for food.

Festivals celebrated at the Saptashrungi Temple

Gudhipadwa: Gudi Padwa is the festival that augments the new year and is usually celebrated on the first day of the Indian month of Chaitra according to the hindu lunar calendar. The Brahma Purana declares Gudi Padwa to be the time on which Lord Brahma created the world after the great deluge. It is considered as the harvest festival, which shows that the Rabi crop has ended for the season. This is the time when mangoes and fruits are reaped.

Chaitrotsav: The festival starts on Rama Navami (the ninth lunar day in the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Chaitra) and culminates on Chaitra Poornima (full moon day), the biggest day of the festival.The festival is also attended specifically by childless women making vows seeking blessings of goddess for children.

Gokul Ashtami: Gokul Ashtami is the birthday of Lord Krishna. It falls on the 8th day of the dark half of the month of ‘Bhadrapada’ (August-September) and is one of the greatest of all Hindu festivals. Lord Krishna was born at midnight. Celebrations are held over two days. The first day is Krishnashtami or Gokulashtami. The second day is called Kalastami or more popularly Janmashtami. He is considered to be one of Lord Vishnu’s most glorious incarnations.

Navratri: Navratri is interpreted as ‘nine nights’ is the most celebrated Hindu festival devoted to Goddess Durga symbolizing purity and power or ‘shakti’. Navratri festival combines ritualistic puja and fasting and is accompanied by resplendent celebrations for nine consecutive days and nights. Chanting of mantras and renditions of bhajans and folk songs usually accompany the puja rituals for nine consecutive days of Navratri.

Kojagiri Purnima: Kojagari Lakshmi puja is a worship and praise of Mahalakshmi. We show respect towards Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. During the tradition of kojagari laxmi puja, special offerings are paid to Goddess Lakshmi, the Nine Planets to seek blessings and good fortune for all family members.  Another belief is that Goddess Lakshmi was born on Sharad Purnima. Anyone observing this fast avoids solid foods.

Laxmi Pujan: During Diwali, Laxmi Pujan is an  important ritual. Goddess  Laxmi is invited to the house, and the tradition of cleaning every part of the  house is a part of the common ritual. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm among the people in this temple.

Mahashivratri: Mahashivaratri is the day when the Shiva Tattva touches the earth. Shivaratri is like a new year for a saadhak (seeker). It is considered as an auspicious day for spiritual growth and material attainment. People usually eat very light, some fruits or something and fast. There are many poojas and functions organized during this day.

Saptashrungi Temple Pooja and Rituals

Abhisheka: The deity is given bath with warm water before she is dressed for worship. The deity is also decorated with the ornaments on special occasions or festival days. The deity is bathed with panchamruta that consists of the mixture of honey, sugar, milk, yogurt and ghee.

During festivals grain, flowers, coconut, money and ornaments are offered to the deity. Cakes that are made of butter and flour known as turis are also offered.

Gondhal: It is a folk dance drama that is performed by the devotees to the deity the particular communities. The performances are usually held during night with different string instruments. Lots of people gather together to witness the Gondhal.

The Kathar or the Kutadi community after the delivery of child in their family offer the sacrifice of goat followed by the naming ceremony of the child and offer their worship to deity Saptashrungi.

How to reach: Road, Rail and Air

By Air: The Nasik airport is well connected to all the major cities of India and numbers of flights connects it to the nearest airport i.e. Mumbai airport. The major airlines of India that are linked with the airport are Jet Airways, Kingfisher, Indian Airlines, etc. For the development of the airport, the authority is planning to invest some more money for international flight setup.

By Train:  There is a very good connectivity between Mumbai to Nashik Road railway station. There are trains which can be boarded from different railway stations in Mumbai as per our convenience like CST, Dadar, Thane and all trains stop at Kalyan. One of the benefits in opting for rail journey is one can save some time on journey, it takes only 4 hours to reach Nashik Road. From Nashik Road one has to go to Nashik central Bus stand (CBS) to catch a direct bus to mataji temple.

By Road: Reach Nashik and take Taxi or Bus from Nashik City to Vani. You can go by your private vehicle at the top of nanduri gad nashik. The route from Nashik and Vani via Dindori is 39 kilometres and via Pimpalgaon Baswant is 51 kilometres .The route via Nadurgaon village is the easiest and is 14 kilometres from Vani. The State Highway 17 (Maharashtra) (SH-17) connected with the National Highway 3 (NH 3) links Nashik with the temple site near the villages of Vani and Nanduri. Bus facilities by state transportation are available to reach the temple.

Hotels in Vani: Where to stay

There are different hotels in Nashik as well as dharmashala available to stay with good facilities.

  • Dharmashala:For a night’s halt, Dharmashala having 200 rooms is available which is open from 6:00 in the morning to 11:00 in the night. The rooms are made available for one day only. Blankets and mattresses are made available for the pilgrims.
  • Aakar Lords Inn: Nasik Road | Dist. Dang, Saputara 394720, India
  • Vaity Ropeway Resort: Dist. Dang, Saputara 394 720, India
  • Chitrakoot Hill Resort: Saputara 394720, India
  • Uttam Hira Hotel: Panchavati Chambers, Old Market Yard Road | Peth Road, Dindori Naka, Panchavati, Nashik 422003, India
  • Hotel Midtown Inn: Plot no 34, Krushna Nagar, Trimbakeshwar, Nashik 422212, India
  • Hotel Panchvati: 430, Chandak Vadi | Near M.G. Road, Nashik 422001, India
  • Hotel Sai Palace: 904 Agra Road, Nashik 422 009, India
  • Hotel Emerald Park: Sharanpur Link Road, Nashik 422002, India
  • Ginger Nashik: Plot No P 20 (Part), Trimbakeshwar Road | Near Satpur MIDC Police Station,Nashik, India.

Nearby Temples

Kalaram Temple: This temple is situated in the Panchavati area of the city. It is the biggest as well as the simplest amongst all the temples situated here and dates back to the year 1790, when it was constructed by Sardar Odhekar of Peshwa. Besides the idol of Lord Rama, are those of Sita Mata and Lord Lakshmana, both of them sandy black and adorned with ornaments. The temple has been constructed completely out of black stones and four entrance doors.  It is probably the most important Hindu shrine in the city.

Sita Ghufa: Sita Gufa (cave) is the place where Sita is believed to be kidnapped by Ravan. It is said that she was resting here before the demon Ravan came and tricked her and eventually abducted her. There is a staircase which leads to Shiv Linga, which is the exact place people believe Ravan abducted Sita from.

Trimbakeshwar: Trimbakeshwar temple is a religious center having one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, i.e; the holy shrines of Lord Shiva spread all accross India. It is a part of the famous Pancha Jyotirlinga Tour from Mumbai. The extraordinary feature of the Jyotirlinga located here is its three faces embodying Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Rudra. There is a mountain named the Brahmagiri Mountain 18 km. from the city of Nasik in the Nasik district. This is one of the parts of the Sahyadri Vally. The city of Trimbakeshwar is located in the bottom of this mountain.

Someshwar: Someshwar Temple is one among the oldest temples dedicated to Lord Mahadeva, the Someshwar temple is situated on the banks of the sacred river Godavari. The area is covered with greenery, with a pleasant climate. The riverbeds here are very suitable for swimming and boating.

Chamundeshwari Temple Mysore Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

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Chamundeshwari Temple of Mysore is a landmark of the temple architecture of Karnataka. You can get a sight of the Chamundeshwari Temple from a distance as the Chamunda hills rise to a height of 3489 feet. Located in close proximity to the Mysore Palace, this temple is dedicated to Goddess Chamundeshwari, also known as Goddess Durga. Goddess Chamundeshwari, the fierce incarnation of Shakti is the deity of the Mysore kings for hundreds of years.

The Chamundeshwari Temple is considered one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas and is known by the name of Krouncha Pitham; Shakti Peethas refer to the sites on which the body parts of Goddess Sati fell when Lord Shiva was carrying her and wandering through different places in deep morose. It is believed that the hair of Goddess Sati fell at the site where the Chamundeshwari Temple has been constructed. It is named after the name of the place; the site was known as Krouncha Puri during the Puranic times. The deity is seated on a lion with a trident in her hand, which is pierced into the demon Mahisasura. The buffalo lies in the body of the asur.

The Chamundeshwari Temple was built during the Hoysala rule in the 12th century. The temple is enormous and there are 1000 steps to reach the hilltop to the temple. The Chamundeshwari Temple comes with a seven-storied Gopura. The interiors of the sanctum are spectacular with numerous intricate carvings. While the statue of Goddess Chamundeshwari is said to be made of gold, the entrance gates are made of silver. The Chamundeshwari Temple is a quadrangle structure, built in the Dravidian style of architecture. The temple can be segregated into different parts, like the doorways, Navaranga Hall, Antharala Mantapa and Prakara. The Gopura consists of a small tower, known as Vimana while the Shikaras come with glittering golden Kalashas. The inside of the entrances of the Chamundeshwari Temple is adorned with images of Lord Ganesha, while the images of Dwarpalakas, that is, doorkeepers seem to guard the goddess.

There is also a Kalbhairab temple within the temple complex, dedicated to Kalbhairab, another incarnation of Lord Shiva. The Kalbhairab temple also features a huge granite statue of Nandi, the Vahana of Lord Shiva. With a height of 15 feet and length of 24 feet, this idol is adorned with bells.

Chamundeshwari Temple

History and Legend of Chamundeshwari Temple

The temple is the oldest temple in the hills of Mysore. It is not only a bearer of the rich cultural history of South India but also has several myths revolving around its foundation.

  • It is believed that demon Mahisasura tortured the people of Mysore and hence the goddess rose to her power to destroy the evil forces and relieve the people.
  • The temple had been built almost 1000 years ago and was the home deity of the monarchs of Wodeyars.
  • The place where the temple is located was known as Trimuta Kshetra, meaning a place surrounded by eight hills. The Chamunda Hill lies at the western part of the group. It is believed that Lord Shiva used to reside at the Mahabaleshwar temple and hence this hill was named as Mahabaladri.
  • The deity of Devi Chamundeshwari is in a seated posture with eight shoulders, known as Ashta Bhujas. This deity is considered to be very old, being established by sage Markandeya.
  • It is believed that when Krishnaraja Wodeyar III was blessed by the Goddess Chamunda, he decided to build the beautiful Gopura in 1827 AD. He also gifted a Simha Vahana, that is, the vehicle of the goddess along with other animal vehicles to the temple.
  • The proof that the temple was revamped by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar III lies within the temple complex. There is a large 6 feet statue of the king in religious apparel along with his three wives, Ramavilasa, Lakshmivilasa and Krishnavilasa within the shrine.

Significance of the Chamundeshwari Temple

Being one of the oldest shrines of Mysore, the Temple is visited by thousands of pilgrims every year. Chamundeshwari Temple holds a significant place in the religious facet of Karnataka.

  • It is believed that Goddess Chamunda, the slyer of demon Mahisarsura and Chanda, Munda fulfills all the wishes of the devotees.
  • The route to the Chamundeshwari Temple is through dense jungles and hence, visitors can view breathtaking natural beauty and is a great bird watching area.
  • Visitors can get a panoramic view of Mysore from the Chamunda hilltop. The Mysore Palace looks imposing when lit with lights during the festive season of Dusshera from the hilltop.
  • The statue of Mahisasura near the Chamundeshwari Temple is an amazing piece of architecture.
  • The Chamundeshwari Temple is also important due to the small footprints of the goddess that is found within it, along with a flagstaff.
  • The rare images of Anjaneya, Nandini, and Kamalini also enhance the importance of the Chamundeshwari Temple.

Chamundeshwari Temple Timings

A strict schedule is followed at the Temple for worship and offerings.

  • Time for visiting Devi Chamundeshwari is from 7.30 am to 2 pm in the morning, again from 3.30 pm to 6 pm in the afternoon and again from 7.30 pm to 9 pm in the evening.
  • Abhisheka Timings are from 6 am to 7.30 am in the morning and again from 6 pm to 7.30 pm in the evening on all days except Fridays. On Fridays, the timing is from 5 am to 6.30 am.

Chamundeshwari Temple Food Timings

  • Free meals are served at the Temple and the meal is known as Dasoha.
  • After worshipping the goddess, laddu is offered to the devotees. Cleaning drinking water is also available for visitors.
  • Plastic bags are not allowed within the temple complex to keep the hill areas and the waters clean.

Festivals celebrated at the Chamundeshwari Temple

Temple is one of the important shrines of Mysore and hence are marked with major religious celebrations.

  • Navaratri Festival: Navaratri is celebrated to mark the success of the goddess in demolishing the demon and hence is an important affair. Devotees line up at the Chamundeshwari Temple to offer their prayers during the festival. This festival is also known as the Mysore Dasara festival.
  • Rathothsava Festival: 10 days after Dusshera, this festival takes place. On the auspicious day of the full moon, known as Ashwayuja Purnima, this car festival takes place. The deity of goddess Chamundeshwari is mounted on the vehicle. A representative of the royal family of Wodeyar draws the chariot in a symbolic manner following the rituals and then the vehicle along with the deity is taken around the Chamundeshwari Temple.
  • Theppothsava Festival: Thousands of devotees gather at the Chamundeshwari Temple to witness the pious celebration of Theppothsava, which means the floating festival. The festival takes place in the night and the deity of Devi Chamundeshwari is taken round the Devi Tank on a boat. As lights fall on the crystalline waters of the tank, a magical environment is created.

Poojas and Rituals at Chamundeshwari Temple

  • The worship of the goddess is a glamorous affair at the temple. Multiple priests are engaged in the worship of the deity. The royal family donates gifts to the temple to maintain the pomp and show of the shrine.
  • Coconuts, fruits, and fresh flowers are the popular ingredients in the worship of goddess Chamundeshwari.
  • Ashada Shukravara, that is, the first Friday of the Hindu lunar month is considered auspicious and devotees folk here to check out the special puja.
  • Devotees may also request for special sevas like homas, abhishekas, and utsavas by intimating the temple committee prior to two days.
  • Devotees can also offer saree to the goddess by 30 days prior intimation to the Chamundeshwari temple committee.

How to reach: Road, Rail, and Air

  • By Air: The nearest airport to the Chamundeshwari Temple is the Bangalore airport. You can get direct buses and taxis to Mysore from here.
  • By Train: The Mysore Junction is the nearest railway station to the Chamundeshwari Temple. You can get trains to the city from the other towns and there are auto-rickshaws, cabs, and buses available for your next part of the journey to the Chamundeshwari Temple.
  • By Road: Though located at an elevation, the Chamundeshwari Temple is connected with a proper motorable road. There is also a different route to the Chamundeshwari Temple through the Nanjangud side. There are buses available to the Chamundeshwari Temple from all parts of the Mysore city. Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) plies buses to the temple every day with a time gap of 30 minutes from the City Bus Stand. You may also hire cabs to the temple; it is a 10-12 kilometers drive from the Mysore city.

Hotels in Mysore: Where to stay

The Chamundeshwari Temple committee maintains a guest house for the devotees. This 20 room guest house comes with decent amenities. Mysore is an important city of Karnataka and hence tourists can find both deluxe and budget hotels easily near the Chamundeshwari Temple. Radisson Blu Plaza, The Viceroy Comforts, Ginger Mysore, United 21 Mysore, Pai Vista, and Royal Orchid Metropole are to name a few.

Where to eat

There are several vegetarian restaurants around the Chamundeshwari Temple. From hot dosas to piping hot coffee, you can get both authentic South Indian and other types of dishes out here. Visitors can also enjoy pizzas at the nearby food joints. Vinayaka Mylari, The Foodie Restaurant, Hotel RRR Restaurant, Little Woods and Corner House are some of the popular restaurants near the Chamundeshwari Temple.

Nearby Temples

Mysore is known for its beautiful palaces and sacred shrines. Some of the other temples worth visiting the city are:

  • Narayanaswamy Temple: Located near the Chamundeshwari Temple is this temple. The temple is dedicated to Lord Cheluva Narayana Swamy, also known as Tirunarayana. The inscriptions on the pillars of the shrine are invaluable.
  • Prasanna Krishnaswamy Temple: Dedicated to Lord Krishna, this temple houses 40 bronze statues of gods and goddesses. The murals which adorn the walls of the temple are jewels of the Mysore painting school.
  • Lakshmiramana Swamy Temple: Dedicated to Lord Nambinarayana, this ancient shrine has interesting facts revolving around it. The temple is also famous for its beautiful statues.
  • Mahabaleshwara Temple: Also located at the Chamundi Hills, this temple is in close proximity to the Chamundeshwari Temple. Dedicated to Mahabaladri, this temple is impressive with images of Sapta Matrikas, Nataraja, Parvathi, and Bhairava.

The Chamundi Village located near the temple is also an attraction of the place due to its unique lifestyle and simplicity.

Patan Devi Temple Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

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Patan Devi temple is one of the oldest and the most sacred temples of Patna, the capital city of Bihar state in India. This ancient temple, which was originally called Maa Sarvanand Kari Patneshwari, is believed to be the abode of the goddess Durga. The temple is regarded as one among the 51 Siddha Shakti Peethas of the country. So much so that the name of the city Patna was widely believed to be derived from the name of the Bari Patan Devi Temple. Although there are some doubts about this belief as some believe Patna derived its name Patan, which was a town and a big place of export and import in the region.

The Bari Patan Devi Temple of Patna had religious significance as it faces the North; towards the sacred Hindu river the Ganges. All the statues within this temple are made up of black stone. There is a huge portico of dimension 1.5′ x 15′ at the entrance of the temple. After the portico, there is a room of about 8′ x 8′ for the Gods namely, Mahakali, Maha Lakshmi, Maha Saraswati, and Bhairav. All these idols have been kept on Simhasans (thrones) hat are about 4 square feet in cross-section and have a height of about 7 feet. The first three goddesses are attired in sarees.

Chhoti Patan Devi

The Chhoti (small) Patan Devi temple is situated in Patna city in the Chowk area. This temple was once considered the main presiding deity of Patna. This temple has over the years slipped in eminence to the second position, after the Bari Patan Devi temple, as the presiding deity of the city. Thus, the names ‘Chhoti’ i.e smaller to the more popular deity and the “Bari” (bigger) Patan Devi have been decided. A historian by the name of Buchanan had been very specific in stating that the Chhoti Patendevi Temple that had held the primary position as Patna city’s presiding deity during the 18th and early 19th century.

Although the present temple does not carry any great antiquities in terms of idols and otherwise, still it is of historical significance. The temple has historical images that were, according to the local people, installed by Man Singh, the famous general of the Mughal emperor Akbar. The temple also houses a variety of intact as well as severed Brahmanical images, including Ganesh, Vishnu, and Surya.

Another set of images and open fragments of door jambs/lintels lay beyond the main temple, within its precincts. The broken Sun image among these is extremely impressive and most prominent. It is widely believed among the historians the some early medieval temple used to be there at the site of the temple which could be built sometime in 9th-11th Century A.D., which may explain the presence of the fragmentary stray sculptural/structural relics. It is believed that these ruins were reinstalled in the new temple which was built during the 16th-17th century by Man Singh. Although this is also a popular belief yet there is no authentic information on this count.

Patan Devi History

The puaranic legends attach a lot of significance to the historic Bari Patan Devi temple. It is believed that the ‘right thigh’ of the primary consort of Shiva, Devi Sati’s corpse had fallen here after it had been chopped off by Lord Vishnu with his ‘Sudarshan Chakra’.

Hindu mythology suggests that the right thigh of Devi Sati had fallen in Magadh and legend has it that the various parts of the Sati’s body fell in both Maharaj Ganj and the Chowk areas in the Old Patna city. Therefore, the Badi Patan Devi temple, as well as the Chhoti Patan Devi temple, had been built in these locations of the city. The Tantra Charumani states that the small images of the Bari Patan Devi Temple, Patna are the Goddess Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswati.

The three Goddesses are believed to have protected Putraka, who was the founder of Pataliputra according to Hindu Mythology. Another interesting aspect of the temple is the strange stone image that was found in a tank near the Bari Patan Devi Temple, Patna. This stone image has been kept in the eastern veranda of the temple and it is worshipped there regularly by the temple priests.

Significance of the Patan Devi Temple

Patan Devi temple has been regarded as one among the 51 Siddha Shakti Peethas in India. This ancient temple is considered to be the abode of Godess Durga since the right thigh of Sati who was considered Durga fell here according to legends ‘ when it was chopped by Lord Vishnu with his ‘Sudarshan Chakra.

Prajapati Daksha, who was the son of Lord Brahma and father of Sati performed Brihaspati Yagya but did not invite Lord Shiva, his son-in-law. Sati was mortified to know of this and she thus decided to put an end to her life. Lord Shiva at that point was in great anger and grief and took her corpse on his shoulder and began to perform Tandava dance round the three worlds. Thus, Gods requested Lord Vishnu to do something and he followed the dancing Shiva and started cutting the dead body of Sati to pieces with his Chakra. Resultantly the major limbs of the Sati’s body fell on the places that are today the Mahapeethas. The places where the minor limbs had fallen came to be known as Upapeethas.

Patan Devi Temple Timings

Patan Devi Temple is open for all devotees at any time of the day. Also, people of any caste or creed can visit the temple as it does not distinguish between them. The timings for the temple are from 6 AM to 10 PM. Tuesday is considered a special day for all devotees and a large number of worshipers visit the temple. On fulfilment of wishes, people offer gifts and sarees in the temple and promises are also made before the deity.

Festivals Celebrated At the Patan Devi Temple

During the Navratri festival and at the time if Dusshera, a fair is held at the temple as is the case with many other places. The major days of pooja during the festival are Saptami, Ashtami and Navami (Durga Pooja) when around 600 people came to offer prayers daily at either of the two temples. The visitors bring sweets, garlands and fruits for the deity on the occasion. The temple priest takes some quantity of the prasad and then returns the rest to the devotees. The priest marks the forehead of the devotee with Rori (red powder). They also offer some money to the priest in the form of Dakshina.

The fair conjures the people attending the worship of their religious pursuits with the merriment enforcements. Many Siddha Yogis and priests also attend the fair to offer special poojas to attain tantric vidhyas during the occasion.

Poojas and Ritual at Patan Devi Temple

The major rituals at the temple similar to most Hindu temples is as per the routine where the deity is daily bathed in the morning and evening followed by the offerings of prasad (fruits and sweetmeats etc.) which is followed by aarti with the reciting of hymns by the priest, accompanied by conches and the ringing of bells.

How to reach by Rail, Road, and Air

Patna is a major city of India and is well connected to all parts of the country by trains, airways, and road. Following are the major railways, roadways, and airways of the city:

  • By Road: Patna is well connected to all cities of the country via buses. The major bus station in Patna is Dahapur.
  • By Rail: There are trains from all major cities to Patna. The major railway stations are Danapur (DNR), Patna Junction (PNBE), Patna Saheb (PNC), Pothahi (PFT), Rajendra Nagar Bihar (RJPB), Phulwari Sharif (PWS), Punarakh (PHK), Banka Ghat (BKG) and Gulzarbagh (GZH).
  • By Air: The major airport is Patna Airport and the city is connected to all major cities via flights.

Patan Devi temple can be easily reached from Patna Bus Station and is just approx. 10 km from the Patna Junction Railway Station. Rickshaws, taxis etc. are also easily available at Patna, Gulzarbagh, and Patna City railway stations.

Hotels in Patna

Patna is one of the major cities of India and this has many 5 stars and 4-star hotels as well as guest houses, motels, and lodges. The major hotels include Ramson’s International, Element Guestline, Hotel Amit Inn, the Panache, Frontline Residency and Hotel Maurya Patna.

Nearby Temples

Pataliputra is located adjacent to the modern-day Patna and has been a significant city of ancient India. The city was originally built by the Magadha ruler Ajatashatru in 490 BCE as a small fort near the Ganges River. Archaeological excavations have been made extensively in the vicinity of the modern Patna and excavations early in the 20th century around Patna had revealed clear evidence of large fortification walls that included reinforcing wooden trusses. The place is most important of Buddhist sites in India and many followers of Buddhism visit this place as it was where Buddha breathed his last.

Patna has many major temples and many attractions including Khuda Baksh Oriental Library, Takht Shri Harmandir Saheb, Patna Museum, Golgarh, the Patna Cemetery, Padri-Ki-Haveli (a church), Hanuman Mandir, Agam Kuan, Kumhrar, Patna Planetarium, Qila House and many others to name.

Following are some of the major temples in Patna:

  • Agam Kuan: This is the oldest and most important archaeological site in Patna city and this complex has many ancient and medieval sculptures.
  • Buddha Smriti Park: Also known as the Buddha Memorial Park, this park was inaugurated by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and is located on Frazer Road which lies near Patna Junction. The park has many major attractions including a tall Stupa, museum, a meditation centre and holy Bodhi trees.
  • Golghar: This is a granary in Stupa architecture style and it offers a wonderful panoramic view of Patna city and also of the Ganges River. Golghar literally means Roundhouse and this was the tallest building in Patna and is located to the west of Gandhi Maidan.
  • Kamaldah Jain Temple: This is an ancient Jain temple that is situated near the Gulzarbagh railway station and is one of the oldest Jain complexes in the city of Patna.
  • Mahavir Mandir: One of the most famous Hindu temples that are dedicated to the monkey God Lord Hanuman, the Mahavir Mandir is located in front of the Patna junction and this is the second most visited religious shrine of North India.
  • Padri Ki Haveli: Also known as the St. Mary’s Church, this is one of the prominent religious places and is also the oldest church in the state of Bihar. The church has a large cathedral bell and wonderful architecture.
  • Takht Sri Patna Sahib: This is a Gurdwara at Patna Sahib that was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh on the holy banks of the Ganges River. It is also one of only five Takhats or Holy Seats of the Sikhs in India. The Takht is one of the most important Sikh shrines in the world and thus many Sikh devotees visit the shrine every-day to offer their respect.

What are some other temples to visit in Bihar?

  • Mahabodhi Temple: The Mahabodhi Temple is an ancient Buddhist Temple in Bodh Gaya. Bodh Gaya is about 96 km from Patna, Bihar, India. Mahabodhi literally means the Great Awakening and it is said that Buddha has attained enlightenment in this location. This temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Vishnupad Temple: Vishnupad Mandir is located in Gaya which is 100 km away from Patna, the capital of Bihar and is one of the most attractive temples. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and it is believed that Lord Rama, along with his wife, Sita, visited this temple.
  • Baidyanath Dham: Baba Baidyanath Dham or Baidyanath Jyotirlinga Temple is one of the 12 jyotirlingas in India. This temple of Shiva is in Deoghar in Santhal Parganas of Jharkhand. According to beliefs, the light of Jyotirlingam is the light of cosmos which is realized by the power of the soul as a whole.

Apart from the above temples, Patna also offers many other tourist attractions that are a must-visit which you must during your visit to Patna.

So take out some time to relish the holiness of the Patan Devi temple and the city of Patna and ensure the most pious and religiously blissful experience of your life with thousands of devotees who come to seek holy blessings.

Chamunda Devi Temple Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

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Chamunda Devi Temple is located in Kangra in Himachal Pradesh. The name Chamunda is derived from two words, Chanda and Munda. Chanda and Munda were two monsters who were killed by Devi.

Chamunda is also known as Chamundi, Chamundeshwari, and Charchika. Goddess Chamunda is also one of the chief Yoginis, a group of sixty-four or eighty-one Tantric goddesses, who are attendants of the warrior goddess Durga. She is closely associated with Kali Ma, another fierce aspect of Devi. She is sometimes identified with goddesses Parvati, Chandi or Durga as well. The goddess is often portrayed as haunting cremation grounds or fig trees. The goddess is worshipped by ritual animal sacrifices along with offerings of wine and in the ancient times, human sacrifices were offered too. Originally a tribal goddess, Chamunda Devi was assimilated in Hinduism and later entered the Jain pantheon too. Though in Jainism, the rites of her worship include vegetarian offerings, and not the meat and liquor offerings.

The famous Chamunda Devi is an abode of Shiva Shakti since the saga of Puranas. According to a legend, the Goddess Chamunda was enshrined as chief Goddess with the title of Rudra in the battle between demon Jalandhra and Lord Shiva which made this place famous as ‘Rudra Chamunda’. Another legend has it that ‘Savarni Manamantra’ battle between the gods and demons, Chamunda emerged as Chandika from an eyebrow of Goddess “Kaushiki” and was assigned the task of eliminating the demons “Chand” and “Mund”. Chandika fought a fierce battle with these two demons and, at last, killed them. Goddess Chandika took the slain heads of the two demons “Chand” and “Mund” to the Goddess “Kaushiki” who being immensely pleased, blessed Chandika and bestowed upon her the title of “Chamunda,” the name which is famous all around the world.

Chamunda Devi is worshipped daily while the sermons include ‘Aartis’ at intervals. Reciting the hymn of ‘Shat Chandi’ with devoted heart at this temple is considered auspicious. In the corner of the temple, one can see small footsteps of the Goddess on a stone. Besides the main shrine, there is a marble staircase that takes down to the cave of Lord Shiva. This is a cave-like scoop where Shiva Lingam is placed. People visit this cave and worship Lord Shiva with great devotion.

Lord Shiva is said to be one of the complex Gods of the Hindu pantheon since he is the destroyer as well as the restorer. Here, Lord Shiva is believed to have been present in the form of death, destruction, and dead bodies. One can also observe ancestral worship near the banks of Ban Ganga River. In the vicinity of this temple, there is a cremation ground that serves to 22 villages of the nearby areas.In the temple complex, there is a huge pond with images of Lords and people can take bath here. There is the sculpture of Goddess, in which, she is garlanded with serpents, scorpions, and skulls. During the time of Navratras, the temple is crowded by a large number of people. Pilgrims from far and near come to visit this temple of the great legacy and religious importance. Chamunda Devi blesses all her true devotees. The temple is situated in the picturesque beauty of lush green mountains. Many saints can be seen here involved in penance and meditation. In the past days, the image of the Goddess was situated on the hill above the present site of the temple. The site was found to be in a remote area, where it was not possible for everyone to reach and moreover, it was quite risky. There is a story behind the establishment of this temple.

Chamunda Devi

History of Chamunda Devi Temple

  • Legends says that originally Chamunda was worshipped by the Munda people living in the Vindhya range of Central India. It is believed that these people offer animals as well as humans as offerings. They even offer liquor to Chamunda.
  • This goddess has a fierce nature because of her association with Vedic Rudra. She is even identified as fir god Agni at times.
  • The story behind this temple is that around some 400 years ago, the king and a Brahmin priest prayed to Devi for the permission to move the temple to some easily accessible location.
  • Devi appeared to the priest in a dream giving her instructions. She directed him to dig in a certain spot and an ancient idol would be found and that idol should be installed in the temple and worshipped as Her form.
  • The king sent out men to bring the idol. Although they were able to locate it but were not able to lift it. Again Devi appeared to the priest in a dream. She explained that the men could not lift the holy relic because they considered it an ordinary stone.
  • She instructed him to get up early in the morning, take a bath, wear fresh clothes and go to the place in a respectful manner. He did as he was told and found that he could easily lift what a large group of men could not. He told the people that it was the power of the Goddess that brought the idol to the temple.

Significance of Chamunda Devi Temple

  • The idol of Chamunda is made up of black and red coloured stone. In the idol, she is wearing a garland of several heads or skulls.
  • It is said she has four, eight, ten or twelve arms, holding a Damaru, trishula, sword, a snake, skull-mace, thunderbolt, a severed head and panapatra or skull-cup, filled with blood.
  • She has been described as having a skeletal body with three eyes, a terrifying face, drooping breasts, protruding teeth, long nails and a sunken belly. She is standing on a corpse of a man or seated on a defeated demon or corpse.
  • There is a scorpion sitting on her navel like a decoration. Chamunda is depicted adorned by ornaments of bones, skulls, serpents and scorpions, symbols of disease and death.
  • She also wears a Yajnopavita of skulls. Yajnopavita is worn by Hindu male priests. She wears a jata mukuta, that is, headdress formed of piled, matted hair tied with snakes or skull ornaments. Sometimes, a crescent moon is seen on her head. Her socket eyes are described as burning the world with flames.
  • She is accompanied by fiends and goblins. She is also shown surrounded by skeletons or ghosts and beasts like jackals, who are shown eating the flesh of the corpse which the goddess sits or stands on.
  • The jackals and her fearsome companions are sometimes depicted as drinking blood from the skull-cup or blood dripping from the severed head, implying that Chamunda drinks the blood of the defeated enemies. This quality of drinking blood is a usual characteristic of all Matrikas, and Chamunda in particular.
  • Sometimes she is depicted seated on an owl, her vahana. Her banner figures an eagle.

Timings of Chamunda Devi Temple

Darshan in Chamunda Devi Temple starts from 6am to 12pm and then 1pm to 9pm. The temple trust gives Naivedyam to the Goddess from 12pm to 1pm. During this time, the devotees are not allowed to enter the temple. During summer, Arti begins from 8am to 6pm whereas during the winter season it begins from 8am to 8pm.

How to reach- Road, Rail, and Air

  • By Road– The temple is situated around 10 km west of Palampur, on the Baner River and can be reached by bus or taxi.
  • By Road– The nearest railhead on the narrow gauge line is at Moranda near Palampur, 30 km.
  • By Air– The nearest airport is Kangra airport at Gaggal near Dharamshala. It is 28 Km from Chamunda Devi Temple.

Hotels in Kangra

There is various dharamshala facility provided fo the devotees. The Temple Trust has themselves made dharamshalas for the devotees as well as tourists. Apart from dharamashalas, there are many hotels as well as private organizations that provide dwelling facilities to the people. The hotels have nominal charge keeping the need and budget of the devotees and the tourists. The hotels provide clean and hygiene environment to the tourists as well has good and hygienic food. Many hotels provide wifi facilities to the tourists so that they keep themselves connected to the whole world.

Place to eat in Kangra

Chamunda Temple provides food to its devotees. They are free of cost and all the expenses incurred are borne by the Trustees. Once the daily Puja is over, devotees are allowed to move for food. These food are made in a very hygienic condition maintaining the dignity of the Temple. The food includes three main courses and is given in plenty. All the expenses incurred are borne by the temple trust. Apart from the prasad provided in the temple, one can also have food from hotels outside the campus. These hotels provide clean and hygienic food. There are various other places to eat food. There are many hotels and cafe which provide food keeping the taste and needs of the devotees. They cost very nominal keeping the needs and budget of the tourists.

There are a lot of dishes which are given to the devotees. There are one-time free prasads served to the devotees. There are many other dishes that are served to the devotees for which they need to spend money. The food is prepared in a very hygienic conditions. All the eatables are taken good care while preparing food. Foods are prepared in a very hygienic atmosphere.

Apart from the food we get in the temple, there are many other hotels and places where one can have food. In Delhi, we can find food stalls everywhere. There are hotels and cafes like Cafe Coffee Day, Pind Balluchi, The First Floor Restaurant and many more. There are many other hotels which have nominal charges keeping the taste of the consumer in mind. They prepare food in a very clean and hygienic environment.

Nearby places to visit

  • Kangra Fort– The Kangra Fort are located on a strategic height overlooking the Manjhi River and Ban Ganga River. The remains of the Kangra fort are still a dominating feature of the Kangra Valley. Mohammed Ghazni occupied the Kangra Fort in 1009 AD and at that time, the place was called Bhima Nagar, after the name of Bhima, one of the Pandavas. Muhammed Tuglaq also conquered the fort in 1337, but could not occupy it for long. Feroz Tuglaq also plundered the fort in 1365 AD. This is known as Nagarkot, located 42 km from Palampur. There are two entrance, it is currently preserved by an archaeological department. It has very beautiful entrance and very amazing.
  • Jwalamukhi Temple– Located at a distance of around 30 km from Kangra, the temple of Goddess Jawalamukhi is also famously called “Flaming Goddess” or “She of the flaming mouth.” Nestled in the valley of Beas, the temple of Jawalamukhi is built over some natural jets of combustible gas. It is on of shakti peeth temple, it is 35 km from Kangra dedicated to goddess light, this temple is very famous to north Indians. There are all types of facility available like hotels, restaurants etc.
  • Kangra Art Gallery– The Kangra Valley Art Gallery showcases artefacts that can be traced back to the 5th century. It encompasses a gallery of Kangra’s renowned miniature painting and a representative collection of pottery, sculptures, and anthropological items.
  • Bhagsunath– The ancient temple of Bhagsunath is located 3 km east of McLeodganj and 11 km from Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh. The annual fair held at the place in September is quite popular. With the forests and hilly ranges, there is also a waterfall located nearby.

Kheer Bhawani Temple Srinagar Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

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Kheer Bhawani Temple in Srinagar is one of the most picturesque and popular temples in the northern state of Jammu & Kashmir. It has been dedicated to the locally prevalent Goddess Kheer Bhawani (originally she was revered as just Bhawani).

The temple has been constructed on a sacred spring and this is one of the major attractions of the temple. The Kashmiri Hindus universally worship Goddess Kheer Bhawani and she is among the most respected Goddesses in the community.

The famous temple is located about 14 miles in the east of the Srinagar city and is near the village Tul Mul. It is protected by the Indian Army and the soldiers ensure the name of the temple is derived from the word kheer meaning rice pudding that is a popular prasadam offered.

Many people believe that there was a mulberry tree near the holy spot of the temple and in the local language, it is called tulmul. Hence, the place derived its name. The goddess has many names as it is a custom with most Hindu deities. She is called Maharagya Devi, Ragnya Bhagwati, Ragnya Devi and Rajni.

Kheer Bhawani

Kheer Bhawani History

According to stories, the Goddess Maharagya was extremely pleased with the devotion of the demon Ravana and she appeared before him. Ravana then got the image of the Goddess that he saw, installed in Sri Lanka. But the Goddess became displeased with the brutal and wicked life of Ravana and as a result, she was no more pleased to stay in Sri Lanka. Therefore, according to a popular legend, she instructed Lord Hanuman to get her image from there and this was installed here at the holy spot of Tul Mul.

Ragniya is one of the Rupa or incarnations of Goddess Durga and the one at Tul Mul is a Vaishnav Rupa. In the Kashmir, Ragniya is known as Tripura. In Sri Lanka, the Mother Goddess was popular as Shayama. Goddess Sita (the consort of Lord Rama) is also believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Ragniya. According to Ragniya Mahatmya, those who meditate on the PanchDashi Mantra during Navreh (New Year in Kashmir), the Mother Goddess Ragniya grants all their wishes.

Another legend states that the temple is the spot where Lord Rama had worshiped Ragnya Devi while he was in his exile. Lord Rama asked his devotee Lord Hanuman to shift the Goddess form, Lanka, after the exile period was over. Hence, Lord Hanuman brought the seat of the Goddess to Shadipora first and later she was shifted to the current site.

According to popular mythology, the night during which the Mother Goddess was brought from Sri Lanka to Kashmir has been termed as Ragniya Ratriand. This is a major festival among the Kashmiri Pandits. Many shrines have been dedicated to the goddess in Kashmir at Tiker, Manzgam (Noor-abad) Bheda, Bhuvaneshvar, Lo-qraer-pur, Rai-than, Mani-gam and Baed-pur but the one at Tul-Mul has been the most famous one and so this shrine is a focus of the pilgrims. 360 springs (nagas) are believed to have gathered at this spot.

The Ragniya form of the Goddess is Sattavie form which means the form of bliss and tranquility. Kheer Bhawani has been mentioned elaborately in the Kalhana’s Rajtarangini. The texts mention that the sacred spring of the Tula Mula region is situated in a marshy ground. This spring has been named as the Mata Ragini Kund (pond). The Brahmins of the Kashmir region worship this spring and the pilgrims from all comers of the country visit here to have the pious darshan of this place and of Maharagini as the form of Goddess Durga Bhagvati.

According to the text of Rajtarangini, Tula Mula, and the Maharagya spring both have been considered extremely sacred and the region’s Brahmins of Tula Mula are considered to have immense spiritual prowess. As stated by legends, during the Samvat 4041 of the Hindu lunar calendar, when the sacred Spring of Tula Mula in Kashmir was inundated under the sway of the floods, the holy place couldn’t be seen anywhere and couldn’t be traced. It was then that Yogi Krishna Pandit of Kashmir had a dream and the Goddess appeared to him to direct that she will be swimming in the form of a snake at some proper place and asked him to demarcate the holy spot with large poles in the marsh land. The holy spot was subsequently discovered at the same spot as directed by the Goddess.

The place had also uncovered the ruins of an old temple and shrine slabs that were engraved with figures were discovered and many images were found. In the 1920s, Maharaja Pratap Singh, an ardent disciple of Goddess got the marble temple made in the middle of a spring that shines similar to a pearl in the midst of a shell.

Another mention of the temple is in the book Ain-i-Akbari where Abu’l-Fazl ibn Mubarak had mentioned the area of the Tula Mula extending over a hundred bighas (units of land area) that used to sink in marshy lands during summers. The holy place was also visited by Swami Rama Tirtha and Swami Vivekananda. When Swami Vivekananda visited the temple, during his stay, he ritually worshiped Kheer Bhavani and he communicated with the Goddess.

The sacred spring situated here is uniquely septagonal and has been dedicated to Goddess Kheer Bhawani. The spring flows from the west direction to the east. This holy spring mysteriously changes its color in various hues including red, pink, orange, and green, blue, white and this was noted by both Abul Fazal and Swami Vivekananda. The spring located at a distance of 27 kms from Srinagar, in Jammu & Kashmir of India, and is considered to be a form of the Goddess Mata Ragnya Devi.

Significance of the Kheer Bhawani Temple

Kheer Bhawani temple is highly important among the followers of the historical Vedic Religion in the Kashmir region and the followers are called Kashmiri Pandits. The area around the temple is covered with smooth and beautiful stones and large and old chinar trees that grow near the temple which is a popular place for the pilgrims to sit or sleep on the soft mats of grass. A major significance of the temple is due to the occasional change in the color of the spring water which when black or darkish is believed to indicate inauspicious times for the Kashmir region. This popular belief was reinforced at the time of the visit of Walter Lawrence, the-then British settlement commissioner for land in 1886. He visited the spring and reported the water of the spring having a violet tinge. A darkish or murky tinge was observed by the locals in the spring water just before the assassination of ex-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and during the infamous 1989 insurgency in the valley.

Kheer Bhawani Temple Timings

Kheer Bhawani Temple is open from morning 6AM to 8PM every day.

Festivals Celebrated At the Kheer Bhawani Temple

The annual festival held at the temple is the Mela Kheer Bhawani which is the time when the devotees of the Goddess Mata Kheer Bhawani gather here and fast on the eighth day of the full moon. The festival is held during the month of May/ June. The annual festival is a public holiday in the state of Kashmir. This is the time when, according to a popular belief, the Goddess changes the color of the water of the spring and this is due to the mysterious manifestations of the Goddess Mata Kheer Bhawani.

This time of the festival on the eighth day of the full moon holds high significance for the devotees of the temple’s presiding deity Ragnya Devi. The temple serves as the main venue for the annual celebrations on the occasion of Jesht Ashtami. A large number of Hindus gather at the temple and seek the blessings of the goddess. The temple also gains special visitors during the occasion of Shukla Paksh Ashtami. Many havans/yagys are performed by the holy men during the festival to please the goddess.

Poojas and Rituals at Kheer Bhawani Temple

The Kashmiri Pandits hold special reverence towards the temple and thus they perform many rituals at the temple to please the Goddess and to keep their region safe from any external danger. It is believed that there were 360 springs surrounding the main temple earlier that disappeared and the land became marshy and so the Kashmiri Brahmins for whom the Kheer Bhawani is the presiding deity perform special yagys here to protect the temple. A lot of people also visit here for a pilgrimage and chant mantras for their Goddess.

How to Reach By Road, Rail & Air

Kheer Bhawani Temple is located in the village Tul Mul at a distance of 1 hour, 14 miles in the east of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir. The temple is guarded by soldiers from all around and from a distance as many devotees visit here so while visiting the devotees first need to register near the entrance gate. Srinagar can be reached from all parts of the country through rail, road as well as airways.

By Air: There are regular flights from all the major cities of the country to Srinagar and the Srinagar Airport is the major airport.

By Train: Srinagar does not have its own railway station but the nearest railway station is the Udhampur station. It is situated 130 kms away from Srinagar and the Ram Nagar station is located 138 kms away from the city

By Bus: Regular buses can be caught from Srinagar to all other major cities of the country and back. The major bus stand is at Srinagar.

Hotels in Srinagar

Srinagar has many 3-Star, 4-Star, 5-Star hotels as well as many luxurious resorts like Hotel Akbar, The Lalit Grand Palace and Vivanta Dal View by Taj. It is also house to many houseboats and many inns, cottages and private residences.

Nearby Temples and Attractions

Srinagar is a wonderful city poised with natural beauty and nestled among mountains. The city is situated on the banks of the Jhelum and has many diverse temples of great architectural grandeur. The city has beautiful gardens and lakes. Some of the major tourist attractions of Srinagar are the Dal Lake, Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bag and Jami Masjid.

Following are some major temples in Srinagar:

  • Shankaracharya Temple, Srinagar: Adi Shankaracharya had visited this temple and hence it derived its name. The Temple is a soaring imposing structure and highly visited.
  • Sharika Devi Temple, Hari Parbat: This is a temple laced with many mystical theories from the ancient Hindu mythology. The temple’s presiding deity is Sharika Devi who is also the major deity of the Srinagar city.
  • Martand Sun Temple, Anantnag: The Anantnag temple is popular among the devotees who visit the Amarnath temple and the temple is a work of genius architectural labor. This temple was built by the King Lalitaditya of the Surya (Solar) dynasty.
  • Pandrethan Temple, Srinagar: An old stone structure, the Pandrethan temple is a major temple that is associated with Emperor Ashoka and is one of the major attractions of the city.
  • Bhuteshwara Temple, Srinagar: The temple was constructed in the 12th century and is blessed with great architecture and as a result holds great importance among the locals.
  • Jwala Mukhi Temple, Khru: The picturesquely placed temple is atop a hillock and is a popular draw for the tourists.
  • Rameshwaram Shiva Temple, Jawahar Nagar, Srinagar: The popular Shiva temple has religious significance and has associations with Hinduism, but also Sikhism.
  • Mamal Shiva Temple, Pahalgam: The popular Shiva temple is one that has exceptional popularity amongst the faithful devotees and the devotees throng the temple in spite of its ruined condition.

The Kheer Bhawani Temple of Srinagar has been a temple of special importance among the Kashmiri Brahmins and so does the city of Srinagar that is visited by many tourists. A temple is a place with immense natural beauty and thus is worth a visit.

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