Travel Guide to Famous Temples

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Jagannath Temple, Ranchi

September 15, 2019, Sasidhar Darla Leave a Comment Filed Under: Jharkhand Temples Tagged With: Vishnu Temples

Ranchi is a historic town of Jharkhand. The Jagannath Temple Ranchi is a religious landmark of the town. Jagannath Temple is located at 10 km from the main city. Built over a small hillock, you can get a beautiful view of the surroundings from the temple. If tourists are not able to climb the hilltop, they can use the optional vehicle route. The Jagannath Temple is located at the Dhurva region of Ranchi. There are two large water tanks located within the temple complex. Hence if you are tired after walking so many stairs, there is enough space to rest and water to quench your thirst. The Jagannath Temple, Ranchi is very neat and clean, providing ample space to sit and relax in the soothing environment. There is no entry fee to the temple.

Jagannath Temple Ranchi History

Jagannath Temple is a historical spot of Ranchi.

The Jagannath Temple of Ranchi was built in 1691. It was built by king Thakur Ani Nath Shahdeo of Barkagarh. A marble slab outside the sanctum informs about the founder and the foundation year of the temple.
It is believed that the Jagannath Temple was constructed to revive the faith and belief of the tribal in Hindu religion. As during the 17^th century, many people started leaving Hinduism, the believers of Hinduism started erecting temples like the Jagannath Temple to retain the identity of Hinduism.
The temple collapsed in 1990. The then Bihar government renovated the temple and now it has regained its lost glory.
The original shrine was built in the form of a fort.

Significance of the Jagannath Temple, Ranchi

The Jagannath Temple Ranchi is almost a replica of the famous Jagannath Temple of Puri, Orissa. However, it is comparatively smaller in size than the Jagannath Temple of Puri.
Jagannatha, Balbhadra and Subhadra are worshiped at the temple. All the deities are engraved out of neem wood.
The temple is exquisite with intricate carvings. The temple is colourful with unique blend of colours. The interiors of the temple are in the form of a fort.
The Jagannath Temple Ranchi has been built in the Kalinga style of architecture. There is a tall sanctum within the temple. The temple also consists of a Jagamohana and Nata Mandir.
The temple is especially important for devotees belonging to the Vaishnavism cult. As per Hindu mythology, Lord Jagannath is considered to be the Lord of the Universe. The worship of Lord Jagannath and the foundation of the temple dates back to the glorious past of Vaishnavism and its founder, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The deities are not very simple here, without much jewellery and clothes.
The deity of Lord Hanumana is present inside the gates of the temple, symbolizing to be a guard of the Lord, while outside the temple you can find the statue of Garuda.

Jagannath Temple, Ranchi Timings

The temple can be visited throughout the year. Tourists are suggested to visit the temple at dawn or dusk, as the surroundings look heavenly during sunrise and sunset. Summer is considered as the best time to visit the temple as the largest festival of the temple, Rath Yatra takes place at this time.

The Jagannath Temple of Ranchi is open on all the days.
It is open from 5 am to 12 pm and again from 3 pm to 6 pm.
The temple is closed at afternoon, from 12.00 pm to 3.00 pm.

Jagannath Temple, Ranchi Food Timings

After worship of the deity, prasadam is served to the devotees. The prasadam is also delivered online by the temple committee, which you can receive 15- 45 days.

Dress Code at Jagannath Temple Ranchi

There is no such dress code at the Jagannath Temple of Ranchi. But as per the standard of any Hindu temple of India, devotees are expected to be in covered dresses.
Devotees need to leave their footwear outside the temple.

Festivals celebrated at the Jagannath Temple Ranchi

Jagannath Temple is the largest shrine of Ranchi. Hence numerous devotees gather here every day to offer their prayers to Lord Jagannath. Almost every day some or the other function takes place at the temple premises.

Rath Yatra: Rath Yatra, also known as the Car Festival, is the prime festival celebrated at the Jagannath Temple of Ranchi. The celebration takes place during the Hindu month of Asadh, on Ashad Shukla Dwitiya. This is the second day of the fortnight of Ashad, which generally occurs during June or July.

During the festival, the deities are brought to Mausi Bari, that is, the home of the aunt. Numerous people follow the journey pulling the ropes of the chariot. This is considered to be a pious act by the devotees. The deities are kept in Mausi Bari for six days. On the seventh day, the chariot returns to the Jagannath temple with the deities. The return journey is known as Ghurti Rath Yatra. Thousands of devotees folk here during the Rath Yatra as it is believed that Lord Jagannath opens His eyes during this time to bless the worshippers.

One of the prime attractions of the festival is that lot of tribal people gather at the annual fair. From folk song and dance to local handicrafts, the Ratha Yatra of Jagannath Temple of Ranchi is more than a religious festival. The annual fair is held for a week and is known as Jagannath Mela.

Kalash Sthapna: Before the main event of Ratha Yatra, events like Kalash Sthapna, Pran Prathistha and Bhandara take place at the temple complex. The eyes of the deities are also painted before Ratha Yatra.

Snan Yatra: This is another auspicious day that is celebrated with great pomp and show at the Jagannath Temple of Ranchi. The event generally occurs on the full moon, known as Purnima during the Hindu month of Jyeshtha, which is May or June. Lots of pilgrims gather at the temple to witness the holy event in which Lord Jagannath, Lord Balaram and Goddess Subhadra are bathed. In this festival each God is bathed with 51 pots (also known as kalash) of water.

Krishna Janmasthami: This is another important festival celebrated at the Jagannath temple. Lord Krishna is considered to be another incarnation of Lord Jagannath. The festival takes place during the Hindu month of Shravan, which is generally the month of August. The devotees fast till the worship proceedings complete in the evening.

Poojas and Rituals at Jagannath Temple, Ranchi

The worship of Lord Jagannath at this temple is quite different from other Hindu temple. Here the priests are known as Panda. Devotees can bath in the river and then worship the deity.

The worship starts with offering flowers and food to Lord Jagannath. At afternoon, the deities are offered lunch, known as Bhog.
The evening aarti of the Jagannath Temple is serene.

How to reach: Road, Rail and Air

By Air: The nearest airport to the Jagannath temple is the Ranchi airport. The airport is located approximately at 5 km from the shrine. There are several flights from Kolkata, Patna and Delhi to Ranchi. The Ranchi airport is located at 7 km from the main city. The Kolkata international airport is the nearest international airport to the temple. Tourists can avail direct prepaid taxis from Kolkata airport to Ranchi.

By Train: The nearest railway station to the Jagannath Temple is the Hatia railway station. There are auto rickshaws and taxis available from the railway station that cab takes you to the temple.

By Road: The nearest taxi stand to the temple is Line Tank Rd, Deputy Para, Ahirtoli of Ranchi. Auto rickshaws are the common mode of transport within the city. There are several local buses that regularly ply from different parts of the city to the Jagannath Temple.

Hotels in Ranchi: Where to stay

Ranchi is the capital city of Jharkhand. The business hub of the state has both budget and premium accommodation for travellers. Tourists generally refer the guests houses maintained by the Tourism Authority of Ranchi, due to the low prices. The Park Inn and Hotel the Raso are the nearest hotels to the Jagannath Temple, located just at 4.4 km. Hotel Palash Residency, Hotel Green Acres. Hotel Emerald, Hotel Jalsa Grand and Hotel Ranchi Ashok are the other options.

Where to eat

There are several eat outs located near the Jagannath Temple. Tourists can relish tasty food here. The Modern Bakery, Shri Krishna Restaurant, Flaves, Bindas Bavarchi Restaurant, Zero Mile Restaurant and Chinar Restaurant are some of the hygienic and popular eateries near the temple.

Nearby Temples

There are several other temples built near the Jagannath Temple Ranchi.

Mausi Bari: This is the nearest shrine to the Jagannath Temple. Lord Narayana and Goddess Lakshmi are the presiding deities of this temple. The Jagannath Temple lies at the background of Mausi Bari.
Pahari Temple: This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. You can get a glimpse of the Pahari Temple from the Jagannath Temple. This temple is also located on top of a hill, known as the Ranchi hill. It lies at a height of 2140 feet. It is believed that wishes get fulfilled here. Pilgrims gather here during the holy month of Shravan to offer water to the God.
Angrabadi Temple: The temple is situated at Khunti. Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Lord Rama, Sita Devi and Lord Hanumana are worshipped here.
Sun Temple: The Sun Temple is another attraction of the city. The temple is in the shape of a large vehicle which is driven by 7 horses and comes with 18 wheels. Devotees take a dip in the holy waters of the nearby pond and offer prayers to the Sun God.
Deori Temple: The Deori Temple is another ancient temple of Ranchi. This temple is dedicated to Solahbhuji Devi. This deity is an incarnation of Goddess Kali. The idol comes with 16 arms. The temple is made of sandstone. The walls and pillars of the shrine are colourful with paintings of Hindu gods and goddesses.
The Radha Ballabh Temple: This temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and his consort, Radha. Holi and Janmasthami are the major festivals celebrated at this ancient shrine.

Besides worshipping at the Jagannath Temple, visitors can enjoy boating at the nearby river.

Chintpurni Temple Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

June 29, 2022, Sasidhar Darla 2 Comments Filed Under: Himachal Pradesh Temples Tagged With: Devi Temples, Shakti Peetha

Chintpurni Temple is one of the major pilgrimages in India and also one of the Shakti Peethas. The Chintpurni Shakti Peeth or Chinnamastika Shakti Peeth is in the Una district of Himachal Pradesh. It has the western Himalayas in the north and the smaller Shivalik range in the East.

What is the history of Chintpurni Temple?

The history of Chintpurni temple relates itself to a famous legend. According to it, when Lord Vishnu severed Sati’s body into 51 pieces they scattered all over. He did this to stop Shiva’s Tandava. So all of the pieces together formed the 51 Shakti Peethas.

According to Puranic traditions, Shiva – Rudra Mahadev will protect Chhinnamastika Devi in the four directions. Also, there are four Shiva temples – Kaleshwar Mahadev in the east, Narayhana Mahadev in the west, Muchkund Mahadev in the north and Shiva Bari in the south – which are nearly equidistant from Chintpurni. This also confirms Chintpurni as the abode of Chinnamastika Devi.

People also believe that Pandit Mai Das, a Kalia Saraswat Brahmanestablished this shrine to Mata Chintpurni Devi in Chhaproh village twenty-six generations ago. Over time this village became popular as Chintpurni after the eponymous deity.

What is the significance of Chintpurni Temple?

The significance of Chintpurni temple is that devotees believe that nobody goes empty handed from the shrine of Goddess Chintpurni / Chhinnamastika. The simple structure of the temple contains the main shrine, where the image of Mata Chintpurni is placed in the form a pindi (a round stone).

There are 51 Shakti Peeth associated with the 51 alphabets in Sanskrit. It is believed that Sati Devi’s feet fell here.

What are the Timings of Chintpurni Temple?

Here are the timings of Chintpurni Temple:

Timings	From	To
open (winters)	5:30 a.m	9:30 p.m.
open (Summers)	4:00 a.m	10:00 p.m.
Morning arti	6:00 a.m.
evening arti	8:00 p.m.

Which festivals are celebrated at Chintpurni Temple?

Navaratri is a grand festival that is celebrated with devotion in the Chintpurni temple. People from all over India and abroad come here during this to seek the blessings of Devi Ma. The festival takes place during in Aashadh (July), Ashwin (October) and Chaitra (March–April).

How to reach Chintpurni Temple?

Here’s how to reach Chintpurni Temple:

Air: Nearest airport is at Gaggal in Kangra district. Its distance from Chintpurni is about 60 km.
Road: State Transport bus services are available fromPunjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Delhi and others.
Rail: The nearest railway stations is Amb Andaura, 20 km from the temple.

Where to stay nearby?

Some places where one can stay nearby are:

Hotel Amber Residency opposite KDM Hospital, Hoshiarpur is a great place to stay. The ambience is suitable for all and many visitors praise it.
Hotel Presidency at Model town road, Hoshiarpur is another great place to check in. Rooms are comfortable and spacious with all modern facilities.

What are some temples nearby?

Some of the temples/places that one can visit nearby are:

Naina Devi Temple – The temple of Shri Naina Devi Ji is on a hilltop in Bilaspur District of Himachal Pradesh in India, about 115 km south of Chintpurni.
Mandi is also famous as the Varanasi of the east and is on the banks of the Beas River. Situated some 70 km from Kullu, Mandi was getting its name from Sage Mandav who meditated here.
Thaneek Pura is at a distance of only 3 Kms from Chintpurni. It is well-known for its temples; Guga Zahar Peer Temple, Mahiya Sidh Temple, and Radha-Krishna Temple are some of the temples in the area. Thaneek Pura is also famous for a fair on the day of Krishna Janamashtmi along with Guga Navami festival.
Hidimba Devi Temple

Kedarnath and Badrinath in August Weather – Should I go?

July 5, 2022, Sasidhar Darla 5 Comments Filed Under: Char Dham Yatra

It rains in Kedarnath and Badrinath during August. Monsoon in these places is risky and there are chances of landslides and floods. Therefore, it is suggested not to travel to Kedarnath or Badrinath during this season. Kedarnath helicopter also will not fly during August. You can travel during September and October to Char Dham.

If you are still planning on visiting Kedarnath and Badrinath during August, it is important to take the services of an experienced tour operator like us. Our drivers are very safe and we make sure you have a wonderful trip even during August.

Take a look at our Char Dham Yatra Package now.

Kedarnath and Badrinath in August

How is the weather in Kedarnath and Badrinath during each season?

Find out the best time to visit Kedarnath

Summer Season: This is the best season to visit Kedarnath and Badrinath Dham. Summer in Kedarnath stays from April to June. The view is beautiful and there is freshness everywhere. Although, even during the summers, it can get freezing during the evening. You must carry proper warm clothes to protect yourself.
Monsoon Season: July and August are the Monsoon months in Kedarnath and Badrinath. This place witnesses heavy rainfall during these months. There are chances of landslides and floods. It is advised not to travel during these months.
Pre-Winter Season: September and October cover Pre-Winters. This time is also very ideal to visit the Kedarnath and Badrinath Dham. Just after the rains, the weather becomes stunning. The places are full of greenery. The beauty of the whole region increases during this time.
Winter Season: Winters at this place starts around the end of November and continues till March. During this time, the place witnesses heavy snowfall. Due to freezing weather, the shrines are kept closed for the pilgrims. It again opens in April.

Frequently asked questions about Char Dham Yatra

Devprayag

August 9, 2019, Sasidhar Darla 4 Comments Filed Under: Char Dham Yatra, Uttarakhand Temples Tagged With: Other Temples, Panch Prayag

Devprayag is the last confluence of river Alaknanda (Panch Prayag) in the descending order. The place is rooted in the confluence of river Alaknanda and Bhagirathi. Moreover, the holy confluence occurs in the Tehri district of Uttarakhand. From this Prayag, Alaknanda and Bhagirathi unify and flow as Ganga river.

The place draws its name from sage Dev Sharma from Satyug. Beliefs suggest that sage Dev Sharma worshipped Lord Vishnu at this place. Hence, being impressed by him, Lord Vishnu gave him the boon that his place of worship will be known by his name in the coming times.

Bhagirathi originates from Gaumukh and Alaknanda from Satopanth and the two merge right at this place. Devprayag is a famous pilgrimage destination on the Char Dham Yatra route.

Chronicles of Devprayag

Hindu mythology highlights Devprayag as the place where Lord Ram meditated for repentance after killing Ravana. Since Brahmin murder was a considerable sin during the time. Hence after killing Ravana, Lord Ram came here to wash his sins away on the advice of the sages of his court.

Moreover, traditional tales talk about another river that belongs to this confluence named Saraswati. It is predicted to be originating from Mana Village in Badrinath. However, in Devprayag, the river descends from the feet of Lord Rama in Raghunath Temple. Also, there is evidence of footprints of Lord Rama at “Ram Kunda“.

In accordance with one of the tales, King Bhagirath pursued Goddess Ganga to flow from this prayag which is now the starting point of the river.

Essence of the Confluence

Devprayag is highlighted in History as the land of late Acharya, Pt. Chakradhar Joshi. Acharya set up Nakshatra Veda Shala on the mountain Dashrathanchal on top of Devprayag in 1946. This observatory is packed with the latest equipments.

Essence of Devprayag — He was the one who set up Nakshatra Ved Shala near Devprayag

Other than that ancient equipment like Surya Ghati, Dhruv Ghati is also present here. This observatory is the living pride of progress of Indians in Astronomy.

Devprayag is significantly known for being surrounded by 3 heavenly peaks, named Giddhanchal Parvat, Dashrathanchal Parvat, and Narsinghancal Parvat.

Moreover, devotees worship Lord Shiva here in the form of Tondeshwar Mahadev and Dhaneshwar Mahadev. The devotees also flock here to visit Mata Bhuvneshwari temple in village Pundal. Other popular temples nearby are Danda Nagaraja (Lord of Snakes) temple and Chandrabadni temple

A very interesting fact about the two rivers is that Bhagirathi is considered the mother-in-law of Alaknanda in the Garhwal region.

Ways to Reach Devprayag

Here’s how to reach Devprayag:

Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport. It is at a distance of 91 km from Devprayag.
Train: The nearest railway station is Rishikesh. It is at a distance of 72 km from Devprayag. The
Road: Buses to Devprayag and Rishikesh are available from ISBT Kashmere Gate. However, The last Prayag is on NH58.

Stays nearby Devprayag

Stays near Devprayag that one can undertake during Char Dham Yatra are:

The Ramkund Resort: The hotel is absolute divinity for the guests. Apart from the availability of all luxuries, it provides beautiful interiors and exteriors to them. Also, the staff is very cordial.
Hotel Chakasha Govindam: The hotel offers a comfortable and hygienic stay to its guests. Moreover, there is a 24/7 help desk only a call away. Nonetheless, the stay here is budget-friendly.
Moteldev: It offers all the modern facilities to its guests. Additionally, the guests can also avail recreational activities like trekking, yoga and meditation. The guests can also avail a village safari here.

Other Panch Prayags

The other Panch Prayag destinations are:

Vishnuprayag: Vishnuprayag is present 1372 metres above sea level and is the first Prayag considering the route of river Alaknanda. It is at a distance of 189.1 km from Devprayag.
Nandaprayag: It is the second confluence after Vishnuprayag. The place observes the Sangam of Alaknanda with Nandakini here. It is at a distance of 119 km from final Prayag.
Karnaprayag: It is present at the confluence of river Alaknanda with river Pindar, in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. It is the third confluence in line after Nandaprayag. It is 98.9 km away from Devprayag.
Rudraprayag: Located at the confluence of river Alaknanda and Mandakini, in Uttarakhand. It has an average elevation of 895 metres and is fourth among the Prayag. It is 67.3 km away from Devprayag.

The Panch Prayag is a part of the Char Dham Yatra within Uttarakhand.

Frequently Asked Questions About Devprayag

Can devotees visit Devprayag in monsoons?

Devotees must refrain from going here during monsoons as there are risks of landslides.

What is Devprayag famous for?

It is famously known as the origin of river Ganga.

Which rivers merge at this Prayag?

It is the confluence of rivers Alaknanda and Bhagirathi.

Read interesting facts about Panch Prayag in Panch Prayag- Five sacred confluences in Uttarakhand.

Shankaracharya Temple Srinagar Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

July 7, 2019, Sasidhar Darla 3 Comments Filed Under: Jammu and Kashmir Temples Tagged With: Shiva Temples

Shankaracharya Temple is located in Srinagar in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is also called the Jyesteshwara Temple as well as the Pas-Pahar by the Buddhists who visit the temple. The Shankracharya Temple has been a highly revered temple situated on the Shankaracharya Hill that is commonly called the Takht-e-Suleiman in addition to the Gopadari Hill.

The hill is located in the Zabarwan Mountain of Srinagar, Kashmir and the temple has been dedicated to the extremely popular and admired Lord Shiva. The Shankaracharya Temple is situated on a summit that has the same name and is at the height of 1,000 feet above ground level. The temple overlooks the beautiful city of Srinagar from the height.

Shankaracharya Temple History

The Shankaracharya Temple was built in the 200 BC but the present structure is a little recent and it dates back to the 9^th century AD. The temple is also popular as it was visited by Adi Shankara which has made the temple to be associated with him. Thus the temple came to be known as the Shankaracharya Temple and this temple is also regarded sacred by the Buddhist community. The temple has a Shiv Linga that was placed in the temple during period of the Sikh in the nineteenth century. It became one of the active Hindu temples when the priests started performing regular services in the temple. According to historians, this temple was originally a Buddhist temple that was extremely popular during the Buddhist era. The temple was then later on changed to a Hindu site and Adi Shankaracharya made it a Hindu place of worship. The Jews and Persians used to call it the Bagh-i-Sulaiman which means the Garden of King Solomon and the temple also has Persian engravings.
Popular legends suggest that the Hindu king “Sandiman” governed in Kashmir from 2629 to 2564 BC and he was the one who built this temple. The temple was later on repaired by King Gopaditya (426–365 BC) and then by the King Lalitaditya (697–734 AD). One the temple had been damaged due to an earthquake and Zain-ul-Abidin had repaired its roof that had tumbled down due to the earthquake. Sheikh Ghulam Mohi-nu-ddin who was a Sikh Governor from 1841–46 had also repaired the dome of the temple.
The Shankaracharya hill also has historical reference from the historian Kalhana who had earlier called this mountain as Gopadri. Kalhana had also said that King Gopaditya had granted the land that existed at the hill foot to Brahmins who had come from “Araya Versh.” This land grant had a religious term called the Gopa Agraharas. The same region is currently known as Gupkar. Kalhana had also mentioned another village that used to lie in the vicinity of this hill. The village is popular as it is believed that the King Gopaditya had accommodated some Brahmins who had eaten Garlic to a village next door. Kalhana has also mentioned the King Gopaditya who had built this temple on top of Shankaracharya Hill which has been built as a shrine to Lord Jyesthesvara who is a form of Lord Shiva somewhere around the era of 371 BC.
Abul Fazal, a famous historian mentions that the King Lalitaditya Muktapida of the Karakote dynasty had helped with some major repairs in this temple. Srivara Budsah was a king who reigned in 1420-1470 AD and he also did some major patch-up work in the temple. He had also the temple’s spike and had repaired the roof of this structure that had fallen down due to an enormous earthquake.

Significance of the Shankaracharya Temple

Shankaracharya Temple has a lot of history associated with it and it is also believe that Jesus Christ had visited Kashmir as well as the temple. This is also inscribed on the temple’s shrine as well as on its steps that lead to the main shrine and this has increased its popularity in the region. There were also Persian engravings on the temple and on its stairs. The historical reference to this temple also mentions the same and this has therefore become a belief of the region.
The temple had derived many names and the name of Takht-e-Suleiman had persisted during the periods of the Mughal, Sikh, Afghan and Dogra periods. Most of the publications that existed during the periods had all referred to this hill by the same name. The temple as well as the hill derived the name Shankaracharaya when the Governor Sheikh Mohi-ud-Din had made the repairs during 19^th century. Since then the temple was not used as a temple and later on it was consecrated as Shankaracharaya temple and this is when Shiv Lingam was placed in temple. During the period of the Sikh, people started prayer services inside the temple and then the festival of Shravan Poornima was also celebrated at this temple which became a custom.
Gulab Singh who was a popular Dogra King of this region had also constructed the existing steps to reach the hill. The electrical installations that exist on the temple were made by the Maharaja of Mysore who had come to Kashmir region in 1925. The current statue of Adi Shankaracharaya was put in the temple in 1961 and in 1974 the J&K Government constructed the current road that takes the tourists to the TV antenna which is near the hill top.
The temple of Jyoteshware rests on solid rock with a 20 something foot tall octagonal base that supports the square building on the top. There is a terrace around this square temple which is reached by stone staircases that are enclosed between two walls. There is a doorway which is on opposite side of staircase and it leads to interior. The interior is a small dark chamber, which is circular in the plan. It has a ceiling that is supported by octagonal columns and this surrounds a small basin that contains the Lingam which is encircled by a snake.
Shankaracharya Temple is regularly worshipped by the pilgrims who visit the region during the popular Amarnath Yatra. The 243 steps that lead up to this temple area are not very steep and can be easily climbed. The temple overlooks the beautiful Srinagar town and the temple is located at height of about 1100 feet. This sacred site also offers splendid views of Kashmir valley and the splendid snow covered mountains can also be seen from here especially the Pir Panjal range. The shrine is one of the oldest in the region and in the Kashmir valley.
The shrine also has a circular cell which provides views of the valley below and the innermost chamber of this temple was renovated and is now covered with modern ceilings. This temple also is a very well known spot amongst the religious tourists and it is also known to have a lot of religious as well as architectural importance in the region.

Shankaracharya Temple Timings

The temple opens in morning 6 AM and the cars are allowed inside from then onwards. It is under the protection of the Army and hence the entrance is guarded by the army personnel. Cars aren’t permitted inside the temple after 5 PM but the temple does remain open till 8 PM.

Festivals Celebrated at the Shankaracharya Temple

Kashmir has been a popular seat of Shaivism. The Himalayas and the Mount Kailash are nearby and it is believed that the devotion of Shiva spread in the entire India from here, by spiritual work of great saints like Adi Shankaracharya. The Soundarya Lahari is a rich text and lyrical constructed and composed by Adi Shankara at the top of the Gopadari Hill. He had composed the same after accepting that the union of Shiva and Shakti had happened here. It is believed that when Shiva unites with Shakti, he gets the power of creating. Thus the temple has a lot of significance among Shaivaites and they celebrate Shivratri with great vigor here.

Poojas and Rituals at Shankaracharya Temple

The Lingam is offered milk and fruits and flowers by the devotees and they sing songs in praise of the Lord here.

How to reach by Rail, Road and Air

Tourists have to take special permission from the army department to visit this temple. Jammu and Srinagar are major cities of India and both are well connected to all parts of the country by trains, airways and road. Following are the major roadways, railways and airways of the city of Srinagar:

By Bus: Shankaracharya Temple is easy to access by roadways. There are several private bus service providers who run deluxe bus packages from nearby cities to Srinagar is connected to Chandigarh and Jammu etc. The package tours expense around Rs. 4/- to Rs. 5/- per km.

By Rail: Jammu is the nearby railway station to Srinagar, found at 290 km away. The Railway station of Jammu is well linked to different main cities of the country by rail services. There are direct train services available from Chennai, Delhi, Trivandrum and Bangalore.

By Air: The Srinagar airport connected to major cities of the country. There are effective flights between Srinagar and Delhi, Chandigarh, Mumbai and Shimla. The frequency is generally once or two times a day which is standard amongst all the airlines

Hotels in Srinagar

Srinagar is a major Indian city and thus 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. The city has a major attraction in the form of the houseboats that are dwelled by many tourists and many Inns, cottages and private residences are also present in the city.

Nearby Temples and Attractions

Srinagar is a wonderful city in the Kashmir valley that has a lot of natural beauty and the city is nestled among mountains. The city is situated on the banks of the holy River Jhelum and has many diverse temples that have great architectural grandeur and history associated with them. The city also 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:

Pandrethan Temple, Srinagar: An old stone structure, the Pandrethan temple is a major temple that is associated with the Emperor Ashoka and is one of the major attractions of the city.
Bhuteshwara Temple, Srinagar: The temple was constructed in the 12^th century and is blessed with great architecture and thus holds great importance among the locals.
Sharika Devi Temple, Hari Parbat, Srinagar: 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.
JwalaMukhi Temple, Khru, Srinagar: 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.
Martand Sun Temple, Anantnag, Srinagar: The Anantnag temple is popular among the devotees who visit the Amarnath temple and the temple is a work of genius architectural labour. This temple was built by the King Lalitaditya of the Surya (Solar) dynasty.
Mamal Shiva Temple, Pahalgam, Srinagar: 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 Adi Shankaracharya Temple of Srinagar has been a significant and historical temple and it thus carries special importance among the locals as well as the tourists. The temple being dedicated to Lord Shiva is visited by many people and the city of Srinagar is also an important destination for many people and is visited by many tourists. The temple is a place with immense natural beauty in and around the temple and so the place is worth a visit.