The Heritage of Uttarakhand
The state of Uttarakhand has become one of the most popular places to visit for adventure and pilgrimage. People from all over the world flock to this beautiful destination to experience nature in its purest form. Many Uttarakhand holiday packages cater to almost all kinds of tourist needs.
One of the best features of Uttarakhand is its spiritual significance that makes this place special for people of faith. Many yogis and spiritual seekers have traveled to this part of India in the past. Some several temples and shrines are important to the pilgrims and devotees who visit Uttarakhand every year. Some of the important pilgrimage sites include the Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, and Hemkund Sahib.
The Uttarakhand travel packages that are available through travel agencies can be customized to fit your travel needs. The online portals and many other popular travel websites provide enough information for you to plan your perfect trip to Uttarakhand. The natural beauty alone is a great motivator for you to pack your bags and start your journey to Uttarakhand.
Apart from the natural beauty, there is also a rich cultural and religious heritage that is associated with Uttarakhand. Since colonial rule, Uttarakhand has been a favorite summer vacation destination for British officers. Popularly known as the ‘Land of Gods’, Uttarakhand has many temples and monuments that capture the interest of the people who wish to learn more about the ancient history of India.
There are around 44 monuments in Uttarakhand that hold historical significance for India. All these monuments are great to visit and these monuments have a rich historical heritage associated with them. We have shortlisted the 9 best monuments in Uttarakhand that are great to visit during your vacation.
If you already have a tour in Uttarakhand planned for your next vacation, then do consider visiting these monuments to make your journey memorable. So, let's start our list.
Best Monuments in Uttarakhand
4. Katarmal Sun Temple, Almora
1. Badrinath
Badrinath is a place of pilgrimage for the devotees of the Hindu faith. Every year, people from all over India visit Badrinath to offer their prayers. The Badrinath temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and this temple is one of the four main pilgrimage sites for devotees. Situated at the height of approximately 11,000 feet, it is one of the most important monuments in Uttarakhand.
Badrinath is believed to have been built in the 7th-century that makes it one of the most important historical monuments in Uttarakhand. The temple of Badrinath is divided into three main areas which include the worship area, meeting hall, and the inner sanctum. Badrinath is a great monument with beautiful traditional wooden architecture which is still used in many structures that are built around Uttarakhand.
The temple of Badrinath is located in the lap of gorgeous mountains with breathtaking views of the snow-covered mountains. The journey to Badrinath is only open for around 6 months a year. Many people consider Badrinath as a sacred place that is an important monument to visit at least once in your life.
Best time to visit: April till November (except the monsoon months)
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2. Jagatram
The historical heritage of Jagatram is significant for the region of Garhwal in Uttarakhand. Jagatram is considered as one of the best historical monuments in Uttarakhand which dates back to the 1st century A.D. Jagatram is believed to be a monument with a history of ritual that involved the sacrifice of horses.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) which is a government organization is the one working towards maintaining the structure of all the important monuments. Jagatram is maintained and preserved by ASI.
If you are into studying the history of India, then Jagatram should be considered as one of the top monuments in Uttarakhand to be visited. You can find many cave structures including popular attractions such as the Asan Barrage, Robber’s Cave, and Shastradhara.
Best time to visit: Throughout the year except during the rainy season.
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3. Sitabani Temple
Sitabani Temple is considered one of the famous monuments of Uttarakhand. The temple of Sitabani is dedicated to Sita who was the wife of Lord Rama mentioned in the mythological epic of Ramayana. This temple is considered a place to worship for the people of the Hindu faith.
Sitabani Temple is situated in the famous Jim Corbett National Park. Being part of a national park, the area of Sitabani is blessed with amazing natural beauty. The landscape around the temple is full of biodiverse nature comprising of many rare plants and animal species. The locals have many different legends and stories built around the temple and the goddess Sita.
The architecture of the temple is unique and is beautiful to witness. If you have booked your Uttarakhand trip package to include Jim Corbett National Park, then make sure you visit Sitabani temple.
Best time to visit: Mid-October till February
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4. Katarmal Sun Temple, Almora
The Katarmal Sun Temple is one of the top monuments in Uttarakhand visited by hundreds of tourists every year. This temple is known as one of the largest Sun Temples in India. The Katarmal Sun temple is believed to be around 800 years old and is considered one of the best monuments of Uttarakhand. Many people believe that the temple is a sacred site.
The temple is believed to be built around the 9th century by the then King Katarmalla. The architecture of the Katarmal Sun Temple is very intricate and detailed. The historical heritage of this temple is expressed in many stories and mythologies told by the locals.
In the temple, there are various shrines dedicated to the sun god, Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, and Lord Vishnu. One of the major attractions you can visit near this temple is the wildlife sanctuary that is blessed with some of nature’s best scenic views you can witness in Uttarakhand.
Best time to visit: March till May
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5. Patal Bhuvaneshwar
Pilgrims from all over the world visit this mystical destination that is one of the top monuments you can visit in Uttarakhand. Situated at the height of around 1400 meters above sea level the Patal Bhuvaneshwar provides some of the best panoramic views you can witness in Uttarakhand.
The temple of Patal Bhuvaneshwar is dedicated to Lord Shiva and devotees visit this temple to offer their prayers. The local people consider Patal Bhuvaneshwar as a holy site that is important for pilgrimage. You have to walk through a narrow cave structure for around 13 kilometers to reach the main shrine. The temple is believed to be built around the 12th century by the rulers of the Chand and Katyuri dynasty.
Best time to visit: April till June and October till December
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6. Baijnath Temple
The Baijnath Temple is considered a spiritual place for the people who are practicing yoga or for devotees of Lord Shiva. Baijnath Temple is located near the Gomti River in the Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand. Every year, hundreds of pilgrims visit this temple to offer their prayers to Lord Shiva.
If you are traveling on your Uttarakhand tour package, make sure to visit Baijnath Temple. The temple has a rich historical and cultural significance attached to it. Every day, hundreds of people visit this temple to offer their prayers. Even if you are not into religion and spirituality, this temple is still an amazing historical monument to study.
Best time to visit: Summer season
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7. Pandukeshwar Temples
Pandukeshwar Temples are among the top monuments to visit in Uttarakhand. If you are on your way to Badrinath then the Pandukeshwar Temples can be easily reached by traveling 18 kms from the town of Joshimath. In the ancient epic of Mahabharata, King Pandu came to this place to meditate and offer prayers to Lord Shiva. This site is considered holy for many people of the Hindu faith.
There are two main temples known as the Sapta Badri Temple and Lord Vasudev Temple. These temples hold a historical significance for India as well due to the temples being mentioned in the ancient texts. The Uttarakhand packages offered by the travel agents include Pandukeshwar Temples in the list of spiritual destinations.
Best time to visit: April-June and September-November
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8. Baleshwar Temple
The Baleshwar Temple in Uttarakhand has an amazing architecture which makes this temple one of the famous monuments of Uttarakhand. The Baleshwar Temple is believed to be built around the 11th century AD by the rules of the Chand Dynasty. This temple is located in Champawat surrounded by the natural beauty that will make your journey memorable.
The stone carvings in and around the temple are very intricate and they give Baleshwar Temple its unique identity. For the history buffs, the Baleshwar temple is a great monument to learn more about ancient Indian history.
Best time to visit: April-June and October-December
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9. Rudranath Temple
The Garhwal area of Uttarakhand is blessed with breathtaking beauty that brings a sense of peace within you. Rudranath temple is situated in the beautiful Garhwal region and it is one of the five main temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple was constructed in the 8th century and it is very famous among the people of religious faith. If you have planning a tour in Uttarakhand, then make sure to visit the Rudranath Temple.
Around the temple, you can trek through the beautiful forests and meadows and truly enjoy the relaxing nature. The area surrounding the temple is gorgeous rich with biodiversity. Many tourists travel to the temple to worship and to trek around the temple. One of the best attractions near Rudranath Temple is the beautiful lake of Nandikund situated at the height of 4500 meters.
Best time to visit: May-November
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Conclusion:
These were the 9 best monuments in Uttarakhand among the 44 monuments listed by the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India). Many Uttarakhand travel packages include these destinations and can be customized according to your travel needs. Make sure to do enough research before starting your journey.
Also, due to the Covid-19 restrictions, make sure you check online for the travel conditions for the tourists. Recently, there have been several landslides and flash flooding in Uttarakhand. It is wise to check online about the current road conditions and weather before your start your journey.
Also, one important thing to note is that the temperatures in Uttarakhand can get extremely low in certain places. Especially, during the winter months, you need extra warm clothing. So, when you are planning your trip to Uttarakhand, make sure to pack accordingly and carry enough warm clothes.
Uttarakhand is a great destination for pilgrims, adventure lovers, spiritual seekers, and family groups. Uttarakhand is one of the best destinations to experience nature at its best. During the summer months, the landscape of Uttarakhand becomes full of life. Social media has made Uttarakhand quite a popular destination because of the many photos of gorgeous lesser-known destinations. So, when you plan your next vacation in Uttarakhand, do consider some of the top monuments to visit.
