Dhari Devi Temple: Uttarakhand is also popularly known as “Land of Gods” or Dev Bhoomi, it is a place filled with plenteous antiquated sanctuaries devoted to different divinities. Throughout the territory for every 10 meters, there is a stunning modest or massive temple bounded by exquisite landscape. One such antiquated yet mysterious sanctuary, Dhari Devi Mandir is settled between Srinagar and Rudraprayag on the banks of the streamy Alaknanda in Uttarakhand’s Garhwal province.
Dhari Devi Temple, Uttarakhand- History, Timings & Mystery
This holy land is dedicated to Goddess Kali and the temple holds enormous spiritual impact, notably among the natives and tourists in the region.The 600 years old ancient Dhari Devi Temple is the facility of faith for the people and is the guardian deity of Garhwal. The word Dhari Devi implies the “defender Goddess” and in India this holy place is one of 108 Shakti Sthals. This devotional place is a home to the upper half of the idol of the goddess Dhari and the lower half of the idol is worshipped at Kalimath, in an avatar of Goddess Kali.
Locals also believe that the goddess is a protector of the Char Dham Yatra pilgrimage sites, watching over them throughout the journey of these holy lands. Char Dham Yatra is a spiritually enriching journey and is one of the most famous pilgrimages of Uttarakhand which involves a travel of four holy sites – Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath, which are located above the Himalayas.
The actual meaning of Char Dham is ‘char’ means four and ‘Dham’ means religious sites in Hindi, and it is also believed that people should do this yatra in a clockwise direction. The pilgrims navigate through the heavenly circuit of Yamunotri, followed by Gangotri, onto Kedarnath and finally ends at Badrinath. Across the yatra, people pay homage to Dhari Devi for protecting and helping them to complete their sacred journey without any odds.
Where is it Located?
Dhari Devi temple is nestled between Srinagar and Rudraprayag on the banks of the river Alaknanda in Kalyasaur, Uttarakhand’s Garhwal region, India. Which is around 15 km from Srinagar, at an elevation of 560 m (1,837 ft).
- Entry Fees: No fee
Significance of Dhari Devi Temple
There are various myths around Dhari Devi Mandir and as per Hindu mythology, Goddess Kali is considered as one of the most powerful deities. The goddess is worshiped in three forms and each part of her has its own significance, head and arms signifying Maa Kali, upper body symbolizing Maa Shakti and her feet signifying Maa Lakshmi. Most interesting part is that, in Dhari Devi Temple only the upper part of goddess Dhari is being worshipped, while the other half of the idol is worshipped at Kalimath, in an avatar of Goddess Kali.
Dhari Devi Temple Mystery/ Story
It is believed that during the time of Dwapar Yuga the idol has been placed, is considered as the guardian and the protector of a Char Dham and taking photographs inside the sanctuary is strictly forbidden. It is believed that during ancient times the idol of Maa Dhari Devi was washed away by the flood and the goddess’ head was stuck between the rocks near Dhari Village. Local people used to hear the divine voices out from the idol, and ordered the villagers to take the idol out from the river and place it where it was found.
There is also another myth around the temple: centuries ago there was a devastating flood which swept across the valley where the temple of Dhari Devi now stands. The locals offered prayers to various Gods to protect them from the intense waters and took shelter on a hilltop. As they were praying an idol of Goddess Kali emerged out of the water on a nearby rock. The villagers then constructed a small temporary temple around it. Later they started worshipping her as their guardian deity. Over time, it became a popular spot for spirituality and religious beliefs now known as Dhari Devi, “ the bearer goddess.”
Dhari Devi Face Changes
The Goddess Dhari Devi Idol in the temple is considered a mysterious one, as the local people believe that the sculpture of the deity changes its appearance all through the day. The presiding deity’s face changes thrice a day, the goddess looks like a girl in the morning, like a young woman at noon and appears like an elderly woman by the evening.
Dhari Devi Temple History
In 2013 the temple was uprooted, and it was given away for the Srinagar Hydroelectric Power Project to Alaknanda Hydro Power company. The idol of the goddess was shifted away from its original place (Mool Sthan) on Alaknanda River to a concrete platform which is situated at a height above 611 meters. Just after a few hours of removing the idol, the region faced the worst natural disasters of the devastating cloud burst. The huge floods have killed thousands of people and destroyed everything in the Rudraprayag district.
There was a similar kind of attempt done in 1882 by the local king and the region suffered a dangerous landslide that demolished Kedarnath to the ground. These disasters are caused whenever anyone tries to remove Dhari Devi deity from its ‘Mool Sthan’ or original place. The new temple is now constructed at its original location and it’s a holy place where Goddess Ganga and Goddess Dhari Devi meet.
The architecture of the sanctuary is quite impressive with various carvings, a large gateway and a huge shikhara that brings out typical Hindu culture. The central part of the sanctuary has a Garbhagriha and is surrounded by small shrines of different deities and has the idol of Devi Kali. There is also a belief that the deity of Dhari devi should be kept under any roof covering so, there is always an open sky above the idols.
Best Time to Visit Dhari Devi Temple
The best time to visit this temple is throughout the year, however during festivals like Durga Puja and Navratri temple can be seen in full splendour.
Dhari Devi Temple Timings
The temple is open from 6am to 7pm. Morning Darshan is from 6 AM to 12 PM and Evening Darshan 2 PM to 7 PM.
How to Reach Dhari Devi Temple
By Air:
Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun is the nearest airport which is around 136 kms away. At the airport hire a taxi or take a direct bus to the Temple.
By Train:
Rishikesh Railway Station is the nearest one which is around 119 kms away. From the station hire a cab or take a bus to Rudraprayag or Srinagar. It’s a 3 to 4 hour journey.
By Road:
Public transportation is available from major cities like Delhi, Haridwar, and Rishikesh to Srinagar (Garhwal) or Rudraprayag. From there you can take a local bus or cab to the Dhari Devi Mandir.
| City | Distance |
|---|
| Haridwar to Dhari Devi Temple | 124 km |
| Rishikesh to Dhari Devi Temple | 119 km |
| Dehradun to Dhari Devi Temple | 146 km |
| Srinagar (Garhwal) to Dhari Devi Temple | 15 km |
| Rudraprayag to Dhari Devi Temple | 34 km |
| Devprayag to Dhari Devi Temple | 72 km |
| Kedarnath to Dhari Devi Temple | 120 km |
| Sonprayag to Dhari Devi Temple | 92 km |
Places to Visit Near Dhari Devi Temple
- Srinagar
- Khirsu Village
- Kyunkaleshwar Mahadev Temple
- Kandoliya Temple
- Kartik Swami Temple
- Neelkanth Mahadev Temple
- Rudraprayag
Conclusion
Though there are various mysteries and controversies around the Dhari Devi Temple, it stands as an icon of belief and devotion for numerous travellers who wish to seek blessings from Goddess Kali. The restored sanctuary remains to be an important religious spot in Uttarakhand which represents strength, faith and cultural heritage.
Do plan to visit Dhari Devi Temple with proper planning and make your trip a memorable one. Hope this article helps you to gain some information regarding this temple. Do let us know your queries in the comment section and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
