Uttarakhand govt to make Shiva temple circuit to boost tourism

As a part of this initiative, the Uttarakhand government is joining all the temples of Lord Shiva in the region in the proposed 'Shiva circuit' for which it has already selected 23 ancient temples of Lord Shiva.

Dehradun: Uttarakhand has great potential for the development of tourism and to harness this the state government is developing tourist spots trying to connect all religious places into a circuit so that the ancient temples get wide publicity.

As a part of this initiative, the Uttarakhand government is joining all the temples of Lord Shiva in the region in the proposed 'Shiva circuit' for which it has already selected 23 ancient temples of Lord Shiva.

Besides providing essential facilities for tourists the government will also widely publicise the circuit.

According to the economic survey, every year about 3.5 million domestic tourists visit Uttarakhand. Of them, about 44.2 percentage of the tourists come for a pilgrimage at the popular centres - the holy city of Haridwar, Char Dham, Hemkund Sahib, Piran-Kaliyar and other innumerable temples in various regions of the state.

The ancient Jogeshwar Mahadev temple of Almora has been included in the Shiva circuit.

Also included in the Shiva circuit are:

• Patal Bhuvaneshwar at Gangolihat in the Pithoragarh
• Bagnath Mahadev temple at Bageshwar
• Kranteshwar Mahadev temple of Champavat
• Bhimeshwar Mahadev temple of Bhimtal at Nainital
• Koteshwar Mahadev temple at Kashpur of Udhamsingh Nagar
• Koteshwar Mahadev temple at Narendra Nagar in Tehri district
• Kedarnath Mahadev temple at Kedarnath
• Madmaheshwar Mahadev temple at Ukhimath
• Tunganath Mahadev temple at Chopata
• Kashi Vishwanath temple in Uttarkashi
• Daksh Prajapati temple at Kankhal in Haridwar
• Rudranath Shiv temple at Rudranath in Chamouli
• Kalpeshwar Mahadev temple at Urgam
• Timbersain Mahadev temple in Niti Ghaati
• Kyunkaleshwar Mahadev temple at Paudi
• Neelkanth Mahadev temple at Yamkeshwar
• Ekeshwar Mahadev temple at Satpuli
• Binsar Mahadev temple at Thailisain
• Tadkeshwar Mahadev temple at Landsdown
• Tapakeshwar Mahadev temple in Garhi Cant of Dehradun
• The ancient Shiva temple at Lakhamandal

Emphasis on making circuit of deities

The tourism department of Uttarakhand government is also laying emphasis on making a circuit of all popular Hindu deities. For this, temples are being identified to include them in Nagraja and Goljyu temple circuit, Vishnu Ram and Narasimha temple circuit and for Navagraha circuit. Moreover, there is also a plan to include a Buddha circuit, Gurudwara circuit, Siddha Baba circuit and other ancient and religious temples.

Nagraja and Goljyu temple circuit

As many as 14 ancient temples of the Nag devata and Goljyu have been included in the circuit. They include: Chitayi Goljyu temple in Almora district, Goljyu temple at Gairad in Binsar, Palanginag at Pankhu (Berinag) in Pithoragarh, Bedinag temple in Berinag, Thaulinag in Vijaypur in Bageshwar district, Feninag temple in Dudila, Nagnath temple in Champavat district, Gojyu temple in Goralchaud ground, Nag Devta temple in Karkotak of Nainital district, Goljyu temple at Ghodakhal, Semmukhem temple in Pratapnagar of Tehri district, Tambeshwar Mahadev (Nag devta) temple at Dunda in Uttarkashi district.

Vishnu, Ram and Narasimha temple circuit

As many as 16 ancient temples of Vishnu, Ram and Narasimha in the state have been included in this circuit. They include Badrinath temple at Chhattgula in Almora district, Ram temple in Narayankali, Vishnu temple in Kotadi of Pithauragarh district, Mool Narayan temple in Kapkot of Bageshwar district, Raghunath temple at Dev Prayag in Tehri district, Narayankothi temple group in Guptkashi, Raghunath temple in Gail Banal of Uttarkashi district, Tirupati Balaji temple at Dhikauli, Narayan Shila temple at Mayapur in Haridwar, Badrinath temple and Bhavishya Badri temple in Chamauli, Vruddhabadari temple in Animath of Chamauli district, Dhyanbadari temple at Urgam in Chamauli district, Yogabadari temple at Pandukeshwar, Vaishnav group temples in Kot of Paudi district, Satyanarayan temple at Raybala in Dehradun district.

Navagraha circuit

In all eight ancient temples of the state have been included in this circuit. They are Manila Devi temple at Manila in Almora district, Surya Dev temple at Katarmal, Shani Dev temple at Khalbag, Surya temple at Ramak in Champavat district, Brihaspati temple at Okhalkanda in Nainital district, Surya temple in Palethi village of Tehri district, Shanti temple at Kharsali in Uttarkashi district, Rahu temple at Paithani in Paudi district.

Tourism minister Satpal Maharaj said already a Bhagvati circuit has been formed in the state. Now the state government is making preparations for the launch of Shiva circuit, Vishnu circuit and for the promotion of both the Kashi (Uttarkashi and Kashipur).

The government will also try to renovate ancient temples and develop necessary facilities after seeking the approval of the archaeology department. According to Satpal Maharaj, all the ancient temples in the state would be brought under circuit. This will not only get them publicity but facilitate the devotees too to visit the ancient temples.

Purpose of making circuit

The main purpose of forming circuits of ancient temples of the state is to make all information about them available to the tourists at one go. There are hundreds of temples in Uttarakhand but many of them are very ancient.

Tourists should know the beliefs behind these temples, what are the benedictions they provide and about their religious importance. It is in this context that a circuit has been formed of all the Shiva temples. The state government has begun the exercise of forming the chain of temples for the circuit.

About the Shiva circuit, all the ancient temples in the state having their different old beliefs have been included in the circuit. Each temple, according to belief, has its own benediction. If all the temples of a particular deity are included in a circuit, it would be helpful in publicising them widely and attract devotees of the deity to visit all the temples in Uttarakhand.