11 Best Historical Monuments of Uttarakhand that will leave you awestruck

Uttarakhand, also known as ‘Devbhumi’ (the land of the gods), is a state in India famous for its holiness, beautiful mountains, forests, and valleys. A state that is known so much for its trekking and other adventurous activities like paragliding, bungee jumping, etc., its glamorous markets and warm wools, and for its fabulous tourism has a great history that dates back to the earliest of human existence.

Uttarakhand is a place where the past and the present both thrive simultaneously, and if you are a lover of monuments, history, and some fresh air, we are about to talk about some of the best historical monuments of Uttarakhand.

 

#1. GURUDWARA SHRI HEMKUND SAHIB

Uttarakhand is known as Devbhumi, but its significance is not limited to the beliefs of Hindus only. According to the Sikhs, Shri Guru Gobind Singh, their tenth Guru, meditated here till he achieved his salvation.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji mentioned in his book, Dasam Granth, that in his previous birth he meditated in the Himalayas, surrounded by mountains with a lake by his side, hence the name Hemkund (Hem: Snow, Kund: Bowl)

Although the trek to the Gurudwara is one of the toughest, the pilgrims do not fail to visit here every year. The architecture of the Gurudwara resembles the shape of an inverted lotus, with the pristine Hemkund lake by its side. The journey to Hemkund Sahib is also considered spiritually uplifting and is marked by the stunning beauty of the surrounding mountains and waterfalls.

The site attracts thousands of devotees annually, especially during the pilgrimage season from May to October. The nearby Valley of Flowers, a UNESCO World Heritage site, adds to the beauty of the trek.

#2. KEDARNATH

Char Dham (Char means four and Dham refers to pilgrimage), situated in the lap of Uttarakhand, is a set of four Hindu pilgrimages. The Char Dham consists of four pilgrimages that mark the nascency of four rivers, namely Gangotri (river Ganga), Yamunotri (river Yamuna), Badrinath (river Alaknanda), and Kedarnath (river Mandakini).

According to Hindu mythology, the Kedarnath temple was built by the Pandavas as they tried to wash away the sins they committed in the Kurukshetra war. It is counted as one of the 12 Jyotirlingas.

The Kedarnath temple was severely affected by the devastating floods of 2013, but it has since been restored, and the spirit of pilgrimage continues unabated. The temple stands as a symbol of faith, resilience, and spiritual devotion, attracting pilgrims from all over the world. And if you are someone who likes to delve in such historic and spiritual journey, you can visit our blog 11 Historical Temples of South India .

 

#3. BADRINATH

A Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, this historical temple holds significant value to the Hindu pilgrims. The devotees visit here in huge numbers during the period of six months when it is open to the visitors.

Its existence notes back to an interesting story, where once Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati were walking while they noticed a small child crying. Mata Parvati, out of motherly love, lifted the child in her arms, which stopped him from crying, as he took the form of Lord Vishnu. He then asked Lord Shiva to grant him a shelter in the land of Kedar, which is now the temple.

The temple of Badrinath is mentioned in many Hindu sacred books and mythologies, including the Mahabharata.

#4. PITHORGARH FORT

A fort in the city of Pithoragarh, in Uttarakhand, this fort is believed to have been built by the Gorkhas in the year 1789, during the Chand Dynasty. Although the fort is now a victim of weather and other consequences, adequate measures are being taken in order to preserve its essence.

The fort has been of great historical importance.

This fort gives the most charismatic view of the Pithoragarh district.

#5. NANDA DEVI TEMPLE, ALMORA

Nanda, an incarnation of the Hindu goddess Durga, The Shakti, this temple is a holy shrine to the Hindus as they come to seek blessings from the ultimate ‘destroyer of evil.

The patron goddess of the Chand dynasty, the Nanda Devi, this temple is a 1000-year-old temple located in the city of Almora. It is a magnificent monument adorned with a stone ‘amalaka’ (Kumaoni style architecture) and a wooden crown on the Devi’s head.

Devi, or Parvati, was born here on the land of Kumaun and is worshipped as the ruling deity of the Kumaun region.

#6. PATAL BHUVNESHWAR

A Hindu cave temple, it is located in the village of Bhuvneshwar, Uttarakhand. Made up of limestone, this temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and the other 33 gods.

The limestone rocks give this temple a rather marvelous look.

However, these caves are a work of natural weathering through water and are like a series of caves, a cave within a cave.

It is believed to have been first discovered by Rituparna, who saw 33 demigods and Lord Shiva himself in the caves, but once he left, the cave was closed with a prediction that it would reopen in the Kali Yuga. During Kali Yuga, Swami Shankracharya rediscovered this temple, and since then it has been a famous historical temple.

#7. BALESHWAR TEMPLE

Uttarakhand, being an undetachable part of Hindu mythology, is home to uncountable temples of historical value. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple is famously known for its marvelous carvings. The most artistic temple in the entire region, this temple is yet again a gift of the Chand dynasty. While the main temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is also known as Baleshwar, and the two other temples are dedicated to Ratneshwar and Champawati Durga, the outer carvings are of local deities.

Not only the temple but also its premises is worth all the praise. The beauty of nature is worth admiring here alongside this historical monument of ultimate beauty and holiness.

#8. PANDUKESHWAR TEMPLE

Named after the famous King Pandu, the father of the five Pandavas from the Mahabharata, this temple is considered to be as old as the Epic Mahabharata. In order to atone himself from the Sage’s curse, he built this temple and placed a statue of Yoga Narayana (Lord Vishnu).

 

The temple is situated in the Pandukeshwar village and is also claimed as the birth place of the Pandavas. The statue is life-size and is carved out of Shaligram stone. The utsava-murti of Badrinath is kept and worshipped here at the time of winters, when the Badrinath temple is closed.

#9. VALLEY OF FLOWERS

The Valley of Flowers, famously known as ‘Phoolon ki Ghaati’, is not really a man-made monument; however, it is historically famous for its natural beauty, its preserved endangered species of animals, and one of the sacred shrines of the Sikhs, Gurudwara Shri Hemkund Sahib.

This Indian national park, located in Chamoli, Uttarakhand, was established in the year 1982. Widely known for its beauty and the large number of species of fauna found here, the trekkers must reach Ghangaria 3 km from the valley, where they can witness the most breathtaking view and fields filled with perfumed wildflowers.

The best time to visit this park is from June to October, right after the monsoon.

#10. KHALANGA WAR MEMORIAL

A monument of national importance, the Khalanga War Memorial is situated in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. It is dedicated to the soldiers of Gorkha who bravely fought the British in the first Anglo-Nepalese war, the Battle of Nalapani, 1814.

The British were impressed by the bravery of the Gorkhas, which led to them (the British) building this monument in honor of the Gorkha soldiers. (First time in the history of war). Every year a fair is held in honor of the soldiers and to celebrate their culture.

#11. KATARMAL SUN TEMPLE

The Katarmal Sun temple was constructed under the reign of Katyuri Raja in the 9th century CE. The temple has 44 smaller temples around, with the Surya temple in the center. The smaller temples are dedicated to other deities like Shiva-Parvati and other local deities.

A temple here holds carvings on the walls and panels and was declared a monument of national importance under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1958. This is a monumental beauty of cultural heritage.

CONCLUSION

Uttarakhand is really the Land of the Gods and has played a very significant role in the stories of Indian epics like the Mahabharata. These temples tell stories of the Mahabharata varying from the birth of the Pandavas (Pandukeshwar) to them pleasing the Lord (Kedarnath) to their salvation, of Pandu’s death (Pandukeshwar) and his own salvation. While the history and present thrive to exist together, its history sometimes feels very overpowering, and that is Uttarakhand’s beauty.