All you need to know about Dhari Devi Temple: The Protector of Char Dhams

Uttarakhand is the most remarkable of places with respect to religious pilgrimage in India. Nestled among the serene heights of the Garhwal (Western Uttarakhand) region, the holy shrines of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath welcome lakhs of pilgrims during the summer months.

However, a quaint surprise awaits pilgrims on this journey. Around 50Km from Devprayag, the legendary Dhari Devi Temple is a leaf out of folklore and religious sentiment of the residents of this place. The temple requires travellers to trek quite a distance downhill, upto the banks of the river Alakananda. When we had toured Badrinath we contemplated skipping the spot, to avoid delay in reaching Badrinath Dham. But our driver, Yogender Ji, insisted that we pay a visit to the deity.

The Legend of Dhari Devi

Dhari Devi Temple is shrouded in mystery and enveloped with mythology. Dhari Devi is considered as the guardian deity of the Char Dhams. Chhota Char Dham is considered as one of the most significant religious circuits in India. And the presiding deity of Dhari Devi shrine is worshipped as the protector of these divine land. The deity is believed to change in appearance during the day from a girl in the morning, to a woman in the afternoon, and finally to an old lady in the night. The upper part of Goddess Kali is believed to be here, while the idol's lower half is located in Kalimath. There are 108 Shakti Peeth in India and these are two such holy shrines as per Srimad Devi Bhagwat. The idol was shifted from the original seat on a 20-metre-high rock to a man-made concrete platform so that it didn’t submerge in the river while making way for the 330MW hydel project. A compelling legend is that it was only a few hours after priests and local people had shifted the idol (at about 6:30 pm on Sunday, the ill-fated 16th of June 2013) that the cloudburst wreaked havoc across Kedarkhand. Believers are of the opinion that Kedarnath and the adjoining areas of Uttarakhand were actually exposed to the savage wrath of the Goddess herself, who was enraged at the relocation. Entire villages and settlements such as Gaurikund and the market town of Ram Bada, a transition point to Kedarnath, had been obliterated by the deluge and the massive landslides. All this is attributed to the resentment of Dhari Devi herself.

The Temple

Dhari Devi Temple is a sacred Hindu temple that is situated in the beautiful Garhwal Himalayan region. It is located on the blanks of the Alaknanda River, between Srinagar and Rudraprayag on NH7.

A passage with iron railings from the banks of the river leads to the main temple which stands on concrete and iron pillars erected on the river bed. Leaving our shoes at a counter selling flowers and diya, we walked along this bridge to reach the deity ringing the uncountable bells that hang all along this passage. The form of the face of the Goddess in black stone, carved on a huge stone (that protrudes out on the backside of the seat of the deity) is worshipped here. Dhari Devi is not supposed to be put under a roof. Hence, we found the priests doing the puja inside a chamber (partitioned from the devotees’ seating area with iron bars) that had no roof, but a mere net made of steel or iron. We bowed down in reverence and offered our devotion to the Goddess – and prayed that the Dev-Bhumi may never suffer such ire of the guardian deity ever again!

It had taken us only 12-15 minutes to reach the temple site downwards from the highway and it took us almost 30 minutes to reach back up.

Major Festivals at Dhari Devi Temple

The shrine of Dhari Devi Temple is highly revered by the locals. The major festivals that are celebrated in this temple are:

Deepavali – It’s is one of the most prominent festivals celebrated in India. The festival indicates the triumph of light over darkness, of good over evil.

Kartika Purnima – It’s a Hindu, Sikh and Jain cultural festival, celebrated on the Purnima (full moon) day or the fifteenth lunar day of Kartik.

Navratri – Navratri festival is a symbol of victory of good over evil. As per legend, goddess Durga defeated the demon king Mahishasura to save the world and restore Dharma.

Other Significant Temples Near Dhari Devi Temple

Besides the Badrinath Dham that draws major pilgrims to this route, few other temples that are in close proximity to the Dhari Dhari Devi Temple are:

Neelkanth Mahadev Temple: This is one of the few legendary Shiva temples of Uttarakhand. Located in the Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand, this is believed to the exact spot where Lord Shiva had gulped the Halahal that emanated from the Samudra-manthan. ‘Neelkanth’ is a form of Lord Shiva and has a blue throat as an aftereffect of consuming poison. The temple is around 30km from Dhari Devi Temple.

Vishwanath Temple, Guptkashi: This temple in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand bears a resemblance to the Vishwanath temple of Varanasi. Devotees believe that it is at this temple that Lord Shiva had proposed marriage to Goddess Parvati. The temple is around 62 km from Dhari Devi Temple.

Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath: Omkareshwar Temple Ukhimath is an ancient Hindu temple that houses the deities Kedarnath and Madmaheshwar during the winters when the temples of Kedarnath and Madmaheshwar remain closed. This temple is around 60 km from Dhari Devi Temple.

Besides Religious shrines, Uttarakhand offers a wide range of tourists spots. Find out about them all here.

How to reach Dhari Devi Temple

Dhari Devi Temple is located at Kalyasaur village between Srinagar and Rudraprayag. The distance between Srinagar to Dhari Devi temple is about 16 km, while Rudraprayag is 20 km away.

Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun (136 km)

Rail: The nearest railway station is Rishikesh (119 km). Haridwar Junction is around 142 km away.

Road: The temple is well connected to all the major cities of Uttarakhand. It is 124 km away from Rishikesh and 165 km from the capital Dehradun.

The next time you plan to visit the Chhota Char Dham of Uttarakhand, do drop by at the Dhari Devi Temple to seek Her blessings.

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