Dhari Devi Temple — Guardian Shakti of Uttarakhand
Location
Kaliyasaur, Srinagar Garhwal, Alaknanda River
City
Srinagar, Uttarakhand
Deity
Dhari Devi (upper half of Kali/Durga — Shakti Pitha of Uttarakhand)
Temple Type
Shakti Pitha — Guardian Deity Temple on the Alaknanda River
Idol changes form three times daily (girl/woman/crone); Alaknanda riverbank location; state guardian deity; reconstructed above Kaliyasaur dam; Kedarnath flood prophecy tradition
Significance
Dhari Devi is considered the guardian deity of Uttarakhand — the 'state protectress' whose idol uniquely changes form three times a day: appearing as a young girl in the morning, a woman at noon, and an old woman by evening. Seated on the banks of the Alaknanda river near Srinagar Garhwal, the temple is a Shakti Pitha of immense power. Local belief holds that when the original idol was displaced during the Tehri Dam project in 2013, the catastrophic Kedarnath floods followed hours later — cementing the deity's reputation as Uttarakhand's supreme protector. The temple has since been reconstructed on a platform above the Kaliyasaur dam reservoir.
Legend & History
According to legend, a local shepherd discovered the idol of Dhari Devi floating in the Alaknanda river and heard a divine voice commanding him to install it on the riverbank. The deity declared: 'I will guard Uttarakhand as long as I am on this land.' For centuries the idol has been revered as the guarantor of Uttarakhand's safety. When the 2013 dam project temporarily displaced the idol at 7:45 PM on 16 June, massive cloudbursts struck Kedarnath by midnight — a coincidence that was noticed by millions and deepened the faith in Dhari Devi as Uttarakhand's supreme protector. The idol has a unique feature: it changes form visibly throughout the day, shifting from a girl to a woman to a crone.
Navratri (April and October); Chaitra and Ashwin months; year-round accessible
From Rishikesh: 105 km via Devprayag on NH-58 (National Highway to Badrinath). Nearest town: Srinagar Garhwal (4 km). Frequent buses and shared taxis from Rishikesh and Srinagar. The temple is beside the Badrinath Highway — visible from the road.
Frequently Asked Questionsअक्सर पूछे जाने वाले प्रश्न
Where is Dhari Devi Temple — Guardian Shakti of Uttarakhand located?
Dhari Devi Temple — Guardian Shakti of Uttarakhand (धारी देवी मंदिर — उत्तराखंड की रक्षक शक्ति) is located at Kaliyasaur, Srinagar Garhwal, Alaknanda River, in Uttarakhand, India. It is a revered Hindu temple.
धारी देवी मंदिर — उत्तराखंड की रक्षक शक्ति कहाँ स्थित है?
धारी देवी मंदिर — उत्तराखंड की रक्षक शक्ति Kaliyasaur, Srinagar Garhwal, Alaknanda River, उत्तराखंड (भारत) में स्थित है। यह एक पूजनीय हिंदू मंदिर है।
Which deity is worshipped at Dhari Devi Temple — Guardian Shakti of Uttarakhand?
The principal deity worshipped at Dhari Devi Temple — Guardian Shakti of Uttarakhand is Dhari Devi (upper half of Kali/Durga — Shakti Pitha of Uttarakhand).
धारी देवी मंदिर — उत्तराखंड की रक्षक शक्ति में किस देवता की पूजा होती है?
धारी देवी मंदिर — उत्तराखंड की रक्षक शक्ति में मुख्य रूप से धारी देवी (काली/दुर्गा का ऊपरी स्वरूप — उत्तराखंड का शक्तिपीठ) की पूजा होती है।
What is the significance of Dhari Devi Temple — Guardian Shakti of Uttarakhand?
Dhari Devi is considered the guardian deity of Uttarakhand — the 'state protectress' whose idol uniquely changes form three times a day: appearing as a young girl in the morning, a woman at noon, and an old woman by evening. Seated on the banks of the Alaknanda river near Srinagar Garhwal, the temple is a Shakti Pitha of immense power. Local belief holds that when the original idol was displaced during the Tehri Dam project in 2013, the catastrophic Kedarnath floods followed hours later — cementing the deity's reputation as Uttarakhand's supreme protector. The temple has since been reconstructed on a platform above the Kaliyasaur dam reservoir.
धारी देवी मंदिर — उत्तराखंड की रक्षक शक्ति का क्या महत्व है?
धारी देवी को उत्तराखंड की रक्षक देवी माना जाता है — जिनकी मूर्ति दिन में तीन बार रूप बदलती है: सुबह बालिका, दोपहर में युवती और शाम को वृद्धा। अलकनंदा नदी के किनारे स्थित यह मंदिर एक अत्यंत शक्तिशाली शक्तिपीठ है। 2013 में जब तेहरी बांध परियोजना के लिए मूल मूर्ति को स्थानांतरित किया गया, उसके कुछ घंटों बाद केदारनाथ में भयंकर बाढ़ आई — जिसने देवी की रक्षक शक्ति के प्रति आस्था को और गहरा किया। अब मंदिर काली बांध जलाशय के ऊपर पुनर्निर्मित प्लेटफॉर्म पर स्थित है।
What is the best time to visit Dhari Devi Temple — Guardian Shakti of Uttarakhand?
The best time to visit Dhari Devi Temple — Guardian Shakti of Uttarakhand is Navratri (April and October); Chaitra and Ashwin months; year-round accessible.
धारी देवी मंदिर — उत्तराखंड की रक्षक शक्ति जाने का सबसे अच्छा समय कौन-सा है?
धारी देवी मंदिर — उत्तराखंड की रक्षक शक्ति जाने का सबसे अच्छा समय Navratri (April and October); Chaitra and Ashwin months; year-round accessible है।
How do I reach Dhari Devi Temple — Guardian Shakti of Uttarakhand?
From Rishikesh: 105 km via Devprayag on NH-58 (National Highway to Badrinath). Nearest town: Srinagar Garhwal (4 km). Frequent buses and shared taxis from Rishikesh and Srinagar. The temple is beside the Badrinath Highway — visible from the road.
धारी देवी मंदिर — उत्तराखंड की रक्षक शक्ति कैसे पहुँचें?
From Rishikesh: 105 km via Devprayag on NH-58 (National Highway to Badrinath). Nearest town: Srinagar Garhwal (4 km). Frequent buses and shared taxis from Rishikesh and Srinagar. The temple is beside the Badrinath Highway — visible from the road.
