Bagnath Temple

Situated in central Bageshwar, Uttarakhand, near Kaphalkhet and Bari Khalsa along State Highway 37, this temple stands as a significant pilgrimage centre on the banks of a river.

The temple is renowned for its Nagara (North Indian) architectural style and holds the distinction of being a state heritage site, with its major structure built by King Laxmi Chand of the Chand dynasty in 1450 AD.

The sacred site itself dates back to the early Katyuri dynasty of the 7th century AD, making it a place of immense historical and spiritual value.

Devotees visiting Bagnath Temple can offer prayers to Lord Shiva, the primary deity, as well as other deities including Lord Ganesha, Lord Hanuman, Goddess Parvati, Bhairav, Dattatreya Maharaj, Ganga Mai, Kalika, Durga, Vaneshwar, and the Navagraha.

The temple is open daily from 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM, with the best times for darshan being early mornings, during the morning and evening aartis, in winter (November to February), and throughout the vibrant festival season.

The temple offers free darshan to all visitors, and poojas such as Morning Aarti, Evening Aarti, Rudrabhishek, and water or milk offerings to the Shiva Lingam are performed in Sanskrit and Hindi.

Prasadam, including charnamrit, sweets, fruits, and vibhuti, is distributed after daily aartis and special poojas.

Free meals (bhandaras) are organized during major festivals like Maha Shivaratri and the Uttarayani Fair, which are celebrated with great devotion, along with Shravan Mondays and Diwali.

To reach Bagnath Temple, pilgrims can travel from Delhi or Dehradun to Kathgodam or Haldwani by train or bus, then continue by road to Bageshwar via Almora and Someshwar. From the Bageshwar bus station or taxi stand, the temple is accessible by a short walk or local auto/taxi ride.

The nearest railway stations are Kathgodam (150 km) and Haldwani (156 km), while Pantnagar Airport (185 km) and Dehradun’s Jolly Grant Airport (300 km) are the closest airports. Visitors are advised to dress modestly in traditional Indian attire.

Designated parking is available across the river bridge and nearby market areas, though the temple is accessed by walking through narrow bazaar streets. Photography is permitted in the outer courtyard but is restricted inside the inner sanctum and during rituals.

Accommodation options abound within 1 km, including Hotel Narendra Palace, Hotel Royal ARK, Hotel Prashant, KMVN Tourist Rest House, and Hotel Pindar Inn.

Nearby attractions include Chandika Temple, Baijnath, Kausani, Gauri Udiyar Cave Temple, Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, and Bageshwar’s Bird Eye View at Namtichetabagar. For more information, visitors can refer to the official website or contact the temple at +91-7895682108.