Greatest Shiva Temples in Himalayas

by Dherya Tyagi Travelling to World

There has been a very long and deep connection between Lord Shiva and his abode, the Himalayas. When it comes to the gods and goddesses of the Indian pantheon, Lord Shiva has to be one of the most complexes. He loves nature, animals and is lovingly referred to as Bholenath for his simple nature when it comes to granting wishes. Shiva has always been deeply connected to the Himalayas which are quiet and peaceful. He can meditate for centuries and eons on the Himalayan ridge if he doesn’t want to be disturbed. The majestic Himalayas are the only place where the lord can meditate in complete peace and achieve the ultimate moksha.

Check out these amazing and spiritually thought-provoking Shiva temples gracing the Lapo of the Himalayas:

Kedarnath

Located on the bank of the holy river Mandakini at an altitude of over 3,500 meters above sea level, Kedarnath is one of the holiest and the most important places of Shiva worship. It is an important place of pilgrimage in the Chota Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand along with Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri, and was established as a pilgrimage center by Adi Shankaracharya during the 8th century.

The mythological aspect of this ancient temple, which still stands tall after the devastating flood of 2013, is very interesting and dynamic. It is believed that Lord Shiva chose this spot to perform intense meditation in complete peace. After that, the Pandava brothers are also believed to have come here to perform Pooja for Shiva.

Pashupatinath Temple

Located in the scenic Himalayan valley of Kathmandu in Nepal, Pashupatinath Mandir is dedicated to Lord Pashupatinath, or the lord of animals, who is Shiva. This UNESCO world heritage site is located on the banks of Bagmati River and has been existing ever since the 5th century but the exact date of construction is still unclear and may date back to centuries ago.

The origin of the Pashupati Jyotirlinga is very interesting and mystical. According to mythological accounts, every day a cow used to visit a particular spot to offer her milk on the ground. The owner of this cow got suspicious and dug up the spot where the cow used to offer her milk. He dug up a Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva and the rest is history.

Tungnath Mahadev

Tungnath Mahadev is the highest Shiva temple in the world. Located in the district of Chopta in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, this temple is incredibly scenic and very peaceful. Reaching the temple is a combination of hiking, adventure, and spirituality that is a wholesome experience for you and your family. Blessed with lush greenery, dense forests, and rhododendron trees, the temple is located right below the Chandrashila peak.

According to legends and mythological accounts, the temple was created by the Pandavas brothers who were on a pilgrimage to find Lord Shiva and ask for forgiveness. It is also believed that Raavan, who was a Brahmin Shiv Bhakt, had performed intense meditation, day and night, on the Chandrashila Peak.

Triyuginarayan

Located in the village of Triyugi in the district of Rudraprayag, Triyuginarayan temple is an ancient holy place of worship that is surrounded by peaceful greenery and quiet serenity. Although many people say that it is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the backbone of the temple remains Shiva worship. The architectural style resembles that of the Kedarnath temple which attracts a lot of devotees and pilgrims from all over the world.

It is here that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were bonded in marriage in the presence of Lord Vishnu and other gods, sages, and philosophers. Lord Brahma was also present who performed all the Pooja rituals for them. The current shrine is also said to have been built by Adi Shankaracharya hence the resemblance to Kedarnath Dham.

Amarnath Cave Temple

Amarnath temple shrine is located on a very high elevation and tough, challenging terrain in Jammu and Kashmir. It is a huge cave that can be reached through Pahalgam followed by a very challenging trek under difficult conditions. The trek is a test of mind and body that a lot of people end up opting out of. Devotees make their way to the cave during the limited open time period to worship the naturally formed ice Shivling.

According to historical accounts, it is believed that Lord Shiva had brought goddess Parvati to the cave in order to share the secret of immortality with her. He got rid of the snake on his neck, moon on his head, and burned the perimeters of the cave so that not even a single living creature is around to learn it.

Rudranath

Dedicated to Lord Shiva Rudranath is located in the scenic lap of the Garhwal Himalayas. Made out of natural mountain rocks, the temple is placed peacefully inside the dense rhododendron forest and blessed with the alpine beauty of the Himalayas. It is also one of the temples in the Panch Kedar pilgrimage circuit along with Tungnath, Kedarnath, Madmaheshwar, and Kalpnath.

The temple was made by the Pandavas as per the mythological sources during their atonement of the sin for killing their cousins. The temple is dedicated to worshipping the face of Lord Shiva which goes by the name of Neelkanth Mahadev here and reaching the temple is sort of a challenging 24 km trek through the Anusuya Devi Temple.

Bagnath Temple

The ancient Shiva shrine of Bagnath is located in the Garhwal district of Bageshwar right on the confluence point of Saryu and Gomati Rivers. The temple is very significant to Shiva worship and has found its mention in the holy book of Skanda Puran. The temple complex remains brimming with devotees and Shiv Bhakts from all over the country with a huge Shiva statue as the main attraction.

According to Hindu legend, the iconic sage Markandeya is said to have performed intense meditation on Lord Shiva. The lord then made his appearance to the sage in the form of a lion making this place a very important temple for Shiva worship.

These are some of the most important temples gracing the home of Lord Shiva. Visiting these places would be a very soul-enriching and exciting experience that will remain close to your heart.