Dhari Devi Temple, Rudra Prayag Overview

One of the most revered temples in Uttarakhand, the Dhari Devi Temple is located on the Alaknanda River between Rudraprayag and Srinagar. The top half of idol of a Hindu female deity named Dhari is preserved at this temple, while the bottom half is found in Kalimath. Among Diwali, Dussehra and Karthika Purnima, the Dhari Devi temple attracts crowds of devotees during the festival of Navratri.

The temple holds great significance to the terrifying 2013 Uttarakhand floods. It is said that the wrath of the waters rose when the temple was demolished and the idol was moved to create space for an upcoming Srinagar Hydel Project.

Though the temple was washed away in the floods, the idol was rescued by a couple of devotees. The present reconstruction of the temple at its former location is ensuring a much higher placement of the idol. Do not click pictures of the idols in the temple.

2013 Flash Floods

Legend has it that history only repeated in 2013. It is believed that a landslide had occurred in 1882 when a local king attempted to move the idol.

The 2013 tragedy, which was one of India's most destructive natural calamities after the 2004 Tsunami, resulted in a massive cloudburst that destroyed four neighbouring districts, Rudraprayag, Uttarakashi, Chamoli and Pithoragarh and caused at least 1000 casualties.

Legend of the Temple

It is believed that in one such former floods in Uttarakhand, the temple was run down and the idol of the goddess Kali struck a rock, thus sending out divine cries to the nearby locals.

Upon hearing this, the devout residents set up an idol at the very spot. The Dhari Devi idol is always kept in an open space with no shelter or roof. It is believed that the idol of the goddess Dhari Devi takes the form of a girl in the morning, a woman in the afternoon and an elderly woman at night.

Things to Do

There are an array of stalls at the entrance of the temple. Religious items used for holy ceremonies are sold here. As one enters, there is a small temple dedicated to Hanuman at the side. The entire temple arena holds gorgeous views of the mountainous landscapes and the river Alaknanda. The walk towards the Dhari Devi temple is also lined with souvenir stalls, such as holy beads, toys, idols etc.

How to Reach

Dhari Devi Temple is well-connected via road, making it the most convenient option to reach the temple.

Via Flights
The nearest airport to the temple is the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. The 136-kilometre distance between the airport and the temple can be covered via bus or train.

Via Train
The closest railway station is the Rishikesh railway station which is 119 kms. The rest of the journey can be travelled by bus or taxi.

Via Bus
There are quite a few buses connecting different cities to the Dhari Devi Temple. The closest bus connectivity is at Srinagar, from the ISBT Kashmiri Gate in Delhi, which is an 8 to a 9-hour-long bus ride.

Via Car
Dhari Devi Temple is approximately a 4 to 5-hour drive from Rishikesh, a 2.5-hour drive from Chamoli and a 5 to 6-hour journey from Dehradun. Rudraprayag is the most convenient start-point, as it just a 43-minute drive to Dhari Devi temple.