Neelkanth Mahadev Temple (Uttarakhand)

Located in the district of Pauri Garhwal (about 30 km away from Rishikesh), the Neelkanth Mahadev Temple is one of the significant pilgrimage site of god Neelkanth, another name of Lord Shiva. The site is surrounded by dense forests as well as the mountain range of Nar-Narayan.

Key Points about the Temple

• Location : Kotdwar – Pauri Rd, Kotdwara, Uttarakhand-246149
• Affiliation : Hinduism
• Deity : Neelkanth (Lord Shiva)
• Timings : 06:00 am to 07:00 pm
• Entry Fee : Free Entry
• Photography : Prohibited
• Festivals : MahaShivratri (February to March) & Shivratri of Shravan month

Architecture of the Temple

The temple has a colorful architecture. Its entrance presents the mythological story of the Samudra Manthan through the sculptures of Gods and Demons. The walls as well as the inner architecture also depicted this story. A very sacred Shivalinga is situated in the holy shrine.

Legend of the Temple

According to the Hindu mythology, the word Neelkanth (meaning the one having a blue throat) is attributed to Lord Shiva.

This is the place where Lord Shiva had consumed the poison that was originated from the sea when the Asuras and Devas were churning the ocean to obtain Amrita.

Hence not only the god was named Neelkanth, but the temple was also named as Neelkantha Mahadeva Temple.

Famous Festivals

During the festival of Mahashivratri (in the month of Feb to March) and Shivratri of Shravan (in the month of July to August) a grand fair is organized by the authorities. In these fairs, hundreds of people visit the temple and after taking the holy bath in the pond, they make offering to the deity of Bael Patra, milk, flower etc.

A gigantic Peepal tree in the premises is also considered the holy one, and it is believed that a person’s wish fulfills if he/she ties a thread around it. Also in the holy month of Shravana, people bring the holy water of river Ganga to dispense it off on the Shivlinga. This ritual is done by hundreds of devotees during this month.

Visiting Hours

• There is no fee for entry.
• The temple is open all days of the week.
• The timing of the shrine is from 06:00 am to 07:00 pm.
• The temple is open on all seasons but to visit during Mahashivratri or the Shivratri of Shravan month is considered to be the best time to visit the holy place.

How to reach the Temple?

By Air-Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun is 49 km from the temple.

By Train-Rishikesh Railway Station is 30km away from the site.

By Road- The temple is well connected with private taxis from Rishikesh.

Nearby Hotels

• Junglee Resort
• Shanti Residency
• Hotel Ganga Darshan
• Hotel Sound Sleep
• Ganga Kinare by Holywater Hotels
• Gharaunda
• Hotel Uppal Plaza
• Laxman Jhula Regency
• Holiday Hill
• The Heritage Rishikesh

Nearby Attractions

• Ram Jhula
• Laxman Jhula
• Tera Manzil Temple
• Rajaji National Park
• Triveni Ghat
• Gita Bhavan
• Sivananda Ashram
• Laxman Temple
• Beatles Ashram
• Bhootnath Temple