Bagnath Temple is located in the Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand and it is established at an altitude of about 1, 000 meters above the sea level. The temple is situated in the confluence of the Gomti and the river Saryu and is suggested to Lord Shiva. They think that it is the place where Lord Shiva appeared in the form of a tiger ( Baghavatar ) hence it was named Bagnath. The temple has a four faced Shivalinga and the statues of some other Hindu gods. It is a religious site of worship that is most popular in the Bageshwar district.
The Bagnath Temple is heavily decorated with architecture that is very appealing and splendid. Here brass bells of different sizes are fixed whose sound tinkling into the ears of the devotees charms them. During specially the Mahashivratri day, people attend in multitudes and queues are formed long to get the blessings of Lord Shiva.
History of the Bagnath temple.
As historical sources indicate, Bagnath Temple has been in existence since the seventh century. In 1450 AD, Chand ruler Lakshmi Chand constructed the current temple in Nagara school. Most of the statues and idols of the seventh to the sixteenth centuries are still present here. The Skanda Purana also specifies the importance of the temple.
One of the legends and Hindu scriptures states that Maharishi Markandeya venerated this place with Lord Shiva. Happy with his devotion, Lord Shiva manifested to him in the form of tiger and blessed him.This temple has quite a number of major festivals that are celebrated. In this case, the Uttarayani Fair takes place in January and it coincides with Makar Sankranti. It is especially a popular Kumaon fair. The believers are traveling long distances to attend this festival and take a sacred dip in the junction of Saryu and Gomti rivers at sunrise.
Bagnath Temple is especially regarded as historical as one of the most important Shiva temples in Uttarakhand, and a religious tourist spot.
Large Tourist Sites around the Bagnath Temple.
Bagnath Temple is a small town of Bageshwar, though there are numerous tourist attractions that are very famous and which will make your trip all the more pleasant.
- Baijnath Temple: This is an old temple used to worship Lord Shiva; this is situated approximately 21 kilometers of Bageshwar. It is special with its huge architecture and historical connotation.
- Kasar Devi Temple: The temple is situated in Almora that is some 63 kilometers distant in Bageshwar and is dedicated to Goddess Kasar Devi. It gives the panoramic view of the Himalayan valleys.
- Jageshwar Temple Group: This is a huge group of Shiva temples around 89 kilometers Bageshwar. It contains more than 124 stone temples, and the carvings and architecture arts are magnificent.
- Patal Bhuvaneshwar: This is a shrine, it is a cave constructed of limestone and is located about 82 kilometers away Bageshwar and dedicated to god Shiva. It is mentioned that it is one of the holy residences of Shiva.
- Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary: This is a nature tourist sites and it is situated about 59 kilometers south east of Bageshwar. In this instance, one can touch the snow capped mountains of the Himalayas, exotic birds and animals.
- Nanda Devi Temple: this temple is located in Almora area located at about 127 kilometers away Bageshwar and it is said to belong to the Goddess Nanda and is said to have the colorful festivals and scenic surrounding beauty.
Bagnath Temple Activities.
Quite a number of things are available to be performed at and around the Bagnath Temple. Such activities are supposed to not only entertain, but also give an experience of natural and cultural beauty of the area.
- Trekking and Hiking: Uttarakhand boasts of the beautiful valleys and mountains of Himalayas. Here one can do trekking which includes Pindari Glacier, Sunderdhunga Glacier and Kafni Glacier.
- Nature Viewing and Picnics: Have a relaxing walk through the forest, river banks and the green grass in the areas around the temple. You may also have picnic here and pass the day in the lap of nature.
- Yoga and Meditation: Uttarakhand is considered to be a spiritual place. A large number of ashrams and retreat centres are available here which provide yoga and meditation programmes. The experiences of yoga and meditation around the Bagnath Temple are very joyful and peaceful to the mind, body, and soul.
- Local Food and Shopping: You can go to the local markets of Bageshwar where you can taste the Kumaoni cuisines like Bhang ki Chutney, Bal Mithai and Aloo Gutka. Handicrafts, woolen clothes and souvenirs can also be bought.
- Trekking Destinations: Pakhwa Bugyal Trek and try the Pindari Glacier Trek are famous trekking destinations, which start at Bageshwar and lead towards the beautiful valleys of the Himalayas.
- Other Famous nearby Temples: The Bagnath Temple is not the only important temple among the others in the area; the others include: the Shitala Devi Temple, the Agnikund Temple, the Nileshwar Temple, the Radha Krishna Temple, the Bhileshwar Temple, the Jwala Devi Temple and the Golu Temple. These temples are religious and also cultural in nature.
Conclusion
The Bagnath Temple is also not only a great place in relation to religion/spirituality, it is also a representation of the cultural and historical background of Uttarakhand. It has got the best architectural marvels, scenic outlook, confluence of rivers, and tourism sites around this area, which makes it one of the best tourist attraction sites in Uttarakhand.
