Jageshwar Dham

A serene temple town located in the Almora district of Uttarakhand, Jageshwar is a cluster of more than 100 stone temples, dedicated to Lord Shiva, which have inspired its popular name, “Valley of Gods”. Some small, while others very prominent, the temples reflect the finest architecture and are set against a backdrop of verdant mountains and the sparkling Jat Ganga stream. A heritage site protected under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the temple complex has around 125 temples and around 174 sculptures, including idols of Lord Shiva and Parvati. Over 25 inscriptions have been found on the walls and pillars of some of these temples.

According to the ASI, the temples are estimated to be about 2,500 years old and belong to the post-Gupta and pre-medieval eras. They were mostly built and renovated by the Katyuri dynasty kings. In recent years, a red sandstone pillar has also been discovered here with engraved figures of humans and spiritual figures. The pillar is said to be built in 1st century BC.

Jageshwar draws crowds during the Jageshwar Monsoon Festival, in the month of August, and during the Shivratri Mela, in spring.