Almora, the cultural city of Uttarakhand, is famous for its historical and religious places. Hundreds of years old temples are still found in this city, one of the main temples of which is Patal Devi. Located in the Patal Devi area, this temple is said to be about 250 years old and was built in the 17th century by the kings of the Chand dynasty. This temple is located about five kilometers from Almora and holds an important place among the Navdurga, Ashta Bhairav and Ganesh temples.
The historical importance of Patal Devi temple is very high. According to Regional Archaeological Officer Chandra Singh Chauhan, this temple is very old and important. At present, some parts of the temple are getting damaged, to fix which a renovation proposal has been sent to the government. There is also a pond in this temple which was earlier used to cure skin diseases, but now it has dried up.
The priest of the temple, Khajan Chand Pandey, tells that devotees come here from far and wide to fulfill their wishes. Many ancient and rare idols can still be seen in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. The faith of the devotees in this Shaktipeeth form of Maa Patal Devi is unshakable.
The Patal Devi temple was built by a brave soldier Sumer Adhikari during the reign (1748-1777) of King Deep Chand of the Chand dynasty. This temple is made of naturally mined stones and was rebuilt during the reign of the Gorkhas. Shaktipeeth is enshrined in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, and the statues of lion, elephant and Nandi are installed on the stone plaque in the middle of the peak.
Gauri Kund located near the temple, which was once filled with water, has now dried up. This Kund was also a part of the cultural heritage of this region. A cultural plaque has also been installed by the Directorate of Culture at the entrance of the temple, which gives information about the construction of the temple and its history.
The Archaeological Department has made some efforts to preserve the temple, such as iron frames have been made to protect the roof of the temple from collapse. However, the temple priest Pandey Ji is unhappy with this neglect. He says that the people of the local Shail village give him a monthly allowance of three thousand rupees, with which he takes care of the temple.
Patal Devi Temple is not only an important part of the cultural and religious heritage of Almora, but it is also an important place for the devotees who come here with their faith. The historical structure of the temple and the religious beliefs here make it a unique place.