Dunagiri Temple, Dunagiri Temple, Dwarahat, Uttarakhand , best time to visit, timings and how to reach.

Important information

Location: Malla Surana, Uttarakhand 263653
Timings: winter : 05:00 am to 5:00 pm and Summer : 05:00 am to 07:00 pm.
Best time to visit : In the month of Febuaray to November. During the festival of Navratri.
Nearest Railway Station : Kathgodam railway station at a distance of nearly 123 kilometres from Dunagiri Temple.
Nearest Airport : Pantnagar Airport at a distance of nearly 162 kilometres from Dunagiri Temple .
Main Festival : Navratri.
Primary Deity : Goddess Durga.
Did you know: Dunagiri temple of Maa Dunagiri is the second Vaishno Shaktipeeth in the Kumaon of Uttarakhand after Vaishno Devi.

Dunagiri Temple is a famous temple of Hindus, situated at a distance of 15.1 kilometers from the Dwarahat area of Almora district of Uttarakhand state, this temple is situated on the top of Drona Mountain. Maa Dunagiri Temple is also known as 'Dronagiri'. On this mountain, Dronagiri was named after Dronacharya, a Guru (Teacher) of Pandav, on austerity. The name of this temple comes in Uttarakhand, the oldest and the Siddha Shaktipeeth temples. This temple of Mother Dunagiri is the second Vaishno Shaktipeeth in the Kumaon of Uttarakhand after Vaishno Devi.

Dunagiri Temple is situated on the top of the mountain. This temple is situated at an altitude of 8,000 feet above sea level. The road leads to the temple by approximately 365 stairs. The height of the stairs is short and long. The stairs are covered, and thousands of bells are hanging all the way, which are almost identical. The maintenance work of the Dunagiri Temple is done by 'Aadi Shakti Maa Dunagiri Mandir Trust'. Daily bhandare are organised by the Trust in the Dunagiri Temple. The full range of Himalaya Mountains can be seen from the Dunagiri Temple.

There is no idol in the Dunagiri temple. Naturally produced Siddha pinds are worshiped in the form of Mata Bhagwati. Akhand Jyoti in the Dunagiri Temple is a special feature of the temple. Dunagiri Mata's being a Vaishnavi form does not offer any kind of sacrifice in this place. Even the coconut offered as a offer to the temple is not even break in the temple premises.

It is said that when Laxman was hit by a power shoot by the Meghnath in the Ramayana war in Tretayuga. Then Susan Vedya asked Hanuman ji to bring Sanjivani boot from the mountain named Dronachal. Hanuman ji was carrying the entire Dronachal Mountain and a small piece of the mountain fell on it and then thereafter the temple of Dunagiri was built in this place. Many varieties of herbs are still found here since that time.

Karturi ruler Dharmadev established the temple in 1318 AD and installed Durga Murthy. Lord Hanuman, temple of Shri Ganesh and Bhairav ji are before the temple of Goddess. According to the article of Himalaya Gazeterian ET Edkikshan, the evidence of the temple is found in 1181 inscriptions.

According to the Devi Purana, during the time of agyatvas, Pandavas won the war and draupadi worshiped of Maa Durga in the dunagiri temple to protect virtuousness. Dunagiri is mentioned in Manas khand of Skanda Purana. Dunagiri Devi is described as Mahamaya Harpriya (Manaskhand, 36.17-18). Manaskhand of Skandpuran bestows Dunagiri with the title of Brahm-parvat (Divine Mountain).

All the festivals are celebrated in the Deogiri Devi Temple, especially in the festival of Durga Puja, special puja is held on the festival of Navaratri. On this day, the temple is decorated with flowers and lights. The spiritual atmosphere of the temple provides peace to the heart and mind of the devotees.