Jageshwar Tour Packages

The earliest temples at Jageshwar Uttarakhand were built during the early Katyuri period, around the 7th century CE. These initial shrines were simple stone structures dedicated to Lord Shiva, constructed by local rulers who held Jageshwar as one of the most sacred sites in the Kumaon Himalayas. The deodar forest surrounding the temples was already considered divine — a natural temple in itself — and the combination of sacred grove and stone shrine made Jageshwar unique among pilgrimage sites in northern India.

The Katyuri kings — who ruled Kumaon from their capital at Kartikeyapura (modern Baijnath) — were the primary builders of this sacred complex as we see it today. Between the 8th and 10th centuries, they built the majority of the 124 Nagara-style stone temples in the valley. The Katyuris were devout Shaivites and invested enormous resources in expanding the site, commissioning skilled craftsmen who carved the intricate shikhara towers and deity sculptures that still stand today. This period produced the iconic Dandeshwar Temple — the tallest structure in the complex — and the Mritunjaya Temple, where the Mahamritunjaya Shiva is enshrined.

This sacred dham reached its architectural peak between the 9th and 12th centuries. This era produced the most refined examples of Nagara-style hill temple architecture in the entire Kumaon region. The shrines are built from grey sandstone, with curvilinear shikhara towers rising above sanctum sanctorums that house remarkable stone sculptures of Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha, Kartikeya, and the eight Dikpalas (directional guardians). The temple cluster is divided into three groups — the main shrine group, the Dandeshwar group, and the Kuber temple — each showcasing different periods and styles within the broad Nagara idiom.

There is a long-standing devotional tradition that links Jageshwar Dham to the Jyotirlinga tradition. Many pilgrims consider Jageshwar Dham Jyotirlinga to be the 8th Jyotirlinga, identified with "Nagesh" mentioned in the Shiva Purana — though this interpretation is debated among scholars, with other sites also claiming this identity. Regardless of this theological debate, what is undisputed is that Jageshwar has been a major Shaivite pilgrimage destination for over 1,400 years, drawing saints, seers, and devotees from across the Indian subcontinent. Adi Shankaracharya is said to have visited Jageshwar during his tours of the Himalayas, adding to its spiritual prestige.

The heritage of Jageshwar is now protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which declared the complex a protected monument. The ASI also maintains an on-site Archaeological Museum housing sculptures, inscriptions, lamps, and votive objects recovered from excavations around the temples — making it one of the most important repositories of Kumaoni history and Katyuri-era art. Today, Jageshwar Dham remains a living temple — priests perform daily rituals, the evening aarti fills the deodar forest with the sound of bells, and the annual Shravani Mela (July–August) draws lakhs of pilgrims just as it has for centuries. UNESCO nomination for World Heritage status has been long discussed, reflecting the site's outstanding universal value.

Morning: Depart Kathgodam or Haldwani; drive via Bhimtal and Almora through the scenic Kumaon hills.

Afternoon: Arrive Jageshwar; check in to hotel; visit the Jageshwar temple complex and ASI museum — explore 124 ancient Nagara-style Shiva temples set in a deep deodar forest.

Evening: Evening aarti at Mritunjaya Temple; stroll through the deodar forest in the golden hour; dinner at hotel.

Morning: Drive or trek 5 km to Artola temples; continue 14 km to Vriddha Jageshwar cave shrine at 2,530m — one of the most atmospheric high-altitude shrines in the Kumaon Himalayas.

Afternoon: Return to Jageshwar; drive to Almora (36 km) — explore Chitai Golu Devta Temple, traditional Lala Bazaar, and the ancient Nanda Devi Temple.

Evening: Sunset at Bright End Corner, Almora; overnight in Almora or return to Jageshwar.

Morning: Optional visit to Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary (25 km from Almora) — Zero Point offers a panoramic 300-km Himalayan sweep including Nanda Devi, Trishul and Panchachuli on clear mornings.

Afternoon: Visit Kasar Devi Temple on the mystical Crank's Ridge; drive back toward Kathgodam or Haldwani for onward journey.

Evening: Drop at Kathgodam railway station or Pantnagar Airport; tour concludes.