Dhari Devi Temple
Dhari Devi (a form of Kali) temple · Kaliyasaur (Kalyasaur), near Srinagar Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India
Dhari Devi Temple stands on the bank of the Alaknanda river at Kaliyasaur (also spelt Kalyasaur) in Pauri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand, beside the highway from Srinagar towards Rudraprayag and Badrinath. The goddess is worshipped as a form of Kali, and the Pauri district administration describes her as widely revered across the region.
Pilgrims and news reports describe Dhari Devi as the guardian of the Char Dham, and many travellers on the way to Kedarnath and Badrinath stop here. The temple drew national attention in 2013, when its idol was moved to make way for a hydroelectric project on the Alaknanda just before the Uttarakhand floods.
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Dhari Devi Temple
ETV Bharat and Outlook Traveller report that Dhari Devi is regarded as the guardian deity of the Char Dham, and Outlook Traveller notes that pilgrims often seek her blessing before starting the yatra. Wikipedia and Outlook Traveller both record the tradition that the shrine is one of 108 Shakti peethas.
According to tradition, only the upper half of the goddess's stone image is at Dhari; the lower half is believed to be at Kalimath in Rudraprayag district, where she is worshipped as Kali. The Pauri district page records a popular belief that the face of the image seems to change through the day, from a girl in the morning to a woman and then an old woman by evening.
Down To Earth reported in 2013 that many Hindus believe Adi Shankaracharya worshipped on the rock beneath the shrine, and ETV Bharat notes local folklore linking both Shankaracharya and the Pandavas to the site.
Heritage
History of Dhari Devi Temple
The Pauri district administration records a legend that a flood once washed away an earlier temple, and that the idol became lodged against a rock near the village of Dharo. Villagers are said to have heard the idol cry out and, following a divine voice, installed it where it now stands. Wikipedia notes that there is no clear evidence for when the first temple was built.
The temple lies within the reservoir area of the 330 MW Shrinagar hydroelectric project built by Alaknanda Hydro Power Co. Ltd, a GVK subsidiary. Down To Earth reported that the plan to raise the shrine onto a higher platform was contested for years, with petitions to the Uttarakhand High Court, objections from religious leaders and the Union environment ministry, and hearings in the Supreme Court in 2013.
In June 2013 the idol was moved from its rock base to an elevated structure built by the company. Down To Earth reported that, amid the floods that followed, the idol was briefly taken to an undisclosed place and then kept in a temporary room above the original site, next to the spot planned as its final seat. Many local people and devotees came to believe the floods were linked to the goddess being moved; this is a belief, not an established fact. A new temple has since been built at the site, and Outlook Traveller reports that the idol has been permanently installed in it.
Architecture and sacred features
Outlook Traveller describes the present temple as a blend of North Indian and Garhwali styles built of local stone, with carved spires and scenes from scripture and folklore on the walls. The Pauri district page notes an old cave close to the temple.
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
The temple is reached by a short walk from the highway, and it is busiest during Navratri and the Char Dham pilgrimage season. Photography rules, dress expectations and darshan arrangements can change. Confirm current timings and any restrictions with the temple priests or the Pauri Garhwal district administration before visiting.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with the temple administration before travelling. Last reviewed 1 November 2026.
Sacred Calendar
Festivals at Dhari Devi Temple
Chaitra Navratri
Outlook Traveller notes that devotees visit in large numbers during both Navratris; the Pauri district page also mentions special worship during Navratri.
Sharad Navratri
ETV Bharat reported long queues of devotees at the temple as Navratri began, with the priest confirming the annual surge in pilgrims.
Location
How to Reach Dhari Devi Temple
According to the Pauri district administration, the temple is about 15 km from Srinagar (Garhwal) on the Delhi–Badrinath highway, and a cement footpath of about 1 km leads from the road down to the shrine on the bank of the Alaknanda.
Outlook Traveller gives Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, as the nearest airport and Rishikesh as the nearest railway station, with buses and taxis available from both.
Location: Kaliyasaur (Kalyasaur), near Srinagar Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India
Nearest airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
Nearest railway station: Rishikesh
More in Hindu temples in Uttarakhand · Dhari Devi (a form of Kali) temples · Temples in Kaliya Saud · Temples in Srinagar Tehsil · Temples in Pauri Garhwal District
Questions
Dhari Devi Temple: Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dhari Devi?
Dhari Devi is worshipped as a form of Kali and is regarded by devotees as the guardian goddess of the Char Dham in Uttarakhand.
Where is the lower half of the Dhari Devi idol?
According to tradition, only the upper half of the image is at Dhari; the lower half is believed to be at Kalimath in Rudraprayag district, where it is worshipped as Kali.
Why was the Dhari Devi temple moved?
The shrine lies in the reservoir area of the 330 MW Shrinagar hydroelectric project on the Alaknanda. In June 2013 the idol was shifted to a raised structure built by the project company, and a new temple has since been built at the site.
Is the Dhari Devi relocation linked to the 2013 floods?
Many local people and devotees believe the floods were linked to the goddess being moved. This is a widely reported belief, not an established fact.
How far is Dhari Devi Temple from Srinagar?
The Pauri district administration gives about 15 km from Srinagar on the Badrinath highway, followed by a walk of about 1 km to the temple.
When is the best time to see festivities at Dhari Devi?
The two Navratris, in Chaitra (March–April) and Ashvin (September–October), draw the largest crowds.
Sources and attribution
- District Pauri Garhwal, Government of Uttarakhand — Dhari Devi Temple
- Down To Earth — MoEF changes stand on relocation of Dhari Devi temple for Alaknanda dam
- Down To Earth — Missing idol of Dhari Devi found
- ETV Bharat — Devotees throng Dhari Devi Temple as Navratri begins
- Outlook Traveller — Did you know about this unique feature of the Dhari Devi Temple in Uttarakhand?
- Wikipedia — Dhari Devi
Further reading: Dhari Devi Temple on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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