Chitai Golu Devta Temple
गोलू देवता मंदिर, चिताई
Chitai, near Almora, Almora, Uttarakhand, India
Chitai Golu Devta Temple is a shrine to Golu Ji, revered in Kumaon as a god of justice, located about 8 km from Almora town in Uttarakhand (Almora District Administration). It stands beside the Pithoragarh highway on a raised spot near the road, surrounded by pine forest (Patrika). The temple is easily recognised by the very large number of copper bells hung across its premises (Almora District Administration).
Uttarakhand has several temples to Golu Devta, but the one at Chitai in Almora district is described as the most popular centre of his worship (Amar Ujala). Devotees travel here from across Uttarakhand, from other parts of India and from abroad to seek justice (Amar Ujala; Zee News).
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Chitai Golu Devta Temple
Golu Ji is regarded as a god of justice, and devotees believe he grants justice and fulfils the wishes of those who pray to him (Kumaon Division, Nainital). According to the district administration, he is held to be an incarnation of Shiva in the form of Gaur Bhairav (Almora District Administration). Some newspaper accounts add that he is also regarded as a form of Krishna or Vishnu, and they record other names for him such as Gwel Devta and Golgyu Maharaj (Amar Ujala; Zee News).
The temple's best-known practice is the written petition: devotees set down their grievances or wishes in letters, and some write them on stamp paper as if filing a plea before a court (Amar Ujala; Patrika). When a wish is believed to have been granted, devotees return to offer a bell, which is why bells have accumulated in such numbers (Amar Ujala; Zee News).
Devotees also believe that couples married at the temple stay bound together, and the number of weddings held here has reportedly risen in recent years (Zee News).
Heritage
History of Chitai Golu Devta Temple
The origins of the temple are not documented. One tradition holds that a commander of the Chand dynasty had it built in the 12th century (Patrika; Zee News). Another account says Golu Devta was a general of a Chand king, identified by Patrika as Baz Bahadur (1638–1678), who died in battle, and that the Chitai temple was set up in his honour (Patrika).
Zee News notes that local people do not know when or how the temple was built and that there is no firm evidence of its origin; it reports an estimate, based on the building's style, that the present structure was completed in the 19th century (Zee News). These accounts are traditions and estimates rather than an established historical record.
Architecture and sacred features
Inside the temple, Golu Devta is depicted riding a white horse, wearing a white turban and holding a bow and arrow (Patrika; Zee News). The bells offered by devotees, of many sizes, are hung throughout the temple premises and form its most distinctive visual feature (Almora District Administration; Amar Ujala).
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
Devotees customarily offer a written petition or, after a wish is fulfilled, a bell (Amar Ujala). Large crowds gather around major festival days such as Mahashivratri (Zee News). Confirm current darshan arrangements with the Almora district administration or the temple management before visiting.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with the temple administration before travelling. Last reviewed 11 October 2026.
Sacred Calendar
Festivals at Chitai Golu Devta Temple
Mahashivratri
Thousands of devotees gathered at the Chitai temple ahead of Mahashivratri in 2025, reflecting the tradition that Golu Devta is a form of Shiva (Zee News).
Location
How to Reach Chitai Golu Devta Temple
The temple lies about 8 km from Almora (Almora District Administration), on the highway towards Pithoragarh (Patrika). The district administration lists Pantnagar as the nearest airport, about 127 km from Almora, and Kathgodam as the nearest railway station, about 90 km away, with direct trains to Delhi, Lucknow and Dehradun (Almora District Administration). It describes road travel, by own vehicle or hired taxi, as the most practical way to reach the area (Almora District Administration).
Patrika notes that buses run from Delhi's Anand Vihar to Almora and that travellers can also come via Haldwani (Patrika). Confirm current road and transport arrangements with the Almora district administration before travelling.
Location: Chitai, near Almora, Almora, Uttarakhand, India 263601
Nearest airport: Pantnagar Airport (about 127 km from Almora, per district administration)
Nearest railway station: Kathgodam (about 90 km, per district administration)
More in Hindu temples in Uttarakhand
Questions
Chitai Golu Devta Temple: Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Chitai Golu Devta Temple?
It is at Chitai, about 8 km from Almora in Uttarakhand (Almora District Administration), beside the highway towards Pithoragarh (Patrika).
Who is Golu Devta?
Golu Ji is revered in Kumaon as a god of justice and is held to be an incarnation of Shiva in the form of Gaur Bhairav (Almora District Administration). Some accounts also link him with Krishna or Vishnu (Amar Ujala; Zee News).
Why are there so many bells at the temple?
Devotees offer a bell to Golu Devta after they believe a wish has been fulfilled (Amar Ujala). The temple is recognised by the many copper bells hung on its premises (Kumaon Division, Nainital).
Why do devotees write letters at Chitai?
Devotees write their grievances or wishes as letters or petitions, sometimes on stamp paper, and present them to the deity seeking justice (Amar Ujala; Patrika).
How old is the Chitai Golu Devta Temple?
Its age is uncertain. One tradition credits a Chand dynasty commander with building it in the 12th century, while Zee News reports that there is no firm proof of its origin and cites a style-based estimate that it was completed in the 19th century (Patrika; Zee News).
How can I reach the temple?
The nearest airport is Pantnagar, about 127 km from Almora, and the nearest railway station is Kathgodam, about 90 km away; the final stretch is by road (Almora District Administration).
Is Chitai the only Golu Devta temple in Uttarakhand?
No. Uttarakhand has several Golu Devta temples, but the one at Chitai in Almora district is described as the most popular (Amar Ujala).
Sources and attribution
- © OpenStreetMap contributors — location data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
- Wikidata Q5580985 — structured data (CC0)
- Wikipedia — Golu Devata — text facts from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
- Almora District Administration (Government of Uttarakhand) — Chitai Golu Temple, Almora
- Kumaon Division, Nainital (Government of Uttarakhand) — Chitai Golu Temple, Almora
- Amar Ujala — Uttarakhand mein hai Gwel Devta ka aisa mandir jahan chitthi likhne se poori hoti hai manokamna (Chitai Golu Devta Temple Almora)
- Patrika — God of justice temple is here at Devbhoomi (Chitai Golu temple)
- Zee News — Devotees thronged Chitai Golu Devta Mandir, Almora, known as God of Justice, on Mahashivratri 2025
Further reading: Chitai Golu Devta Temple on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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