Dhari Devi Temple
Architecture
The symbol of Maa Dhari Devi has two parts , upper half and lower half. This shrine of Dhari Devi is home to the upper portion of the symbol of the goddess. Then again, Kalimath shrine is the hallowed where the lower half of the symbol of the goddess is kept. In Kalimath shrine the goddess is loved as an appearance of the MaaKali, the other portion of Bhagwaan Shiva.
Goddess Dhari Devi is worshiped in an open space, there is no rooftop where the idol is kept. The purpose for this is that individuals accept that Dhari Devi likes to sit in the open space. Dhari Devi is considered as an Avatar of Kali Mata.
Because of the Srinagar Hydel Project in the Alaknanda river, Dhari Devi Temple was relocated from its original site.
Before the partition of Uttar Pradesh state, the whole region of Uttarakhand was a part of Uttar Pradesh. The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh was Mulayam Singh Yadav at that time. The government proposed a plan to build a dam on the Alaknanda river and did a survey. Local residents and many other leaders opposed this construction.
But the plan got finalised and later the construction of the dam started. When there was no dam on the river, devotees had to walk almost 600 meters from the road to the temple. But after the construction of the dam, the government had to lift the temple few meters. Now the devotees have to walk only 200 meters from the road to reach the temple.
Timings of Temple
Morning darshan starts at Dhari Devi Mandir from 6 am to 12 noon in the morning and Evening Darshan starts from 2 PM to 7 PM in the evening.
Legend
There is a legend that expressed that once in view of the flood in Alaknanda stream the symbol of Goddess Kali got struck against a major stone. Then, at that point individuals of the Dhari town heard the heavenly voice of the Goddess and they fixed the symbol of Goddess Kali at, where the sanctuary is available. After this occurrence, the sanctuary is known as Dhari Devi sanctuary.
Another legend expresses that when Adi Guru Shankaracharya went out in a journey, he set aside some effort to rest around here and loved here. Assuming this is valid, it is the likelihood that this sanctuary has a place in the Dvapara Yuga period.
How to reach ?
By Train: nearest railway station – Rishikesh railway station , which is 119 km away. After that, there are many buses and taxis to Srinagar and Rudraprayag.
By Air: : nearest airport to the temple is Jolly Grant airport Dehradun , almost 136 km away.
By Bus: One can reach here easily by bus or taxi from Srinagar or Rudraprayag.
