Seek the path to God at Bagnath
One of the most beautiful places to visit in Bageshwar is the Bagnath Temple, the most popular temple here. An ancient shrine devoted to Lord Shiva, Bagnath Temple is located in Bageshwar at the union of Gomati and Sarayu rivers. It can offer you an enchanting experience between the splendid sceneries and mountain ranges around. The temple is well-known for its impressive carvings and the presence of bells of every size. Bagnath suggests “Tiger Lord”. This popular temple is a great Shaivism site devoted to Lord Shiva. He is known as the transformer in the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh. The ancient shrine is festooned in the Bageshwar City of the Kumaon and it gets flooded with thousands of devotees during the propitious Shivaratri Festival. Standing with a conical tower with pride, Bagnath temple is the most poignant among the other temples present in Bageshwar.
Dedicated to the Blue Throat Lord- Lord Shiva, Bagnath Temple was built by Kumaun King Laxmi Chand in 1450. The current building was built in Nagara style and many statues in this temple date back from the 7th to 16th century AD. Hindu pilgrims are welcomed throughout the year to worship Lord Shiva here. According to the Hindu Legends, Sage Markandeya worshipped Shiva here and in turn, Shiva blessed him by visiting him here in his Tiger avatar and Parvati as a cow. The temple of Bagnath has a beautiful stone structure, a highly-impressive Shikhar, and Lord Shiva is worshiped here in the sanctum. What differentiates the temple from others is the Himalayas. With a serene and scenic location, it feels like an Abode of God.
Held in January, the Uttarayani fair is arranged on Makar Sankranti every year. The fair has a religious ritual of bathing at the confluence before daybreak. It is vital to offer water to Shiva in the Temples after bathing. Those people who are more religious, continue the practice for 3 days in continuation called Trimaghi. The temple gets hordes of tourists and devotees, especially during the Navaratri and Shravan months. The temples get a new life during these times. There are prayers, celebrations, and lights for the whole day. It looks like Lord Shiva himself is taking part in the festivals. Small shrines surrounding the whole Bagnath Temple makes the place more pious and heavenly.
