The Surkanda Devi temple is located in the village of Uniyal in the Dhanaulti section of the Tehri district of Uttarakhand, India. Surkanda Devi Temple is an ancient Hindu temple that is committed to Goddess Durga, which is one of the nine Goddess formations of Devi Parvati.  The Temple is located in a very fine location and has a statue of the goddess Kali (another form of Devi Parvati) placed inside the temple.

The Sudakanda Devi Temple is 22 kilometres from Chamba and 6.7 kilometres from Dhanlatti. To arrive at this temple, individuals need to walk 3 Km from the town of Kaddukhal. The sea level height is approximately 2,757 meters for this temple.

Story Behind Surkanda Devi Temple

The goddess of Dakshayani, Sati, Parvati, or Durga Hinduism’s most influential woman and most powerful deity is referred to as Shakti. Durga Devi, Mahakali, and Gowri are the three main manifestations of Shakti, the power goddess. She is Adi Shakti’s avatar.

Locals in Dahigaad, now known as Maldevta in the Dehradun valley, believe that the goddess appeared as an elderly woman. Men were returning the traded goods (known as “Dhaak” in the local language) to the hills. A senior citizen requested assistance and requested that someone transport her to the highest point on her back. Many men ignored her, but then a middle-aged man stopped and inquired. Following their conversation, the woman sat on his bin and they began to move. Slowly and steadily, the middle-aged man moved ahead of the other men who had previously ignored the woman.

He had the impression that his weight had become excessively light, like a flower. They took their most memorable rest of the excursion in a place that is now known as Town – Pujaldi (the minister of Surkanda temple is from this specific town), They required their second rest in Kaddukhal (which is now the primary market and the foundation of the Surkanda temple journey), and the last objective where the woman halted the man was the peak of Shreekoot mountain and shockingly she vanished, the man figured the woman would have vanished. One fine day, the same old lady reappeared in that man’s dreams and told him to return to where he had left her and build a temple there.

Following the divine orders, the man visited the place and found these idols of Devi. Goddess was installed on the day of Ganga Dusherraa in the temple and to date this festival is celebrated with great pomp and enthusiasm in the temple.

History of Surkanda Devi Temple

The people of the area paid homage to the goddess during the time that Jalendra, the demon king, ruled. The goddess is said to have appeared to put an end to Jalendra’s reign of terror because of his atrocities and cruelty to the people. She defeated Jalendra and ended his rule over the people.

Architecture of Surkanda Devi Temple

The Surkanda Devi Temple is a classic example of ancient Hindu temple architecture and design. The temple is based on a square-moulded stage with a little lobby in the centre. The black stone idol of Devi Surkanda, which is approximately three feet tall, is housed in the hall. A mandap, an open area in front of the sanctum where devotees can pray, is located in the temple.

The idol kept in the temple is fragmented and shows a figure of a lady without a head and right breast, the goddess is named Surkanda standing with Sati and Mahadurga.

The temple walls and rooftop are made of stone, and the entry has a delightful wooden entryway. The sanctuary’s external walls have complicated carvings of divine beings and goddesses, and the internal walls have canvases portraying the goddess and her accounts. The architecture and design of the temple make it a one-of-a-kind and awe-inspiring place of worship.

Facts about Surkanda Devi Temple

• Surkanda Devi temple demands a trek of about 2 km trek from the village of Kaddukhal.
• The journey way is very clear and requires around 30 minutes one way. From Dhanaulti, tourists can also walk 8 km through thick forests to reach the temple. Subsequently, it is likewise a famous fascination among travellers.
• The Surkanda Devi temple is surrounded by a thick forest. From this location, you can see the Himalayas to the north and the cities of Dehradun and Rishikesh to the south.
• The majority of the year, the fog covers this temple. The temple that we see today was rebuilt. At the time, the actual temple’s location was unknown.

Famous Festivals In Surkanda Devi Temple

Millions of people visit this temple every year to celebrate all of the festivals that are held here. Some major festivals held here are

• Navaratri. (Summer) – They celebrate other Navaratri in the fortnight of the Chaitra (March-April). Every nine days they worship Navadurga (nine Durgas).
• Ganga Dussehra – Another popular festival celebrated at the Surkanda Devi Temple is the Ganga Dussehra festival. Ganga Dussehra is celebrated on the tenth day of the waxing moon in the Hindu month of Jyeshtha (May-June).
• Apart from these festivals, the temple also celebrates other Hindu festivals like Diwali, Holi, and Janmashtami.

How To reach Surkanda Devi Temple

At a distance of 9 km from Dhanaulti and 35 km from Mussoorie, Surkanda Devi Temple is a Hindu temple situated at Kuddukhal village near Dhanaulti in the Tehri district of Uttarakhand state. Located on Chamba – Dhanaulti Road

Nearest Airport: The nearest airport to Surkanda Devi Temple is the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, which is approximately 82 kilometres away.

Nearest Railway Station: The nearest railway station to Surkanda Devi Temple is the Dehradun Railway Station, which is approximately 69 kilometres away.

Bus/Cab Service: Surkanda Devi Temple is well-connected by road, and visitors can reach the temple by car, taxi, or bus. The nearest major city is Dehradun, which is approximately 69 kilometres away.

Trekking: Visitors can also reach Surkanda Devi Temple by trekking from the town of Dhanaulti. The trek is approximately 3 kilometres long and takes about 1 hour to complete.

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