Naina Devi Temple is located in Nainital, Uttarakhand on the banks of the beautiful Naini Lake. Naina Devi Temple is a famous Indian pilgrimage center and one of the 51 Shaktipeeths of India. It is also a beautiful tourist destination situated on the banks of the lake. Naina Devi Temple is considered one of the holiest temples in the country. Devotees from all over the world come here to seek blessings.
Naina Devi Temple derives its name from the legend that Goddess Sati’s eyes (Nayan) fell at this place when Lord Vishnu cut her body into 51 different parts. In fact, the entire city (Nainital), the lake (Naini Lake), and the Naini Temple, all three are named after the legend.
The great Shivalik range of the Himalayas surrounds the city and the temple is guarded by the highest peak Mount Nanda Devi, believed to be the sister of Goddess Naina. Today in this article we will share interesting information related to Naina Devi Temple, if you want to know this piece of information then read this post till the end.
Mythological Significance of Naina Devi Temple
The temple is built on the spot where the eyes of Goddess Sati fell when Lord Shiva was carrying her corpse after it was cut into 51 different parts by Lord Vishnu. The story is about a great king Daksha Prajapati, he had a little beautiful daughter Whose name was Sati.
As time passed and Sati grew into a beautiful woman, Daksha started looking for a suitable groom for her. Meanwhile, Sati fell in love with Lord Shiva, which was never accepted by Daksha. Despite this, Sati went ahead and married Lord Shiva.
During their transformation into a married couple, Goddess Sati and Lord Shiva came to know about a yajna ceremony being conducted by their father Daksha. Yagya involved sacrificing something in a sacred fire.
To Sati’s dismay, Daksha did not invite her and her husband to the ritual. Being a daughter, Sati nevertheless went to the Yagya ceremony but the enraged Daksha insulted the couple. Goddess Sati could not tolerate this insult and immolated herself by jumping into the fire of Yagya.
Lord Shiva could not bear the separation of his beloved wife and started dancing, God’s dance of destruction, Tandava. Even after many pleadings and trials with the Lord, Lord Shiva did not stop. Realizing the seriousness of the matter, Lord Vishnu decided to use his ‘Brahmastra’, the ‘Sudarshan Chakra’, and cut Sati’s charred body into 51 pieces.
These 51 parts of his body fell at various places where Shaktipeeths are built. The Naina Devi temple symbolizes the eyes of Sati as it is believed that her eyes fell here. This is the reason why the goddess is worshiped in the form of eyes in the main temple.
Festivals and Celebrations at Naina Devi Temple, Nainital
Nanda Ashtami falls during the months of August and September and is celebrated in the Kumaon region. The festival marks the celebration and worship of Nanda Devi, the highest peak in the Western Himalayas. The sacred flower ‘Brahmakamal’ is worshiped and harvested during this time which symbolizes the enduring co-existence between humans and nature. The flower has many uses as fuel, medicine, fodder, and food, while its beauty also makes it serve as an ornament.
Devotees come at the time of Nanda Ashtami and seek blessings from the Goddess. A festival lasting eight days is organized on the temple premises. On the eighth day, ‘Visarjan’ or immersion of the idols of Goddesses Nanda Devi and Naina Devi is performed. The temple sees huge footfall during the months of Navratri and Chaitra as devotees come to worship the goddess and seek her blessings.
Entry Fees and Timings of Naina Devi Temple, Nainital
There is no entry fee for visiting the temple. You can visit any day of the week between 6:00 am to 10:00 pm.
Naina Devi Temple Nainital Aarti Timings:- 7:00 am in the Morning and 7:00 pm in the Evening.
Interesting Facts
- Naina Devi Temple is one of the 51 Shaktipeeths in the country which represent power and devotion.
- Being located near Naini Lake, the temple receives a large number of visitors at all times of the year. This makes it one of the most revered temples in northern India.
- Nainital has a golf course that dates back to the year 1926 making it one of the oldest golf courses in the country.
Things to do/Sightseeing at and around Naina Devi Temple, Nainital
Nearby Tourist Attractions:-
The temple is surrounded by various hills which serve as excellent tourist spots. You can also visit Tiffin Top which is 1 km away, Naina Peak which is 3 km away, and Snow View Point which is 3 km away from the central city.
Another famous tourist spot around the area is the Eco Cave Garden which is a perfect combination of nature and human efforts. There are caves in the shape of animals depicting the natural Kumaon wildlife habitat.
If you are a bird lover, Pangot and Kilbury Bird Sanctuary is heaven for you. Get drenched in the amazing beauty of the place and the ever-charming birds.
Boat Ride:-
Naina Devi Temple is situated on the banks of Naini Lake which adds to the beauty of the temple. It also gives a wonderful opportunity for visitors to take a boat ride. Various boat rides are available on Naini Lake.
How to Reach Naina Devi temple, Nainital
The Temple is situated at the northern end of the Naini Lake in the Mallital area.
By Road:- It is located at a distance of 3 km from the Nainital City Bus Stand. You can easily walk to the temple or hire a local rickshaw or auto rickshaw.
By Train:- The Temple is 35 km away from the nearest railway station which is Kathgodam Railway Station. You can hire a taxi from the railway station to reach the temple.
By Air:- The Temple is located 70 km away from the Pantnagar Airport. Once off the flight, you can hire a local taxi cab to reach the temple.
NOTE:- In this article, we cover all the important details regarding Naina Devi Temple like the best time to visit and Activities you can do in Naina Devi Temple, Still If you have any other queries you can visit the gov official website of Uttarakhand Tourism. And If you want to know the best places to visit in Uttarakhand then visit our website uttarakhandeyes.com.
