The Nanda Devi Temple stands near the old market of Almora and is considered the spiritual heart of the town. Dedicated to Goddess Nanda Devi, presiding deity of Kumaon, the temple complex includes a stone-walled courtyard and shrines with beautifully carved wooden and stone work in typical Kumaoni style. Inside the garbhagriha, the idol of Nanda Devi is worshipped with daily aarti, lamps and incense. The temple lane stays lively with pilgrims, small shops selling prasad, flowers, local sweets and traditional woollens. Every September the area turns into a sea of colour and devotion during the famous Nanda Devi Mela, when processions, music and rituals fill the streets.
About this place
History & highlights
Travel and cultural sources date the Nanda Devi temple to around the 10th–11th century, built under the influence of the Katyuri and early Chand rulers who made Nanda Devi worship central to Kumaoni identity. The wooden and stone carvings show scenes from local mythology and daily life and are considered masterpieces of Himalayan craftsmanship. The Nanda Devi Fair is one of Kumaon’s best-known festivals, celebrated in Almora and several other towns each September during Nandashtami; it reflects centuries-old traditions of honouring the goddess as protector of fields, flocks and families. Because of this long, unbroken worship, the temple functions not only as a religious centre but also as a living museum of Kumaoni art, music, costume and ceremony.
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