Kuteti Devi Temple is a hilltop shrine overlooking Uttarkashi and the Bhagirathi, dedicated to a fierce but protective form of Goddess Durga. A motor road plus a short climb lead to the temple from town. From the courtyard you can see Uttarkashi spread out below, the river snaking through the valley and ridges rising on all sides. The main sanctum houses the stone representation of Kuteti Devi, worshipped as a family and kula deity by many locals. During Navratri and other festivals, the temple comes alive with dhol-damau music, jhandis (flags), and processions carrying the Goddess’s palanquin.
About this place
History & highlights
The official district narrative and local legends say a princess from Kota (Rajasthan) had a dream in which the Goddess instructed her to come to Uttarkashi and search for three sacred stones. On reaching the hill, the princess and her husband discovered three stones emitting a heavenly fragrance, and a temple to Kuteti Devi was built exactly at that spot. The shrine later came under the patronage of the Tehri rulers, who added to its structures and land. Over time, Kuteti Devi became one of the chief grama and regional deities of Uttarkashi, invoked for protection from natural calamities and for success in new ventures. The annual fairs here keep alive the folk dance, music and costume traditions of the Bhagirathi valley.
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