Deoghar

Deoghar, in present-day Jharkhand, is best known as the home of Baba Baidyanath Dham, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, and has grown historically around this powerful pilgrimage centre. The town’s name literally means “abode of the gods” (Dev + ghar), reflecting its long association with temples and sacred groves. References in Puranic stories link Baidyanath to the legend of Ravana, who is said to have worshipped Shiva here and dropped the lingam at this spot—giving the shrine pan-Indian religious importance that drew devotees from Bengal, Bihar, Odisha and beyond for centuries.

Under regional Hindu rulers and later the Mughal and British administrations, Deoghar evolved into a structured temple town: priests’ settlements, dharamshalas, sarais and bazaars emerged to serve the steady stream of pilgrims. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Shravani Mela—with kanwariyas carrying Ganga water from Sultanganj to offer at Baidyanath—turned Deoghar into one of eastern India’s largest seasonal pilgrimage gatherings. Rail and road links strengthened its role as a religious hub, and surrounding shrines like Naulakha Mandir added to its sacred geography.

After the creation of Jharkhand in 2000, Deoghar gained further prominence as one of the new state’s flagship spiritual and tourism destinations, combining its ancient temple legacy with expanding urban facilities, hospitals, educational institutions and an airport, while the Baidyanath complex remains the heart of its identity.