Located about 19 km from Almora near Kosi village, Katarmal Sun Temple is home to one of India’s rare sun temples. Perched on a hill at around 2,100 metres, the complex consists of a main stone temple surrounded by about 44 smaller shrines, set on stone terraces overlooking forests and distant snow peaks. The principal shrine is dedicated to an ancient form of the Sun God known as Burhadita or Vraddhaditya, and the entire complex is built from massive stone blocks with intricate yet weather-worn carvings. Visitors climb a short but steep path through village houses and fields to reach the temple, and often sit quietly on the plinths to soak in the views and the sense of antiquity.
About this place
History & highlights
Historical research shows that the Katarmal Sun Temple was built in the 9th century by the Katyuri kings, a powerful Rajput dynasty that ruled much of Kumaon and built hundreds of temples across the region. This makes Katarmal more than eight centuries old and one of the oldest sun temples in India, often mentioned alongside Konark and Modhera. Its location is believed to have been chosen for both strategic and ritual reasons—on a hill that catches the first rays of the rising sun. Over time, some idols were shifted to the National Museum for safekeeping, but the site remains a key example of early Himalayan stone architecture and is now protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. Modern travellers visit both for its heritage value and for the quiet, non-commercial atmosphere that feels like a time capsule of ancient Kumaon.
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