If you love traveling and exploring new places then Temples in Nainital must be there in your list. The temple is a significant spiritual site based in Nainitaland holds religious value for Hindu devotees. The Naini temple is dedicated to Goddess Naina Devi. It is situated at the northern end of Nainital Lake and is surrounded by the beautiful Shivalik range of the Himalayas. Read this article to know why Naina Devi Temple, Nainital should be in your must visit list.
History of Naina Devi Temple, Nainital
Let’s first explore the history of Naina Devi Temple. It has a rich history with its origin in the 15th century. The temple is made to worship goddess Sati and it is believed that at the same spot her eye’s fell when she immolated herself. You will get a mention of this temple in the Kushan period as well. It is one of the 51 shakti peeths.
The temple has seen difficult times as well when it got destroyed in 1880 due to a landslide. However the devotees with deep faith in Naina Devi, rebuilt the temple within 3 years in 1883. Since then it is believed that the goddess is protecting it from natural catastrophes.
Architecture of Naina Devi Temple
The Naini temple is one the most visited temples in Nainital, not only because of the religious values but also due to its architecture. While entering the temple you see two stone lion statues at the entrance. These statues symbolise the “eyes” of the Goddess Naina Devi, enhancing the beauty of the temple. Overall temple is built in square shape with two pediments and a triangular dome. There are terracotta tiles that cover the pediments further enhancing the decoration of the temple.
There are three main deities inside the temple including Goddess Naina Devi, Shivji on the front, and the statue of lord Hanuman is positioned at the entrance. It is believed that Hanuman Ji guards the temple and blesses the devotees. A unique beauty that you will notice is an ancient peepal tree shading the temple courtyard. As far as colours are concerned, it has typical hindu temple colours including red, orange, yellow and white. The beautiful architecture and peace that it has, add a great value for the devotees and tourists to visit the temple again and again.
4. Religious Importance and Festivals
Although the Naini Temple holds religious value throughout the year, but if you want to visit the temple at special occasions then you should consider the below festivals to visit:
- Navratri: During Navratri, we all worship Maa Durga for 9 days and it is celebrated in Naina Devi Temple with immense pride.
- Nanda Ashtami: It is again a 8 days festival celebrated during August and September every year. This festival is organised to worship goddess Nanda Devi.
- Chaitra Navratri: Start of the Hindu New Year – what could be a better time than this to worship Naina Devi. It comes during March end or April 1st week.
During all the above important festivals different activities are done to celebrate. There are special rituals and prayers that are performed by the devotees. Cultural performance is also done during these festive times and the entire temple is decorated with flowers and lights. The most beautiful thing you will get to see here is the act of seva. Devotees perform selfless service during this time to help manage the maintenance and offer food as well to the pilgrims.
5. Location and Scenic Surroundings
The location of Naina Devi Temple, Nainital is an added advantage from the tourism point of view. It is located near the northern end of Nainital’s Tallital Lake. The Lake is 2 kilometres long and 150 meters wide and hence people visiting the temple also get to see this natural beauty. The temple is surrounded by the Shivalik range of Himalayas and hence offers a breathtaking view of hills and peace of mind. The place is a good place for meditation as it is nestled amidst a thick pine forest.
6. Best Time to Visit Naina Devi Temple
The best time to visit Naini Temple is the time of festivals only when the temple is decorated and different cultural activities are performed. Check the details below before visiting the temple:
- Timing: 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Entry Fee: Free
- Ideal Time To Visit: Mar – June and Aug – Sep
The ideal time to visit is March to June as during this time the summer season starts in Nainital. The weather becomes pleasant as the temperature around this time comes in the range of 100 C to 270 C. Apart from this during this time only the festivals of Chaitra Navratri and Nanda Ashtami take place.
You can visit the temple during September to October months too. Because during this time the monsoon gets over and it leaves behind a lush green landscape. The cool and calm weather combined with the festivals of Navratri and Diwali make this time a perfect time to visit Naina Devi Temple.
7. How to Reach Naina Devi Temple
Now that you have planned your visit and booked your hotel, you must know how to reach Nainital. You should do proper research to make your journey smoother. In the center of Nainital City, there is a lake called Naini Lake and the temple is located on the edge of the lake. If you are coming via bus, after reaching Nainital, just walk and you can easily reach here by walking as it is not too far from the bus stand in Nainital.
If you are coming via train then you have to reach the Kathgodam railway station first. It is 35 KM from Nainital and hence from railway station you will be required a public transport to reach Nainital. You will get a bus and taxi at the railway station to reach Nainital. You can reach Naina Devi Temple in Nainital by air as well. The nearest airport is PantNagar airport which is 72 KM from Nainital. Buses and Taxis are easily available at the PantNagar airport for Nainital.
8. Nearby Attractions
We understand that when you plan your visit, you will plan for a longer period so that you can cover many other places including different temples in Nainital and other hill areas. Hence, check out the list below for places to visit in Nainital that you can consider:
- Hill Stations: If you want to visit more places within 25 KM from Naina Devi Temple in Nainital then a few hill stations should be in your list including Mukteshwar, Bhimtal and Sitla and Pine Rivera.
- Religious Places: Along with Naina Devi there are some more temples that you can visit. Mukteshwar Dham, located in the Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand and Mukteshwar temple are some important religious places. Hanuman Garhi is another attraction located at an altitude of 1950 meters.
- Scenic Viewpoint: There is a viewpoint near Nainital known as Snow View Point, you should visit this point too to have an amazing hill station view.
9. Traveler Tips for First-Time Visitors
If you are visiting the Naina Devi Temple for the first time and want a pleasant visit, you should check the below tips before you leave your home:
- Plan Visit Early: if you arrive at the temple early, you will be able to avoid the crowd and enjoy the scenic beauty and experience the peace of mind.
- Carry Comfortable Footwear: you have to walk to reach the temple and it has an uneven path and hence a pair of comfortable shoes is needed.
- Purchase Prasad and Offerings Nearby: you can purchase Prasad from outside the temple itself, no need to carry it from home.
- Avoid Monsoon Timing: do not plan your visit during monsoon as due to heavy rainfall, landslides can make your journey difficult.
- Avoid Visit During Winter Months: Just like monsoon, you should avoid visiting during winters too as the temperature drops to sub-zero levels and snowfall may restrict your journey.
- Pack Winter Clothes: as the temperature is low in Nainital throughout the year, ensure that you have some woolen cloths to protect you from cold waves.
10. Final Words
Naina Devi Temple, Nainital is a well known Shakti Peeth for Hindus in India. It is located in Nainital in Uttarakhand. Every year thousands of devotees visit the temple making it an important temple for blessings of Ma Naina Devi. It is dedicated to goddess Sati and believed that when she immolated herself, her eyes fell here. That is why it is named Naina Devi which symbolises her eyes. It has a beautiful architecture, built in square shape. The best time to visit Naina Devi Temple is the festive time of Navratri and Nanda Ashtami as during this time the temple is decorated and different cultural activities are performed.
Plan your visit to Naini Temple during summers of March – June and in the months of August and September and take the blessings of the goddess.
Hotel Woodland is an elegant Hotel in Nainital, located 0.7 kilometers from Naini Lake and 0.9 kilometers from Mall Road. You can easily access the two main attractions of Nainital by walking.
