Neelkanth Mahadeva mandir is a popular Hindu temple located close to Rishikesh city. The temple is dedicated to Lord Mahadeva and resides in the Pauri Garhwal district of the state of Uttarakhand. The reason behind the popularity of this temple is its historical cum religious significance. They say that the religious scriptures (Puranas) have evidence of this particular place. Now you might be curious to know the story behind this temple, and how to get there. So here in this blog, we are going to reveal everything that you need to know before visiting this site. Come, let’s learn about this special temple in detail and enhance our tourism knowledge in depth.
Neelkanth Mahadeva temple Location
The temple Neelkanth elevation is at 1330 metres. When you go there, it will appear as a very special geographical area of Uttarakhand. It’s considered special because of its ideal location on the holy confluence of rivers Madhumati and Pankaja. Along with the confluence, the temple is in the lap of three wonderful valleys. These valleys are known as Vishnu Koot, Manikoot and Bramhakoot. The temple is located at a height from where you’ll catch a beautiful valley view.
Neelkanth Mahadev Temple Architecture:
It’s unique that a temple in Northern India is influenced by Dravidian architecture. But this is the fact of this Mahadev temple. So when you look into the architecture of the temple, it resembles the Southern Indian temple style., if we look at the walls of the temple, it’s full of sculptures revealing the SAMUDRA MANTHAN epic.
Neelkanth Mahadev Story:
Now we come to the most interesting part of the blog.
Story Background
The story about this temple is mentioned in the Puranas. It’s said that long ago when Samudra Manthan was performed, the Devtas and Rakshashas were keenly indulged in the scenario. Various types of precious materials came out of the ocean in that manthan. But everybody was shocked when a poison called Kaalkoot emerged and it was so poisonous that it could destroy the whole earth.
Why is Mahadeva called Neelkanth?
At that time, the Lord Shiva, who is always known for his kindness and sacrifices, came into the picture and he just drank the boiling poison to save Earth from its dangerous consequences. The Purana script says that the poison got frozen in the throat of Lord Shiva. It means the Mahadeva didn’t swallow it beyond the throat. Now the throat of Mahadeva got turned into a blue colour because of the extreme poisonous reactions. This is why Lord Shiva is known as Neelkanth Mahadeva. Neelkanth refers to the blue throat of God.
Why this place got the name Neelkanth Mahadeva
Now the time is ripe to understand the religious Significance of this place. Let’s continue our story, so when Lord Shiva drank the poison, he started suffering from immense heat and high body temperature. This is why God was searching for a cold and peaceful place to stay so that it could reduce his heat suffering. At that time, lord Shiva found this specific place on the Madhumati and Pankaj river prayag, from where the Nar and Narayan ranges were also visible. Then, Shiv ji stayed there and meditated for approximately 60,000 years in the same place below the panchpani tree. This is the story behind this temple and this is why pilgrims from all over the country came here to offer their prayers.
How to reach the temple
Neelkanth temple is only 30 km away from the centre of Rishikesh. Several taxis and rental cars keep moving to the Mahadeva temple from most of the famous tourist spots of Rishikesh.
Taxi Fare for Neelkanth Mahadeva
On an average basis, it will cost INR 1000 of the fare for booking a sedan car. On the other hand, if you book an Innova car then you’ll have to pay approx INR 2200 from Rishikesh to the temple area. If you are travelling with a group then you can book a separate car for all of you. Otherwise, if you are on a solo trip, you can share the ride with random fellow travellers present there.
Neelkanth Mahadeva: Nearby places to visit:
We understand your zeal to explore the hidden beautiful spots of Uttarakhand. Hence we have decided to share the list of all the In-route tourist sites that you’ll witness on the Rishikesh-Neelkanth Mahadev route. So get ready with excitement to visit all of the below-mentioned sites.
Here’s the list.
- Shri Nageshwar Lakshmi Narayan Temple
- Laxmi Devi temple
- Shri Guru kapil mahamuni ashram
- Bhajan Ashram
- Mouni baba Ashram
- Phool Chatti Yoga Ashram
- Khanteshwar Chhota Jharna
- Tuliyal waterfall
- Neer waterfall
Special occasions in Neelkanth Mahadev temple:
The Neelkanth Mahadeva temple is especially known for its spiritual significance in the Hindu month of Shravan (Sawan). The devotees from remote areas of North India perform a Kawar Yatra for Lord Shiva. If you have never seen such a religious ceremony then you must witness it once. Apart from that, the Mahashivratri festival is celebrated in the temple on a large basis. This occasion is very important for all the Mahadev followers. If you have a chance then don’t miss the opportunity to experience it.
Experiences you should not miss out on Neelkanth Mahadeva route:
The right way to travel is to observe every little thing around you. Here we are sharing some great experiences that you should not miss on this trip.
Camping:
If you are adventurous, then here’s the opportunity to experience camping in the beautiful hilly and valleys region. There are various camping options on the route, so you can approach the camping organisers there. You will get immense peace and relaxation on these riverside camps. Additionally, you can do stargazing at night.
Tea time:
There are some tea stalls on the route, where you can take a break from your ride and enjoy the tea and light snacks in the beautiful scenic location.
Maggie Points:
We all get butterflies in our stomachs when someone talks about Maggie in the mountains. If you are also a foodie then pause the route on the Maggie Points and order some Maggie and have it with the beautiful valley views.
Trekking:
There are various people who are hardcore trekkers and find it a very relaxing and refreshing activity. So if you are that person, then you should go on the Neelkanth Mahadev trek.
Photography:
Nowadays, photography is one of the most loved emerging hobbies. If you also keep an interest in photography then take advantage of being in a high-altitude region. Take out your camera and click some full-of-life pictures of the beautiful views.
FAQs
Q1. What’s the best time to visit the Neelkanth Mahadev temple?
A1. The months of February to April and October to mid-December are the best to visit.
Q2. What’s the nearby railway station to the Neelkanth Mahadev temple?
A2. The nearest railway station is the Rishikesh railway station. That is at the 29 km distance. You can reach there in approx 1 hour 15 minutes by car.
Q3. What’s the nearest airport to the Neelkanth Mahadev temple?
A3. The Jolly Grant Airport Dehradun is the nearest airport, which connects various cities of the country to Uttarakhand. So if you want to come by flight then book the tickets for this airport.
Conclusion:
This blog was about the Neelkanth Mahadev temple located near the Yoga Capital of the world, Rishikesh. We have covered all the aspects of this temple in the content. Whatever information you need to know before finalising this place to travel is mentioned above. Now if you have the wholesome information then why are you getting bored in your workplace? Take some time and pack your bags for Uttarakhand.
Still, if you have some doubts, you can approach us through our social media page or given contact numbers.
We are a trusted tour operator company Travel Acharya working actively in the Uttarakhand region. Our aim is to provide tour packages and services to various destinations, so if you are looking for a tour operator then feel free to contact us. We would love to offer you the best services.
