Kasar Devi Temple, Almora — the ridge village above the town
temple · 4.7 km away
temple19 min from Almora
Chitai Golu Devta Temple, Almora — the temple of the god of justice
The Chitai Golu Devta Temple, 19 minutes from Almora, is the best-known temple of Golu Devta, the Kumaoni god of justice, where devotees leave petitions.
What it is
The Chitai Golu Devta Temple is the best-known shrine of Golu Devta, the Kumaoni deity of justice, on the outskirts of Almora. Wikipedia names it first among his temples. Golu Devta is worshipped across Kumaon and Garhwal as a family or village deity, and he is regarded as an incarnation of Gaur Bhairav. His devotees believe he dispenses quick justice.
Photos: Pushkar2016 (CC0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Getting there
About 8 km and 19 minutes by road from Almora, by our routing. Wikipedia gives about 10 km from the town and about 4 km from the main gate of the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, on the Binsar road. We have not measured the short walk from the road, so leave some margin.
What you see
The first thing in the photographs is the bells: very many brass bells hang from the beams at the entrance, offered by devotees. Inside, the pictures show written petitions tied up in bundles, and Wikipedia says devotees file petitions every day which the temple receives. The shrine itself is small, with a white dome and a red-tiled roof.
Golu Devta is called Goljyu in Kumaoni. The stories of his birth differ from village to village, and the best-known version in Wikipedia has a king, a woman who separated two fighting bulls, and jealous queens who replaced her newborn son. We tell it only as a story people tell, not as history.
When to go
We found no published opening times or entry rules, so we give none. Ask locally. The best-time guide sets out what is published about Almora's seasons.
Around it
Kasar Devi is a short drive in the other direction, and the one-day plan puts the two together with Almora's old town. Things to do in Almora lists every stop.
Plans that include this
All 1 plans that stop here →Nearby places
Questions people ask
Who is Golu Devta?
A Kumaoni deity worshipped as the god of justice, and regarded in Wikipedia's account as an incarnation of Gaur Bhairav. Devotees believe he dispenses quick justice, and many are said to submit written petitions at his temples. Wikipedia names Chitai, Champawat, Ghorakhal and Chamarkhan among the best-known ones.
How far is the Chitai temple from Almora?
About 8 km and 19 minutes by road from our reference point in Almora, by our routing. Wikipedia says about 10 km from Almora and about 4 km from the main gate of the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary. We have not measured the walk from the road, so allow some extra time.
What is unusual about the temple?
Photographs show a very large number of bells hanging at the entrance, and written petitions tied up inside. Wikipedia says devotees file written petitions every day, which the temple receives. We found no published opening times or entry fee, so we give none; ask locally and respect worshippers.