The Dwarahat temples — the Badrinath group and other Katyuri-era shrines north of Ranikhet
What it is
Dwarahat is a small town in Almora district that was once the seat of a branch of the Katyuri kings, and it is known for its old temples. Wikipedia says the town first had about 30 Hindu temples, most dated to the 11th century, and that many were damaged during the Rohilla invasion of Kumaon and later reused as granaries or straw-lofts.
Photos: Ms Sarah Welch (CC0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
The groups
The temples were built in a pyramidal form, ornamented with rows of simple moulding. Local tradition credits the main temples to Adi Shankara. The Badrinath temple is the most prominent one still in use, and its original image was replaced after the Rohilla attack. Others are the seven small shrines of Ratnadewal, the abandoned Mritunjaya temple, and a line of pillared buildings known as the Kachahri-ki-dewal, or court temples. A carved temple near the Syalde tank has friezes of gods, people and elephants, though they are heavily weathered.
Getting there
By road Dwarahat is about 34 km and 74 minutes from Ranikhet on our routing; Wikivoyage gives 38 km. The town stands at about 1,510 m where roads meet for Almora, Ranikhet, Garhwal and Someshwar.
Dunagiri
Above Dwarahat, at about 2,400 m, is Dunagiri, famous across Kumaon for its temple of the goddess Dunagiri Devi. We have no verified road time from Ranikhet, so ask locally before you plan it.
Plan it
The Dwarahat day pairs the temples with Majkhali on the way back. See things to do in Ranikhet, how to reach Ranikhet and when to visit.
Plans that include this
All 1 plans that stop here →
Nearby places
All of Ranikhet →
Nearby destinations
All destinations →
Questions people ask
What are the Dwarahat temples?
A set of ancient Hindu temples in the town of Dwarahat, built by the Katyuri kings and mostly dated to the 11th century, though Wikipedia says some were built between the 7th and 11th centuries. The town once had about 30 temples, many of which were damaged. The Badrinath group is the best preserved of them.
How far is Dwarahat from Ranikhet?
About 34 km and 74 minutes by road on our routing from Ranikhet; Wikivoyage gives 38 km. Dwarahat stands at about 1,510 m, on the road that links Almora, Ranikhet, Garhwal and Someshwar. Allow most of a day for the drive and the temples, and combine it with Majkhali on the way back.
Is the Dunagiri temple near Dwarahat?
Yes. Dunagiri, at about 2,400 m above Dwarahat, is famous across Kumaon for its temple of the goddess Dunagiri Devi, and Wikipedia calls it the best-known of the area's temples. We have no verified road time from Ranikhet, so ask locally; it is not part of our plans.