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The red-draped shrine of the goddess Kheer Bhawani on a platform in the middle of the sacred spring
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Photo: Akshey25 · CC BY 3.0
temple32 min from Srinagar

Kheer Bhawani Temple — the spring shrine at Tulmulla near Srinagar

The Kheer Bhawani Temple at Tulmulla, about 25 km from Srinagar: a goddess shrine built over a sacred spring that changes colour, and its annual fair.

What it is

Kheer Bhawani, also written Ksheer Bhawani and known as the Ragnya Devi shrine, is a Hindu temple at Tulmulla in the Ganderbal district, about 25 km north-east of Srinagar. It is dedicated to the goddess Kheer Bhawani and built over a sacred spring. Kheer is the milk and rice pudding offered to the goddess, so the name is sometimes translated as the goddess of milk.

Photos: Akshey25 (CC BY 3.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.

The spring

The heptagonal spring lies around the goddess's shrine and is known to change colour, among several shades from red to white. Black water is thought to be a bad omen. Wikipedia says Hindu Kashmiris everywhere worship Kheer Bhawani, most of them honouring her as their protective deity, and that the maharajas Pratap Singh and Hari Singh helped build and renovate the temple.

The fair

Wikipedia says an annual fair at the temple draws one of the region's biggest Hindu gatherings, after the Amarnath pilgrimage.

Getting there

By road it is about 24 km and 32 minutes from the centre of Srinagar on our routing. We have no verified opening hours or rules for visitors.

Combine it with

It pairs naturally with the old city on the two-day plan. Read things to do in Srinagar, how to reach Srinagar and see Dal Lake.

Plans that include this

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Nearby places

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Hazratbal Shrine — the white-domed Sufi shrine on Dal Lake
Hazratbal Shrine — the white-domed Sufi shrine on Dal Lake
temple · 15 km away
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Hari Parbat Fort — the hill fort above Srinagar's old city
fort · 15 km away
Shalimar Bagh — the Mughal garden on Dal Lake's north shore
Shalimar Bagh — the Mughal garden on Dal Lake's north shore
monument · 15 km away
Jama Masjid Srinagar — the great wooden Friday mosque of the old city
Jama Masjid Srinagar — the great wooden Friday mosque of the old city
temple · 16 km away
Khanqah-e-Moula — the wooden shrine of Shah-e-Hamadan on the Jhelum
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temple · 16 km away
Dal Lake — shikara boats, houseboats and floating gardens in Srinagar
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lake · 17 km away
Nishat Bagh — the terraced Mughal garden of joy on Dal Lake
Nishat Bagh — the terraced Mughal garden of joy on Dal Lake
monument · 18 km away
Shankaracharya Temple — the hilltop Shiva temple above Srinagar
Shankaracharya Temple — the hilltop Shiva temple above Srinagar
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Questions people ask

What is the Kheer Bhawani Temple?

A Hindu temple to the goddess Kheer Bhawani, also called Ragnya Devi, at Tulmulla in Ganderbal, about 25 km north-east of Srinagar. It is built over a sacred spring. Wikipedia says the goddess is worshipped by most Hindu Kashmiris as their protective patron deity, and the offering of kheer, a milk and rice pudding, gives the name.

Why does the spring matter?

It has seven sides, and Wikipedia says it is known to shift between reds, pinks, oranges, greens, blues and white. Black water is thought to be a bad omen. An annual fair is held here, behind only the Amarnath pilgrimage among the region's Hindu gatherings, so the temple is crowded then.

How far is it from Srinagar?

About 24 km and 32 minutes by road on our routing from the centre, in the village of Tulmulla in Ganderbal district; Wikipedia gives about 25 km. It makes a half-day with Dachigam or the Harwan ruins. We have no verified opening hours, so ask locally, and avoid the fair days if you want quiet.