Dhari Devi Temple

Dhari Devi Temple is an ancient Hindu shrine dedicated to Goddess Kali, located on the banks of the Alaknanda River in Kalyasaur, between Srinagar and Rudraprayag in Uttarakhand's Pauri Garhwal district. Revered as one of the 108 Shakta pithas and the guardian deity of Uttarakhand, the temple houses the upper half of the goddess's idol. The open-air shrine stands on a rock in the river and is believed to protect the Char Dham pilgrimage route.

Visitors can expect to see an open-air temple structure positioned on a rock in the middle of the Alaknanda River, with no rooftop covering the main shrine. The temple features vibrant stalls selling sweets, sacred offerings, artifacts, and local items along the approach. Devotees perform prayers and rituals in a serene riverside setting, with views of the flowing Alaknanda. The stone-carved deity is believed to change appearance throughout the day. A 1 km cement pathway leads from the highway to the temple on the riverbank.

The temple has deep mythological roots. According to legend, Goddess Dhari Devi was killed by her brothers and her body was thrown into the river. The upper half floated to Kalyasaur where it was spotted by a washerman who received divine instructions to install it on a rock, while the lower half reached Kalimath. The original temple was washed away by floods in the past, and the idol was trapped against a rock near village Dharo before being installed at its current location. In 2013, the temple was relocated for hydroelectric dam construction, and a new temple was later reconstructed at the original site.

Dhari Devi is revered as the guardian deity of Uttarakhand and the protector of the Char Dham pilgrimage route. The shrine is one of the 108 Shakta pithas as numbered in Srimad Devi Bhagwat. The goddess is worshipped as a manifestation of Kali, and special prayers are held during Navratri and Amavasya (New Moon Day). Locals believe the deity protects the region from natural calamities.