About Karna Temple
The Karna Temple is a unique wooden Hindu temple dedicated to Karna, the eldest son of Kunti and warrior from the Mahabharata epic. Located in Deora village near Netwar in the Tons Valley of Uttarkashi district, this rectangular wooden structure features ornate carvings and brass-embellished doors. It is one of the rare temples in India devoted to Karna, who is revered here as a family deity by local communities.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect to see a traditional wooden temple with intricate carvings depicting birds, animals, and mythological figures. The temple features a rectangular structure with sloping slate roofs and a wooden umbrella at the top. Inside the sanctum are murtis of Karna, his charioteer Shalya Maharaj, Renuka, and a Shivalinga. The temple is surrounded by pine, deodar, and chir forests in the serene Tons Valley setting.
Key highlights
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Rare temple dedicated to Karna from the Mahabharata
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Traditional wooden architecture with ornate carvings
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Brass-embossed doors with divine figures
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Located in scenic Tons Valley surrounded by forests
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Contains murtis of Karna, Shalya Maharaj, and Renuka
History of Karna Temple
According to legend, a tantrik named Lapavda brought the statue of Karna from Champavat in eastern Uttarakhand after being directed by the deity himself to establish a temple. The temple represents the unique local tradition of worshipping Mahabharata characters, particularly Karna, who is considered an upright person despite his association with the Kauravas.
Culture & Context
Karna is worshipped as the family deity by people of many villages around Netwar. The temple holds cultural importance as one of the rare shrines dedicated to Karna in India. Local priests recite secret mantras in the local language during worship, passed down orally through generations. The tears of Karna's followers are believed to have formed the Tons River (originally called Tamas, meaning sorrow).
Route
| By air |
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