Kasar Devi Temple

Kasar Devi Temple is an ancient Hindu shrine dedicated to Goddess Kasar Devi, a form of Durga, located in Kasar Devi village near Almora, Uttarakhand. Dating back to the 2nd century CE, this hilltop cave temple sits on the Van Allen Belt, one of only three such geomagnetic sites globally alongside Machu Picchu and Stonehenge. The temple gained prominence after Swami Vivekananda's visit in the 1890s and became a destination for spiritual seekers during the 1960s-70s Hippie movement.

Visitors can expect a serene hilltop temple complex with panoramic Himalayan views from approximately 2,116 meters altitude. The site features two temples: the main Kasar Devi temple and a Shiva temple about 100 meters uphill, connected by stone steps. The area includes Crank's Ridge (Hippie Hill), pine forests, and a sacred fire pit (dhuni). Visitors experience meditation opportunities, peaceful surroundings, and encounter monkeys in the temple vicinity.

The temple structure dates to the 2nd century CE. According to Skanda Purana, this ancient cave temple was established by Yakshas (Nature Spirits) and Gandharvas (Heavenly Beings). The temple gained prominence when Swami Vivekananda visited in the 1890s. During the 1960s and 1970s, the area attracted Western spiritual seekers including Bob Dylan and Allen Ginsberg, becoming known as a Hippie retreat.

One of the most significant Durga temples in Uttarakhand according to Skanda Purana. The temple hosts an annual Kartik Poornima fair attended by devotees from far and wide. The site holds importance as one of only three locations on Earth under the Van Allen Belt influence, creating a unique spiritual atmosphere that has drawn mystics and seekers for centuries.