Almora Kasar Devi Temple, Uttarakhand

Address

Almora Kasar Devi Temple, Binsar Rd, Kasardevi, Uttarakhand 263601

Deity

Shiva Amman: Parvati (Kasar Devi)

Introduction

The Kasar Devi Temple is a sacred shrine dedicated to Goddess Sakthi, situated in the Kasar Devi Village near Almora Town in Almora district, Uttarakhand, India.

The Kasar Devi Temple is located atop a hillock at an elevation of 2,116 meters above sea level, overlooking the picturesque town of Almora.
It is situated on the edge of a ridge along the Almora – Bageshwar highway on the Kaashay hills of the Kumaon Himalayas.
The temple complex also includes a separate shrine for Lord Shiva, accompanied by the presence of Nandi Devar.

Puranic Significance

Historical Significance:

The temple has a rich history and dates back to the 2nd century CE. It is mentioned in the second chapter of the Skanda Purana.
Kasar Devi gained prominence in the 1890s when Swami Vivekananda visited and meditated at this sacred site. He documented his experiences in his diaries.
The temple area later became a destination for scholars and seekers of spirituality. Walter Evans-Wentz, renowned for his translations of Tibetan Buddhist texts, including “The Tibetan Book of the Dead,” stayed in this region.
In the 1930s, Danish mystic Sunyata Baba (Alfred Sorensen) came to Kasar Devi and lived there for over three decades. He was joined by Ernst Hoffman, who later became the Tibetan Buddhist Lama Anagarika Govinda, and Li Goutami. This led to various spiritual seekers from the West visiting the area.
In 1961, Anagarika Govinda was visited by Beat poets, including Allen Ginsberg, Peter Orlovsky, and Gary Snyder.
Kasar Devi and the surrounding region also played a role in the Hippie movement, and Crank’s Ridge, often referred to as Hippie Hill, became a well-known destination. It attracted bohemian artists, writers, Western Tibetan Buddhists, and even mystic saint Anandamayi Ma.

Special Features

Temple Architecture and Surroundings:

The Kasar Devi Temple is situated at the hill’s summit and can be reached by climbing a long flight of stairs from the main road.
The temple originally served as a cave temple, and its premises offer a magnificent view of the setting sun.
The serene and tranquil location of the temple makes it an ideal place for meditation.
Visitors are treated to breathtaking views not only of Almora and the Hawabagh Valley but also of the panoramic vistas of the Himalayas, extending from the Bandarpunch peak on the Himachal Pradesh border to Api Himal in Nepal.
The area surrounding the temple is blessed with the beauty of deodar and pine forests, making it a serene and scenic destination for nature enthusiasts and spiritual seekers.

Festivals

A large fair, known as Kasar Devi Fair, is held at the Kasar Devi temple on the occasion of Kartik Poornima in the calendar, corresponding to November and December.