Dhari Devi Temple Guide: Srinagar Garhwal, Badrinath Road

Updated for the 2027 yatra season (facts checked November 2026).

For Garhwali families, Dhari Devi is the mother who guards the valley, and the road to Badrinath and Kedarnath runs right past her. Her temple rises on a platform above the Alaknanda, and it became widely known in 2013 when her murti was moved shortly before the floods. This guide explains who she is, what happened, and how to fit her darshan into your yatra.

This page is part of our Char Dham Yatra Places and Route Map guide. Planning the yatra? See our Char Dham yatra packages.

Where is Dhari Devi temple?

The temple is near Kalyasaur village in Pauri Garhwal district, on the bank of the Alaknanda. The Pauri district administration places it about 15 km from Srinagar (Garhwal), beside the national highway that goes on to Rudraprayag and Badrinath. The temple takes its name from the nearby village of Dhari (also written Dharo).

• From Srinagar (Garhwal): about 14–15 km, towards Rudraprayag.
• From Rishikesh: roughly 120 km by road via Devprayag and Srinagar.
• Nearest airport: Jolly Grant (Dehradun), the usual airport for the Garhwal hills.
• From the highway: a paved footpath of about 1 km leads down to the temple and the bridge across to the shrine.

Because it lies on the main Char Dham road, you do not need a separate journey. A short halt on the way up or down is usually enough for darshan, though crowds decide how long it takes.

Who is Dhari Devi?

Dhari Devi is worshipped as a form of Maa Kali, and in local belief she protects the hills and the four dhams of Uttarakhand. That is why many yatris stop here first and ask her blessing for a safe yatra.

Several beliefs make this temple special:

• Only the upper half of the murti is here. The lower half is worshipped at Kalimath, near Guptkashi in Rudraprayag district, where the Devi is revered as Kali.
• The murti is said to change its appearance. Devotees believe she looks like a young girl in the morning, a woman in the afternoon and an old woman in the evening.
• The story of the flood. The Pauri district site records the legend that a flood once swept away a temple, and the murti came to rest against a rock near Dhari village. Villagers heard the Devi’s voice telling them to install her at that very spot.
• Shakti tradition. Some devotees and writers count Dhari Devi among the 108 Shakti sthals mentioned in the Devi Bhagavata tradition. This is a belief, and she is not among the 51 Shakti Peeths of the usual list.

Local priests perform the daily worship, and local accounts say Adi Shankaracharya also worshipped the Devi here.

What happened to Dhari Devi temple in 2013?

The original shrine stood on a rock close to the river. When the Alaknanda hydroelectric project near Srinagar was built, the water level behind the dam was due to rise over the old site, and the plan was to raise the temple on a high platform at the same place.

On 16 June 2013 the murti was shifted from the original sanctum to a temporary structure. That same night, the cloudburst and floods of June 2013 struck the Kedarnath valley and much of Uttarakhand. Many local people and devotees believe the disaster was linked to the Devi being moved. Scientists explain the floods by extreme rain and glacial lake bursts. We record both, and leave the belief to each family.

A new temple was then built on a raised concrete platform above the original site, connected by a bridge, and the murti was later reinstalled there. When you visit today, this is the temple you see, standing above the river.

How do you reach Dhari Devi mandir?

Coming from Haridwar or Rishikesh, follow the Badrinath road through Devprayag and Srinagar. After Srinagar, the temple comes beside the Alaknanda, before Rudraprayag. Vehicles stop at the roadside parking, and you walk down the paved path. Coming down from Badrinath or Kedarnath, it comes after Rudraprayag and before Srinagar.

Shared jeeps and buses on the Srinagar–Rudraprayag stretch can drop you at the stop, but a private vehicle makes it much easier for families and elders, since you can stop at your own time.

What should you know before darshan?

• The walk: the path down is easy, but the return is uphill. Elders should take it slowly and rest on the way.
• Timings: darshan runs from early morning to evening. Timings can change on festival days, so confirm locally if you are arriving late.
• Navratri: both Chaitra and Sharad Navratri bring large crowds and special puja. Expect queues and a slower halt.
• Offerings: keep your offering simple, such as flowers, chunri or prasad, and follow the priests’ guidance inside.
• Monsoon: heavy rain can affect the highway and the river level. Follow police and temple instructions on the day.

Can you combine Dhari Devi with the Char Dham yatra?

Yes, very easily. The temple sits on the stretch between Srinagar and Rudraprayag, which every road yatri to Kedarnath or Badrinath uses. Our Char Dham route map guide shows where Srinagar and Rudraprayag fall on the full route. Families who stay overnight at Srinagar or Rudraprayag often visit Dhari Devi early in the morning before the road gets busy.

Nearby, Devprayag and Rudraprayag, two of the Panch Prayag, lie on the same road, and Kalimath, which holds the lower half of the Devi’s murti, can be added from Guptkashi on a Kedarnath yatra.

How Yatra To Temples can help

Our road Char Dham Yatra starts and ends at Haridwar and runs along this road, and so does our Do Dham Yatra to Kedarnath and Badrinath. Neither itinerary lists a Dhari Devi halt as standard. If you would like darshan here, ask us when you enquire and our team will tell you whether a halt can fit your day, depending on road conditions and timings. Both packages include a private vehicle with driver, hotel stays and phone support through the yatra. Reach us through the enquiry form or by call/WhatsApp (numbers on our Contact page). Official notes on the temple are on the Pauri Garhwal district website.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Dhari Devi temple located?

Dhari Devi temple is near Kalyasaur in Pauri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand, on the bank of the Alaknanda river. It is about 15 km from Srinagar (Garhwal) on the highway towards Rudraprayag and Badrinath, and roughly 120 km by road from Rishikesh.

Why is Dhari Devi called the guardian of the Char Dham?

In local belief, Dhari Devi, a form of Maa Kali, protects the hills of Uttarakhand and the four dhams. Her temple stands on the main road to Kedarnath and Badrinath, so many yatris take her blessing for a safe yatra on the way up and offer thanks on the way back.

Is it true that the Dhari Devi murti changes form?

Devotees believe the murti appears as a young girl in the morning, a woman in the afternoon and an old woman in the evening. This belief is mentioned by the Pauri district administration and widely shared by local priests and families. It is a matter of faith and personal experience.

Was Dhari Devi temple moved before the 2013 Kedarnath floods?

Yes. On 16 June 2013 the murti was shifted from its original place for the Alaknanda hydro project, and the floods struck that night. Many devotees link the two events. A new raised temple was later built above the original site, and the murti was reinstalled there.

Where is the lower half of the Dhari Devi murti?

Only the upper half of the murti is at Dhari Devi. The lower half is worshipped at Kalimath, near Guptkashi in Rudraprayag district, where the Devi is revered as Maa Kali. Yatris on the Kedarnath route can visit Kalimath as a short detour from Guptkashi.

How much time do you need for Dhari Devi darshan?

There is no fixed time. You walk about 1 km each way between the highway and the temple, so the halt depends mostly on your pace and the queue. During Navratri and peak yatra weeks queues are longer, so an early morning stop is best if you are travelling with elders.