Chandrabadni Temple: Shri Yantra, Route and Timings

Facts checked November 2026.

Chandrabadni is one of the three Devi shrines of Tehri district, and the least known of them outside Garhwal. It sits on a hilltop within driving distance of Devprayag, and its worship, a carved yantra in place of an idol, sets it apart from most Devi temples in Uttarakhand. This guide explains the belief, the route, the timings and how it fits with Surkanda and Kunjapuri.

This page is part of our 51 Shakti Peeth List guide. Planning the yatra? See our Shakti Peeth yatra packages.

Where is Chandrabadni temple and why is it a Siddh Peeth?

The temple stands on a hilltop that old texts and local people call Chandrakoot (also written Chandrakut). Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN), the state tourism corporation, places it in Tehri Garhwal on the border of Devprayag and Pratapnagar tehsils, roughly 10 km north of Kandikhal. One small point if you read the GMVN page yourself: its description says Tehri Garhwal, while its information box lists Pauri Garhwal. The Tehri district administration and a Tribune report both place the temple in Tehri district.

The Tehri district administration counts Chandrabadni among the Shakti Peethas of the district, together with Surkanda Devi and Kunjapuri. Pilgrims call it a Siddh Peeth, a place where prayers are believed to be answered. The story most devotees know is the one shared by many Devi temples of the Himalaya: when Lord Shiva wandered with the body of Mata Sati after the yagna of Daksha, parts of her body fell across the land. At Chandrabadni, it is believed that her torso (badan) fell, and the name is understood to come from this. Some accounts add that her weapons scattered over the hill, and old tridents and figures are found around the temple. For how Chandrabadni fits into the wider list of Shakti Peeths, see our Shakti Peeth yatra guide.

Why is there no idol at Chandrabadni, only a Shri Yantra?

This is the question most first-time visitors ask. The sanctum does not hold a murti of the Devi. Instead, a Shri Yantra carved on a flat stone is worshipped as the Devi herself. Several accounts describe a strict tradition around it: a cloth canopy is tied over the yantra once a year, and the priest performs this worship with his eyes covered.

Smaller shrines inside the complex hold figures of other deities, and the main act of devotion for most families is simple: a chunri, coconut, fruit and incense offered at the sanctum, a prayer, and a quiet sit on the hilltop. Local customs inside the sanctum can change, so follow what the temple priest asks on the day.

How high is Chandrabadni temple?

There is no single official height. The Tehri district website lists heights for Surkanda and Kunjapuri, but it has no Chandrabadni page on its tourist-places list today. GMVN gives two figures on the same page: 2,277 m in its information table and 2,253 m in its description. Most travel guides repeat 2,277 m. So the honest answer is: about 2,253 to 2,277 m above sea level, with 2,277 m the more common figure. Either way it is a cold hilltop for much of the year, so carry warm layers even in spring.

How to reach Chandrabadni temple from Devprayag, Srinagar and Rishikesh?

Chandrabadni is a road-plus-short-walk darshan. There is no ropeway. GMVN gives these road distances to the temple area:

Other guides give different numbers (for example 22 km from Devprayag to the temple, or about 25 km by road to Jamnikhal, and 122 km from the airport). Sources differ; confirm locally with your driver. GMVN notes that taxis can be hired at Devprayag and Srinagar.

Jamnikhal, Kandikhal and the walk: what to expect

You will see three place names in different guides. Jamnikhal is a small hamlet on the older approach route, GMVN places the temple about 10 km north of Kandikhal, and the taxi stand is where vehicles stop. GMVN describes the walk from the taxi stand to the temple as about 1 km. Older accounts describe driving to Jamnikhal and then walking about 7 km plus a final 1 km climb. Sources differ; confirm locally. Plan for an uphill walk and allow extra time for elders to rest.

On a clear day, travel guides describe wide views from the hilltop across the Garhwal ranges, including the Surkanda ridge and the snow peaks towards Kedarnath and Badrinath.

What are the Chandrabadni temple timings?

No official timetable is published online. One temple information site lists 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM; GMVN and the district website give no hours. Sources differ; confirm locally before you leave Devprayag. In practice, aim to reach by late morning so you can walk up, do darshan and drive down before dark. Hill roads in this area are narrow and unlit.

What is the best time to visit Chandrabadni, including winter?

GMVN recommends March to May and October to November. Here is what each season means for a family yatra:

• March to May: clear days and pleasant walking. Chaitra Navratri usually falls in this window and brings the biggest crowds.
• June to September: monsoon rain makes hill roads around Devprayag prone to landslides. Avoid if you can, or keep a buffer day.
• October to November: clear skies after the rains and good mountain views. Mornings and evenings turn cold.
• December to February: the temple is generally described as open year-round, but the hilltop is very cold. Ask locally whether frost or snow is on the path, go on a clear day after the sun is up, and carry heavy woollens.

When is the Chandrabadni mela?

The temple’s big annual fair is linked to Navratri. Several guides call it the April fair; a Tribune report from 2015 describes the Chandrabadni Devi fair beginning at the start of Navratri that year (report dated 21 March 2015) and running until 28 March. Because Chaitra Navratri moves between March and April each year, check the year’s Navratri date and confirm the mela dates with the temple committee or local administration before you plan around it.

What is the Tehri Devi triangle of Chandrabadni, Surkanda and Kunjapuri?

The Tehri district website says that Kunjapuri, Surkanda Devi and Chandrabadni together form a holy triangle of Shakti Peethas in the district. Many families from Garhwal try to take darshan at all three over a few days. They are far apart, so they are best seen as three separate darshans, not one day’s circuit. The district’s Surkanda page lists Chandrabadni among the views from Surkanda’s summit.

Kunjapuri is the easiest to add to a Rishikesh stay. Surkanda is reached via the Mussoorie–Chamba road. Chandrabadni is the deepest inside the hills and pairs most naturally with Devprayag. Our Surkanda and Kunjapuri guides cover their timings, walks and seasons in detail.

What can you visit near Chandrabadni?

Devprayag is the natural partner. Here the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda meet to form the Ganga, and the Raghunath ji temple stands above the sangam. Many families do Chandrabadni darshan in the morning and sit at the Devprayag sangam in the evening. Our Panch Prayag guide explains Devprayag and the four other confluences on the way to Badrinath.

If you come up from the Srinagar side via Hisriyakhal, you can also combine the darshan with Dhari Devi temple on the Alaknanda near Srinagar, another Devi shrine deeply loved in Garhwal. New Tehri and the Tehri lake are also within a day’s drive, but check road conditions locally.

Practical tips for Chandrabadni darshan

• Fill fuel and carry water and light snacks from Devprayag or Srinagar; shops near the temple are few.
• Wear shoes with grip for the final climb. Elders should walk slowly and rest often; the air is thinner than in the plains.
• Carry a warm jacket in every season, and a raincoat from June to September.
• Mobile signal can be weak on the ridge. Tell someone your plan before you set off.
• Stay overnight at Devprayag, Srinagar or New Tehri rather than driving these roads after dark.

How Yatra To Temples can help

Our Haridwar Rishikesh Ganga Darshan Yatra covers Haridwar and Rishikesh darshan with a private AC vehicle and pure vegetarian breakfast and dinner at the hotels, and Kunjapuri can be added on Day 3 at extra cost if your departure time allows. Chandrabadni is not part of that itinerary. If you want to add Chandrabadni and Devprayag, or plan the full Tehri Devi triangle, ask us and our yatra team will plan it end to end around your family’s pace. Call +91 78178 98687, write to shiva@yatratotemples.in, or use our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Is Chandrabadni a Shakti Peeth?

The Tehri district administration lists Chandrabadni as one of the Shakti Peethas of Tehri district, along with Surkanda Devi and Kunjapuri. Devotees believe the torso of Mata Sati fell here. It is also widely called a Siddh Peeth.

Which deity is worshipped at Chandrabadni temple?

The temple is dedicated to the Devi as Mata Sati. There is no idol in the sanctum; a Shri Yantra carved on a flat stone is worshipped in her place.

How far is Chandrabadni from Devprayag?

GMVN gives 33 km via Hindolakhal. Other guides give figures as low as 22 km, so sources differ; confirm locally. The drive is on narrow hill roads, so allow extra time.

How much do we have to walk to reach Chandrabadni temple?

GMVN describes about 1 km on foot from the taxi stand. Older accounts mention a much longer trek of about 7 km plus 1 km from Jamnikhal. Sources differ; confirm locally before you go.

Can we visit Chandrabadni in winter?

The temple is generally described as open year-round. In December to February the hilltop is very cold; ask locally about frost on the path, go on a clear day, start after the sun is up and carry heavy woollens.

Can Chandrabadni, Surkanda and Kunjapuri be done in one day?

It is not practical for most families. The three shrines are in different parts of Tehri district, so plan them as separate darshans over two or three days, with Chandrabadni paired with Devprayag.

What are the timings of Chandrabadni temple?

No official timetable is published. One temple information site lists 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM; sources differ; confirm locally. Reach by late morning so you can return before dark.

Where should we stay for Chandrabadni darshan?

Devprayag, Srinagar and New Tehri are the usual bases. GMVN runs a tourist complex at Srinagar, and Devprayag keeps you closest to the temple and the sangam.