Kunjapuri Temple: Sunrise, Steps, Timings and Route

Facts checked November 2026.

Kunjapuri is one of the nearest Himalayan sunrise viewpoints to Rishikesh, and many families make it their first Devi darshan in Garhwal. It is also one corner of the Siddh Peeth triangle of Tehri, with Surkanda Devi and Chandrabadni. This guide covers the steps, the drive, the legend, the right season and what to carry for a cold dawn.

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

Where is Kunjapuri temple and why is it famous?

The temple sits on the Kunjapuri hilltop above Narendra Nagar, in Tehri Garhwal district. The road to it leaves the Rishikesh–Chamba road beyond Narendra Nagar; one guide places the temple at Adali, on the Hindolakhal road. The Tehri district website gives the height as about 1,676 metres, and the same figure appears in a THDC India CSR report on the temple stairs.

Two things bring people here. First, it is a Siddh Peeth of the Goddess, a place where devotees come to pray for their wishes. Second, the hilltop looks out over the Garhwal Himalaya, so on a clear morning the snow peaks catch the first light. The district site says you can also see down over Rishikesh, Haridwar and the Doon valley.

Inside the sanctum there is no carved idol of the Goddess. She is worshipped in the form of a sacred stone, and a lamp is kept burning. Smaller shrines in the complex are dedicated to Bhairav, Mahakali, Lord Shiva and Narhari Bhagwan.

How many steps are there to Kunjapuri temple?

Sources do not agree, so here is what we found. The THDC India CSR report, written after the company worked on the temple stairs, says pilgrims climb “around 80 steep steps” from the main road, and two travel sites also say 80. Several other guides say about 300, and one gives 312. The difference may come from where people start counting (the lower parking area or the final stretch of road), so ask your driver to drop you as close as permitted and expect anywhere from a short to a moderate climb.

Either way, the climb is steep, and in the dark before sunrise it can feel longer. Elderly pilgrims should take it slowly, rest on the landings and use the handrail. We could not confirm any palki service.

What are the Kunjapuri temple timings?

No temple-trust page with official hours was available when we checked. Published guides agree the temple opens at about 6 am, but differ on closing: one says 6 pm, another 8 pm. The safe plan is to treat it as a dawn-to-dusk temple and confirm the evening time locally if you plan a sunset visit.

For sunrise, check a sunrise app for Narendra Nagar the night before, since the time shifts by more than an hour between summer and winter. Guides put the drive from Rishikesh at about 50 minutes to an hour, so leave with enough time for the drive, the steps and a few quiet minutes at the top before first light.

How far is Kunjapuri from Rishikesh, Haridwar and the airport?

All road routes meet at Rishikesh and then climb the Chamba road through Narendra Nagar, where a side road turns up to the temple. The last stretch is narrow with tight bends, so a local driver who knows it is worth having, especially in the dark.

From Dehradun city the road also runs via Rishikesh; we did not find a reliable published distance, so ask your driver for the current route and time.

By public transport: We could not confirm any bus that runs to the temple road head in time for sunrise. For a dawn visit, book a taxi from Rishikesh the evening before.

On foot: The district site describes a forest path of about 5 km from Hindolakhal village. Some trekkers also walk up from the Tapovan side of Rishikesh; guides give anything from 5 to 12 km for that route, so do it only in daylight with someone who knows the path.

Is there a ropeway to Kunjapuri temple?

Not yet. On 29 May 2025, the Uttarakhand government and the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board signed an MoU with Bartholet, a Swiss ropeway maker, to develop a ropeway from Tapovan in Rishikesh to Kunjapuri under a public-private partnership. Reports at the time said the company would prepare the detailed project report; no opening date has been announced. Until it opens, you reach the temple by road and steps.

What is the story of Kunjapuri Devi?

Kunjapuri belongs to the Sati legend. Daksha Prajapati held a great yagya and did not invite Lord Shiva. Sati went anyway, and when her father insulted Shiva she gave up her body in the sacred fire. In grief Shiva carried her body across the Himalaya, and Lord Vishnu’s Sudarshan Chakra divided it so that the parts fell at many places, each becoming a seat of Shakti.

Which part fell at Kunjapuri? Sources differ, and we prefer to say so plainly. The THDC report and several guides say Sati’s chest (upper body) fell here, and this is the most common account. One guide says it was her hair, linking the name “Kunja” to it. The Tehri district site does not name a body part, but says the temple was established by Jagadguru Shankaracharya. For a wider view of these shrines, see our Shakti Peeth yatra guide.

Which Himalayan peaks can you see from Kunjapuri?

On a clear morning, both the Tehri district site and the THDC report name Swargarohini, Gangotri, Banderpunch and Chaukhamba among the snow peaks in view. These ranges rise above the Yamunotri, Gangotri and Badrinath regions, so for Char Dham pilgrims it is an early look at where the yatra is going. The district site also mentions views over the Bhagirathi valley. In haze or monsoon cloud the peaks may not show at all, which is why winter is the favourite season.

What is the Siddh Peeth triangle of Tehri?

Kunjapuri, Surkanda Devi and Chandrabadni are three important Devi temples of Tehri district, and the district site calls them a holy triangle. Many families try to have darshan at all three:

• Kunjapuri – above Narendra Nagar, the easiest to reach from Rishikesh.
• Surkanda Devi – above Kaddukhal on the Chamba–Mussoorie road. Read our Surkanda Devi temple guide.
• Chandrabadni – on a ridge deeper inside Tehri district, and the most remote of the three.

They lie in different directions, so covering all three takes careful road planning; ask us for a route that suits your family.

When are the Navratri fairs at Kunjapuri?

The two Navratris, Chaitra (March–April) and Sharadiya (September–October), are the busiest times, and the THDC report notes large celebrations at Dussehra too. Expect a longer queue on the steps, parking further down and slower traffic on the Narendra Nagar road. If you want a quiet darshan, go on a weekday outside the Navratri days.

What is the best time to visit Kunjapuri temple?

October to March gives the clearest views, and November to February is the favourite season for sunrise. December and January mornings are cold and windy at the top, much colder than Rishikesh. March to June is pleasant but often hazier. July to September brings monsoon cloud and the risk of landslides on hill roads, so check the weather and road updates before you set out.

What should you wear and carry for a winter sunrise visit?

• A proper warm jacket, woollen cap and gloves, even if Rishikesh feels mild. You will stand still in the wind waiting for the sun.
• Modest clothes, as at any Devi temple. Shoes are left outside the shrine, so warm socks help on cold stone.
• A torch or phone light for the steps before dawn.
• Water and a light snack, since shops near the road head may not be open in the early hours.
• Keep food out of sight. Monkeys are common around the stairs.
• Elderly pilgrims and anyone with heart or knee problems should climb slowly and carry their regular medicines.

Facilities at the top are basic. Most pilgrims stay in Rishikesh or Narendra Nagar and drive up in the morning.

What can you visit near Kunjapuri?

• Neelkanth Mahadev – across the Ganga from Rishikesh, a popular pairing on the same day. See our Neelkanth Mahadev temple guide.
• Rishikesh temples and ghats – Triveni Ghat aarti, Parmarth Niketan and more, covered in our temples in Rishikesh guide.
• Surkanda Devi – on the Chamba side, for the second corner of the triangle.
• Narendra Nagar – the former capital of the Tehri royal family, on the way up.

A practical day plan: Kunjapuri at sunrise, breakfast in Narendra Nagar or Rishikesh, Neelkanth Mahadev before noon, and the Ganga aarti at Triveni Ghat in the evening.

Related guides: Chandrabadni temple guide

How Yatra To Temples can help

Our Haridwar Rishikesh Ganga Darshan Yatra covers hotel stays in Haridwar and Rishikesh with vegetarian breakfast and dinner, a private AC vehicle and the listed temple visits. Kunjapuri is not in the fixed itinerary, but it can be added on Day 3 at extra cost if your departure time allows, so ask us when you enquire. For a Devi yatra covering Kunjapuri, Surkanda Devi and Chandrabadni, contact us and our yatra team plans it end to end, or browse our other Shakti Peeth yatras.

Frequently asked questions

Is Kunjapuri a Shakti Peeth?

The Tehri district site calls it a Shakti Peeth, and it is worshipped locally as a Siddh Peeth. Lists of Shakti Peeths vary from text to text, so you will see it described both ways.

Can I visit Kunjapuri and Neelkanth Mahadev on the same day?

Yes. Go to Kunjapuri for sunrise, come down to Rishikesh for breakfast, then drive to Neelkanth. Start early, because the Neelkanth road gets busy by late morning, especially on Mondays and in Sawan.

Is there an entry fee at Kunjapuri temple?

We did not find any official entry fee. Parking near the road head may be charged, so check the current rate at the spot.

Is the Kunjapuri climb safe for elderly parents?

The climb is steep, so go slowly with rests and use the handrail. Before sunrise in winter the steps can be cold and dark, so carry a torch and wear shoes with good grip.

Can I see snow at Kunjapuri?

On a clear day you see snow on the distant peaks. Snow at the temple itself depends on the winter, so ask locally before you go if that is what you hope for.

Is Kunjapuri open all year?

Yes, the temple is open through the year, unlike the high Char Dham shrines that close in winter. Monsoon road conditions are the main thing to check.

Can I trek to Kunjapuri from Rishikesh?

Yes, there are forest paths. The district site mentions about 5 km from Hindolakhal village, while guides give 5 to 12 km for the longer route from the Tapovan side. Go in daylight with a local who knows the way.

How long does the drive from Rishikesh take?

Guides put it at about 50 minutes to an hour each way. Add time for the steps, darshan and waiting for the sunrise.

Staying in Rishikesh for the Kunjapuri sunrise? See this local guide to the best things to do in Rishikesh.