Sree Daksheswar Mahadev Temple – Kankhal

Sree Daksheswar Mahadev Temple is located in Kankhal town of Uttarakhand State.

Sree Daksheswar Mahadev is an incarnation of Lord Shiva.

This temple was built in the North Indian style of architecture.

This temple was built in the year 1810 and rebuilt in 1962.

As per mythology, King Daksha Prajapati was the son of Brahma and had a daughter Sati who married Lord Shiva. Once King Daksha organized a grand Yagya and all gods, sages, and saints were invited except his son-in-law, Lord Shiva. King Daksha insulted Lord Shiva in the presence of Sati feeling insulted for her husband goddess Sati jumped to the fire of Yagya. Lord Shiva then in anger sends one of his Ganas, Virbhadra, a great warrior to Kankhal. Virbhadra chopped off the head of King Daksha. After a long behest by all the Gods, Lord Shiva gave life to King Daksha and put the head of a male goat on him. King Daksha realized his mistakes and repented before Lord Shiva. Then Lord Shiva declared that during the holy month of Savan, he will reside in Kankhal. At the place of Yagya Kund, the Daksha Mahadev Temple was built.

This place is one of the five sacred places in Haridwar. At the center of the temple, devotees can see the holy Shiva idol installed in phallic form. Standing next to the main temple is the Das Mahavidya temple, dedicated to the Mahavidyas. It is a venue for devotees of Devi to congregate for special pujas during the Navratri celebrations. There is also a temple in the complex dedicated to River Ganga. Next to the temple is the Daksha Ghat on the Ganges River.

This temple witnesses a large number of devotees during the Maha Shivaratri festival.

Temple Timings 

6.00 am to 7.00 pm 

How to reach the Temple 

4 km from Haridwar Railway Station