Jageshwar
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Jageshwar is a pilgrimage town in Almora district in Uttarakhand. It is known for its temples that are dedicated to Lord Shiva.
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 Jageshwar is a temple city that consists of a cluster of 124 large and small stone temples. These temples date between 9th and13th century AD. The temples include Dandeshwar Temple, Chandi-ka-Temple, Jageshwar Temple, Kuber Temple, Mritunjaya Temple, Nanda Devi or Nau Durga, Nava-grah temple, a Pyramidal shrine, and Surya Temple. Jageshwar is located at an altitude of 1870 mts, in the Jataganga river valley near a Deodar forest.
Jageshwar is believed to be the site of first of the twelve Jyotirlingas, Nageshvara Jyotirlinga. 'Jageshwar Monsoon Festival' is held between 15 July and 15 August during the Hindu calendar month of Shravan. The annual 'Maha Shivratri Mela' or Shivratri festival takes place during spring. Various evidences show that these temples belong to the post-Gupta and pre-medieval eras and are estimated to be about 2500 yrs old. These temples date back to the period between the 8th century (early Katyuri Dynasty) and the 18th century (Chand Dynasty). They were renovated during the reign of Katyuri King Shalivahandev. Several Jageshwar temples were constructed or restored during the Gurjara Pratihara period.
It is believed that Adi Shankaracharya visited Jageshwar and renovated and re-established many temples. Most of the temples have a stone lingam, surrounded by stone sculptures of various deities. The pilgrimage to Jageshwar is considered as sacred as the famous chardham yatra.
There are more than 25 inscriptions of different periods are inscribed on the walls and pillars of these temples. Most of them belong to the period between the 7th century AD and 10th century AD. These inscriptions are either in Sanskrit and Brahmi. Other Places to visit include the river that flows through the town, Jata Ganga, Airavat cave, Brahma Kund, Sri Kuber Temple, Batuk Bhairav Temple, Golu Devata temple and Patal Bhuvaneshwar Caves.
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