Nanda Devi Temple

According to historical records, the temple's history dates back over 1000 years. Evidence of the worship of Goddess Nanda can be found in ancient scriptures, Upanishads, and Puranas. Around 1617, it is said that King Baz Bahadur of the Chand dynasty brought the golden idol of Goddess Nanda Devi to Almora after winning the Badhangarh Fort. He installed the idol in the Mall Mahal (Old Collectorate) premises and began worshipping her as the family deity. In 1815, a fierce conflict erupted between the British and the Gurkhas, during which the temple, along with the buildings of Mall Mahal, was damaged. The locals are said to have made numerous pleas to the British to build a new temple for Goddess Nanda, explaining it as her divine will. During a sudden visit, Commissioner Trail Sahib lost his eyesight. Advisers attributed it to the goddess's wrath and suggested he build a new temple. Following this, a new temple for Goddess Nanda Devi was constructed at the present location, along with a Shiva temple, and the idol from Mall Mahal was shifted here. It is said that after the

It is believed that Goddess Nanda Devi appears to her devotees in dreams and fulfils their wishes. The worship of Goddess Nanda Devi is conducted with tantric rituals, considering her as the embodiment of Tara Shakti. It is believed that Goddess Nanda Devi takes away all the sufferings of her devotees and protects them.