Daksha Prajapati Mandir Kankhal, Haridwar in Uttarakhand

At a distance of 6 km from Haridwar, the Daksha Prajapati Mandir is also popular as the Daksha Mahadev Temple. Nested in the town of Kankhal, the temple has the privilege of being one of the ‘most ancient’ in Haridwar. The temple is said to have been erected by the ‘Queen Dhankaur’ back in 1810 AD. The Daksha Temple carries more significance as it occupies a place in the list of 5 sacred sites in the town of Haridwar in Uttarakhand.
The journey of Haridwar-Kankhal is quite a scenic one. While driving, you can soak up heart-stirring views of the surrounding areas and the majestic Himalayan landscape. Moreover, you can pay a visit to ‘Veera bhadreshwara’ in route to Kankhal. The temple was built in the dedication of ‘King Daksha Prajapati’ (who was the father of Sati).

Attraction

The Daksha Mahadev temple is popular among Hindu devotees as it’s associated with an interesting legend. Hindus believe that it is the place where King Daksha had performed that famous yagna. Consequently, it is here that Sati burnt herself. So, the Daksha Mahadev temple is a gentle reminder of this interesting legend. Therefore, it is regarded in high esteem by Hindus. Many devotees as well as visitors come here to pay a visit to the deity. In Haridwar, Daksha Prajapati Temple is a must visit. You should never miss visiting the Daksha Temple as it occupies a significant place in Hindu mythology. The blessing of deity is believed to ease your earthly sufferings. That is why, the temple ends up gathering a lot of people. This temple witnesses a large number of devotees during the Maha Shivaratri festival.

History

This temple is named after ‘King Daksh Prajapati’ (the father of Lord Shiva’s wife Goddess Sati). Legend has it that once the king hosted a holy yajna which is a fire ritual at this site. But as he did not invite Lord Shiva, Goddess Sati felt too insulted and immolated herself in his yajna. Out of devastating anger, the ganas (Lord Shiva’s followers) got King Daksh killed. Lord Shiva then brought him back to life but put the head of a male goat on him. Later the king realized his mistake and repented before the lord. The Lord declared that during the month of Sawan (which is in June-August), he would live in Kankhal. The ‘Sati Kund’ is located on the banks of River Ganga and is also considered a sacred one. It has mentioned the epic Mahabharata as well. However, the temple was erected by the ‘Queen Dhankaur’ back in 1810 AD.

Inside/Outside Views

The temple simply represents the Nagara style of architecture. It also has a single spire situated at the center of the temple along with small domes all around. This place is one of the five most sacred places in Haridwar. At the center, the devotees can see the holy Shiva idol installed in iconic ‘phallic’ form. Standing next to the main temple is the ‘Das Mahavidya temple which is dedicated to the ‘Mahavidyas’. It is a venue for the devotees of Devi to congregate for special pujas during the ‘Navratri’ celebrations. There is also another temple in the complex which is dedicated to River Ganga. Next to the temple is the ‘Daksha Ghat’ on the Ganges River. This temple and all the mentioned places witness a large number of devotees on the ‘Maha Shivaratri‘ festival.

Opening Hours

Saturday 10:30 AM–10:30 PM

Sunday 10:30 AM–10:30 PM

Monday 10:30 AM–10:30 PM

Tuesday 10:30 AM–10:30 PM

Wednesday 10:30 AM–10:30 PM

Thursday 10:30 AM–10:30 PM

Friday 10:30 AM–10:30 PM

How to Reach

By road: It is situated in the Haridwar ‘Kankhal’ area. From the busy area of Haridwar, Daksha Prajapati Mandir is only 8 km away. Haridwar is well connected with other major cities like Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai etc. of the country. And from Haridwar city, you will get local transport to reach the site.

By air: The closest airport, ‘Jolly Grant Airport’, is only 41 kilometers away from this area which is in Dehradun. you can visit this place from India and abroad. Apart from that, there are airports in Delhi or Lucknow to reach Dehradun by flight. From the airport, you can easily get local transport to reach the site.

By train: The closest railway station from the Daksha Prajapati Mandir is merely 4 km away at the ‘Haridwar railway station’. This station is well connected with major areas of the country. From the station, you will get local transport so that you can reach the site.

Tips for Travellers

Please put off your shoes before entering the temple.

Please wear suitable clothes according to both culture and seasons.
Don’t forget to follow the code of conduct.
You are visiting Haridwar for the first time, try to visit in a group for safety purposes.
Please avoid monsoons as it rains heavily in Uttarakhand and might cause landslides as well as flash floods.

FAQ