A Journey to Ancient Sun Temple, Katarmal, Almora,(U.K.) India

 A Journey to Ancient Sun Temple, Katarmal, Almora,(U.K.) India

Introduction:

The Katarmal Sun Temple, also known as Katarmal Surya Mandir, is a historically  significant Hindu temple dedicated to the sun. Katarmal Surya Mandir is also called as Bara Aditya temple. It is believed to be more than 800 years old and is  of great historical importance.The temple is well known for its intricate sculptures. This Hindu Sun Temple is located at an elevation of 2,116 meters, above sea level and is at a distance of 19 km from Almora. A relatively rare Sun Temple is at Katarmal village, near kosi-Hawalbag was built by King Katarmall, a lesser known one of the  Katyuri rulers who were known for their love for Art and Architecture.

Historical Significance:

The Katarmal Sun Temple, Almora built in the 9th century located on the top of a hill.The temple complex , like at Jageshwar, is surrounded by smaller shrines, all built in the  same style.The Temple is built by Katarmalla and is dedicated to the incarnation of the Sun God, known as Burhadita or Virdhaditya. Another prominent feature of the temple is that it is surrounded by 44 smaller temples, which were built during different periods.

About Katarmal Village and Temple: 

Katarmal Sun Temple

Katarmal is a small village located in kumaon division, in Almora district, Uttarakhand, India.It is situated on a hillock. People have to climb a height of 2 km to reach the village from Kosi, a bus station. The heavy stones, carved in an intricate way might have carried on head, back or by the group of people on their shoulders as is done to carry a load in hills. It requires thousand of people to build the Sun Temple in 9th century. It is a rare temple in sculpture. It is said about the Katyuri soldiers as well as the artisans, that they complete the work overnight.  Now, it is linked to road for last 10 years and easy to approach to day. 

The Katarmal Sun Temple has an unbelievable view of the valley as well as the kosi river, amidst the serene and picturesque kosi valley. One has to trek almost  3 km, crossing hawalbag- matela from Kosi bus station. It is the old traditional route to Surya Mandir Katarmal. But now, pilgrims prefer to reach the temple by road which is an easy approach to temple.The condition of the road up to kosi is well-maintained but the single lane road from kosi to Sun temple is not in good condition.

How to Reach from Delhi or other Cities

Reaching the Sun Temple from Delhi and other cities involves a combination of air, train, and road travel, depending on your preferences. Here's a step by step guide on how to get there particularly from Delhi. This guide should help you plan your trip efficiently, whether you are travelling from within India or abroad.

1- By Air

• Nearest Airport:  The nearest airport to Sun Temple is Pantnagar Airport which is about 160 km away.
• From Delhi: You can take direct flight from Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi to Pantnagar. The flight duration is approximately 1.30 hours.
• From Pantnagar toAlmora: From Pantnagar Airport, you can hire a taxi or take a bus  to reach Almora, which is about 5 hours drive.
•  From Almora, the Sun Temple is around 19 km away , you can easily approach  it by taxi or local transport.
  

2- By Train:

• Nearest Railway Station: The major nearest railway is Kathgodam Railway Station, about 115 km from the temple.
• From Delhi: There are several trains from New Delhi Railway Station to Kathgodam, such as Shatabdi Express, Ranikhet Express, Sampark Kranti Express. The journey takes about 6-7 hours up to Kathgodam. 
• From Kathgodam to Almora: From Kathgodam you can hire a taxi or take a bus to Almora, which is about a 4 hours drive. From Almora easily you can approach to Katarmal, hiring a taxi or local transport which is a short 40-50 minutes drive away.

3- By Road

• Direct Road Trip: You can also reach Kosi by road directly from Delhi. The drive usually takes 9-10 hours, depending on traffic and road condition. The distance from Delhi to Kosi is about 420 km.But you have to approach the Katarmal Sun Temple by local taxi.
• By Bus and Taxi: Uttarakhand transport Buses are available from Anand Vihar, to Haldwani and Almora. You can also hire a taxi directly to the Sun Temple Katarmal. The buses take 11- 12 hours to reach Almora.

How to reach Katarmal Sun temple from Almora:

The Sun Temple of Katarmal, Almora

• Start your journey from Almora town. Move towards the Kosi on the Almora- Bageshwar State High Way.
• Continue journey 12 km via syalidhar, central school, Manaskhand Science centre and Matela village and you reach Kosi.
• From Kosi, head towards Ranikhet road by 3 km and you will find an arrow and sign board indicating way to the Sun Temple Katarmal.turning to left a 5 km drive you will be near the temple site.
• The road will start ascending as you approach Katarmal village. Continue driving for about 7-8 km from kosi.
• After a short drive uphill, you reach katarmal village, where the Sun Temple is located. There is a parking area near the village, and from there, you may need to w
• alk a short distance about 300 meters uphill to reach the temple complex.

Travel Tips:

• Road Condition:The road from Almora to Kosi is in good condition, but the the final patch of the road to Katarmal village is narrower and slightly rough, so drive carefully.
• Best Time to Visit: The temple can be visited throughout the year, but the best time is during the summer and autumn months when the weather is pleasant.
• You can also visit the nearby picnic spots, tourist places, and temples within a short period. these are Kasar Devi, Chitai, Jageshwar, Ranikhet, Kausani and Baijnath. All the spots are in the the circle of 50-60 km.
• This scenic route offers beautiful views of the Himalayas and the surrounding hills and the kumaon region's natural beauty. 

Conclusion:

The groups of the Sun Temple, Katarmal

The Katarmal Sun Temple is a lesser-known gem in India's vast array of ancient temples and provides a unique insight into the architectural and religious history of the region.The temple has faced deterioration over the years due to its age and exposure to natural elements. However, efforts have been made to preserve this heritage site Now the temple site is under Archaeological Survey of India. Katarmal Sun Temple is a marvel of  architecture that holds immense religious and spiritual significance for devotees and visitors alike. Katarmal Sun Temple, is more than eight centuries old which makes it one of the oldest Sun temples in India.