Bagnath Temple

Bagnath Temple stands in Bageshwar where the Gomati and Sarayu rivers meet. Its name, meaning the Tiger Lord, recalls the legend that Shiva became a tiger in order to show himself to Sage Markandeya, and the town of Bageshwar is also named after this event.

The temple's origins go back to the seventh century, and its Nagara-style structure was reworked in 1450 by Laxmi Chand of the Chand dynasty. It holds statues from the 7th to 16th centuries, while the sanctum contains inscriptions and idols of Shiva, Ganesha, Vishnu and other deities from the seventh to tenth centuries. Shivratri brings huge numbers of devotees, and the Uttarayani fair is held here at Makar Sankranti.