Shri Panchayati Bada Udasin Akhara, Kankhal
Haridwar, Uttarakhand · temple
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
Shri Panchayati Bada Udasin Akhara is one of the principal monastic seats of the Udasi sampradaya, a Sanatan ascetic order that reveres Jagadguru Shri Chandra (Baba Sri Chand) — venerated by devotees as an incarnation of Lord Shiva and honoured as the founder of the Udasi tradition of renunciant sadhus. The akhara's Kankhal establishment sits in the old pilgrimage quarter of Haridwar, close to the ancient Daksheswar Mahadev (Daksh) temple, and functions both as a living monastery for Udasi mahants and sadhus and as a cluster of shrines, courtyards and dharamshalas open to visiting pilgrims. "Bada" (great/senior) and "panchayati" (governed by an elected council of mahants) distinguish this historic body from the later Naya (new) Udasin Akhara that also has a seat in Kankhal.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Simple satvik bhojanalayas around Daksh Mandir, Kankhal - pure-vegetarian thalis, kachori-sabzi and prasad sweets, often cooked without onion or garlic; quality varies, so pick a busy, freshly-cooked counter.
- ✦Hoshiyar Puri (Upper Road, near Bara Bazaar, Haridwar) - a long-running pure-vegetarian institution famed for no-onion-no-garlic aloo-puri; about 5 km away, best in the morning (please verify current timings).
- ✦Mathura Walon Ki Pracheen Dukan (Bara Bazaar, Haridwar) - pure-vegetarian sweets and namkeen, a heritage counter for pilgrims; roughly 5 km from Kankhal.
- ✦Mohan Ji Puri Wale / local pure-veg dhabas on the Kankhal-Jwalapur road - simple vegetarian meals; confirm freshness and hours locally.
About
Shri Panchayati Bada Udasin Akhara is one of the principal monastic seats of the Udasi sampradaya, a Sanatan ascetic order that reveres Jagadguru Shri Chandra (Baba Sri Chand) — venerated by devotees as an incarnation of Lord Shiva and honoured as the founder of the Udasi tradition of renunciant sadhus.
- The akhara's Kankhal establishment sits in the old pilgrimage quarter of Haridwar, close to the ancient Daksheswar Mahadev (Daksh) temple, and functions both as a living monastery for Udasi mahants and sadhus and as a cluster of shrines, courtyards and dharamshalas open to visiting pilgrims.
- "Bada" (great/senior) and "panchayati" (governed by an elected council of mahants) distinguish this historic body from the later Naya (new) Udasin Akhara that also has a seat in Kankhal.
- The Udasi order traces its spiritual lineage to Baba Sri Chand, and Udasi practice blends the ascetic ideals of renunciation with the murti (image) worship of Sri Chand alongside Shaiva and broader Sanatan devotion.
- Within the akhara complex devotees find shrines, a samadhi hall, and images installed for daily worship, with the rhythm of aarti, bhajan and scripture recitation structuring monastic life.
- The akhara is one of the recognised ascetic bodies that participates in the great bathing processions of the Haridwar Kumbh and Ardh Kumbh Melas, when its mahants and sadhus join the Ganga snan (holy bath) in ceremonial order — one of the most striking sights of the pilgrimage calendar.
- Kankhal itself is among the most sacred zones of Haridwar, steeped in the Puranic legend of Daksha's yajna and Sati, and over the nineteenth and twentieth centuries it grew into a dense concentration of akharas, ashrams and havelis endowed by princely patrons.
- A quiet, contemplative counterpoint to the crowds of Har-ki-Pauri, the Bada Udasin Akhara rewards the traveller who is interested in India's living monastic traditions rather than a marquee monument.
- Haridwar is a strictly vegetarian and alcohol-free holy city, and Kankhal is no exception: the lanes around the akhara and the neighbouring Daksh Mandir are lined with simple satvik bhojanalayas serving pure-vegetarian thalis, kachori-sabzi, and prasad-style sweets, many of them cooked without onion or garlic in keeping with ashram custom.
- Visitors should dress modestly, remove footwear before entering shrines, seek permission before photographing sadhus or the sanctum, and move quietly out of respect for the resident renunciants at prayer.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Bada Udasin Akhara, near Daksh Mandir, Kankhal, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, 249408
How to Reach: In Kankhal, near the Daksheswar Mahadev (Daksh) temple, about 4-5 km south of Har-ki-Pauri. From Haridwar Junction railway station an auto-rickshaw or e-rickshaw costs roughly 60-100 rupees (15-20 minutes); shared vikrams (tempos) run along the Jwalapur-Kankhal route. From Har-ki-Pauri, an auto costs about 80-120 rupees. There is no metro in Haridwar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Shri Panchayati Bada Udasin Akhara in Kankhal?
It is one of the principal monastic seats of the Udasi sampradaya, a Sanatan ascetic order of sadhus that reveres Jagadguru Shri Chandra (Baba Sri Chand), honoured as its founder and venerated by devotees as an incarnation of Lord Shiva. The Kankhal establishment is a living monastery with shrines, a samadhi hall and dharamshalas, and its mahants and sadhus take part in the Ganga bathing processions of the Haridwar Kumbh Mela.
Is there an entry fee for the Bada Udasin Akhara?
No, there is no entry fee. As an active dharmic akhara and set of shrines it is open to respectful visitors free of charge. Some inner monastic areas may have restricted access, so ask before entering and observe quietly.
How do I reach the Bada Udasin Akhara in Kankhal?
It lies in Kankhal near the Daksheswar Mahadev (Daksh) temple, about 4-5 km south of Har-ki-Pauri. From Haridwar Junction railway station an auto or e-rickshaw costs roughly 60-100 rupees and takes 15-20 minutes; from Har-ki-Pauri it is about 80-120 rupees. Shared tempos also run the Jwalapur-Kankhal route. There is no metro in Haridwar.
What can I see at the akhara, and how should I behave there?
You can see the akhara's shrines with murtis installed for worship, a samadhi hall, courtyards and dharamshalas, and — if timed with a festival — Udasi sadhus in prayer or procession. It is a place of active renunciant life, so dress modestly, remove your footwear before entering shrines, keep your voice low, and seek permission before photographing sadhus or the sanctum. It pairs naturally with the neighbouring Daksh Mandir.
When is the best time to visit?
October to March offers the most comfortable weather. For atmosphere, Mahashivratri and the Kumbh or Ardh Kumbh Mela years are extraordinary, when Udasi mahants and sadhus join the ceremonial Ganga bath. Early mornings are calm and are ideal for combining the akhara with nearby Daksh Mandir and Sati Kund.
Where can I eat vegetarian food near the akhara in Kankhal?
Haridwar and Kankhal are strictly vegetarian and alcohol-free, so everything nearby is pure-veg. Simple satvik bhojanalayas around Daksh Mandir serve thalis and kachori-sabzi, frequently without onion or garlic. A little further into Haridwar, Hoshiyar Puri near Bara Bazaar is a famed pure-vegetarian no-onion-no-garlic puri house, and Mathura Walon Ki Pracheen Dukan is a heritage sweets-and-namkeen counter. Choose busy, freshly-cooked stalls and confirm timings locally.
Categories