Sidhbali Baba Dham, Kotdwar
Pauri, Uttarakhand · temple
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
Sidhbali Baba Dham is one of the most revered Hanuman shrines of the Garhwal foothills — a Siddha-peeth (a seat considered spiritually 'accomplished', from siddhi, attainment) perched on a wooded hillock roughly fifty metres above the Khoh river, about 3.4 km from the main market of Kotdwar, the plains-edge railhead and gateway town of Pauri Garhwal district. The presiding deity, worshipped here as Sidhbali Baba, is a form of Lord Hanuman, and the temple is closely woven into the Nath sampradaya (the ascetic Shaivite yogic order of Guru Gorakhnath). Devotees hold that the site was sanctified when Guru Gorakhnath performed penance in these hills and that Sidhbali — Hanuman in the guise of the perfected guardian — remains the protector of the place, which lends the dham its reputation as a granter of sincere wishes.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Sidhbali temple bhandara and langar – a simple, fully satvik community meal (no onion-garlic on many days), served free to pilgrims; the most reliably pure-vegetarian option on site.
- ✦Prasad, chai and snack stalls on the temple approach – pure-vegetarian pedas, laddoos and fried snacks catering to devotees; busiest on Tuesdays, Saturdays and fair days.
- ✦Pure-vegetarian sweet shops and bhojanalayas in Kotdwar main bazaar – dependable for thali meals, chole-bhature and mithai; Kotdwar is a mixed town, so confirm the kitchen is fully pure-veg before ordering.
- ✦Vegetarian dhabas along the Kotdwar–Dugadda highway – handy for a hill-road tea and paratha stop en route; ask specifically for the pure-veg menu.
About
Sidhbali Baba Dham is one of the most revered Hanuman shrines of the Garhwal foothills — a Siddha-peeth (a seat considered spiritually 'accomplished', from siddhi, attainment) perched on a wooded hillock roughly fifty metres above the Khoh river, about 3.4 km from the main market of Kotdwar, the plains-edge railhead and gateway town of Pauri Garhwal district.
- The presiding deity, worshipped here as Sidhbali Baba, is a form of Lord Hanuman, and the temple is closely woven into the Nath sampradaya (the ascetic Shaivite yogic order of Guru Gorakhnath).
- Devotees hold that the site was sanctified when Guru Gorakhnath performed penance in these hills and that Sidhbali — Hanuman in the guise of the perfected guardian — remains the protector of the place, which lends the dham its reputation as a granter of sincere wishes.
- The temple draws a steady stream of pilgrims from across Uttarakhand, western Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, many arriving with a specific prayer for employment, a new business, marriage or a child.
- The characteristic offering here is the ghanti (brass bell): fulfilled devotees return to tie or install bells and red flags around the sanctum as thanksgiving, so the approach jingles softly in the hill breeze.
- Tuesdays and Saturdays — the days sacred to Hanuman — are the busiest, when queues wind up the stepped path and the courtyard fills with the sound of the Hanuman Chalisa and Sundarkand recitations.
- The great annual gathering is the Sidhbali fair, held around December, when thousands converge, temporary stalls line the riverside approach, and continuous bhandaras (free community meals) are served.
- So many devotees pledge a thanksgiving bhandara that the temple keeps a long advance booking list; the langar kitchen runs almost daily, feeding pilgrims a simple satvik meal cooked and served entirely without meat, egg or alcohol — a living example of the shrine's vegetarian devotional culture.
- For visitors of every background, the dham is welcoming and free to enter.
- Remove footwear before the sanctum, dress modestly, and observe the aarti quietly; the short climb rewards you with a fine view over the Khoh riverbed and the first ridges of the Himalaya.
- Kotdwar is a mixed plains-gateway town rather than a temple-town, so pure-vegetarian travellers are best served by the temple's own prasad and bhandara and by clearly vegetarian sweet shops and bhojanalayas in the main bazaar — worth a quick check that the kitchen is fully pure-veg before you sit down.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Sidhbali hill, off the Meerut–Pauri (Kotdwar–Dugadda) highway, Garasan, on the bank of the Khoh river, about 3.4 km from Kotdwar main market, Pauri, Uttarakhand, 246149
How to Reach: On the Kotdwar–Dugadda (Meerut–Pauri) highway, about 3.4 km from Kotdwar main market and railway station. Kotdwar is the nearest railhead, directly connected to Delhi and Najibabad; from the station or bus stand an auto-rickshaw or shared taxi to the temple costs roughly ₹60–150 and takes 10–15 minutes. By road it is about 150 km from Rishikesh via Najibabad/Kotdwar. There is no metro; the last stretch is a short flight of steps up the hillock.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the timings of Sidhbali Baba temple in Kotdwar?
The temple is generally open from about 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily, with aarti held around dawn and dusk. Timings can shift with the season and extend on Tuesdays, Saturdays and during the annual fair, so it is worth confirming locally before a late-evening visit.
Is there any entry fee at Sidhbali Baba Dham?
No, entry is free. Sidhbali is an active community Hanuman shrine open to everyone regardless of faith, with no admission ticket. You may choose to make a voluntary offering or sponsor a bhandara, but there is no compulsory charge.
Which deity is worshipped at Sidhbali temple and why is it famous?
The presiding deity is Sidhbali Baba, a form of Lord Hanuman, and the shrine is a Siddha-peeth linked to the Nath tradition of Guru Gorakhnath. It is famous as a wish-fulfilling temple: devotees pray for jobs, business, marriage or children and, when their wish is granted, return to offer brass bells and red flags and to sponsor a thanksgiving bhandara.
How do I reach Sidhbali Baba Dham in Kotdwar?
It sits on the Kotdwar–Dugadda (Meerut–Pauri) highway, about 3.4 km from Kotdwar main market. Kotdwar is the nearest railway station, directly linked to Delhi. From the station or bus stand, an auto-rickshaw or shared taxi costs roughly ₹60–150 and takes 10–15 minutes, followed by a short climb up steps to the hilltop shrine. Rishikesh is about 150 km away by road.
When is the Sidhbali fair held?
The main annual Sidhbali fair (mela) is held around December, drawing thousands of pilgrims, riverside stalls and continuous free bhandaras. Beyond the fair, Tuesdays and Saturdays — the days sacred to Hanuman — see the largest regular crowds, and Navratri and Hanuman Jayanti are also busy.
Where can I eat vegetarian food near Sidhbali temple?
The temple's own bhandara and langar serve a simple, fully vegetarian satvik meal to pilgrims, and prasad and chai stalls on the approach are pure-veg. In Kotdwar's main bazaar you will find vegetarian sweet shops and bhojanalayas for thali meals and mithai; because Kotdwar is a mixed plains town rather than a temple town, it is best to confirm a kitchen is fully pure-vegetarian before ordering.
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