Maa Hariyali Devi Temple, Jasoli
Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand · temple
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
Maa Hariyali Devi Temple is a revered hilltop Siddha Peeth in Jasoli village of Rudraprayag district, set at roughly 1,370 metres on a forested ridge in the Garhwal Himalaya. The name Hariyali comes from the Hindi word for greenery, and the temple lives up to it: it is encircled by dense, protected forest of oak, rhododendron and deodar that devotees regard as sacred ground where cutting trees or hunting is traditionally forbidden. The result is one of Uttarakhand's most peaceful and least commercialised shrines — a place of birdsong, mist and mountain quiet rather than crowds and queues. The presiding goddess is depicted astride a lion in ornate, bejewelled form, and is worshipped locally under several names including Vaishnavi and Bala Devi, alongside associated deities such as Kshetrapal (the guardian) and Heet.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Roadside tea-and-pakora stalls near Nagrasu / on the Rudraprayag–Karnaprayag highway – simple, pure-vegetarian chai, samosas and Maggi; convenient before or after the climb (quality and opening hours vary, so check on the day).
- ✦GMVN Tourist Rest House restaurant, Rudraprayag (approx. 37 km) – the government tourism canteen serves dependable pure-vegetarian thalis and snacks; a reliable meal stop en route.
- ✦Vegetarian bhojnalayas in Rudraprayag town (approx. 37 km) – small family-run eateries serving pure-veg Garhwali and North-Indian thalis, mandua roti and dal-chawal; entirely vegetarian pilgrim-town fare (hours vary; confirm locally).
- ✦Local dhabas at Augustmuni (on the way) – basic pure-vegetarian paratha, rajma-chawal and tea; handy if travelling via the Augustmuni side.
About
Maa Hariyali Devi Temple is a revered hilltop Siddha Peeth in Jasoli village of Rudraprayag district, set at roughly 1,370 metres on a forested ridge in the Garhwal Himalaya.
- The name Hariyali comes from the Hindi word for greenery, and the temple lives up to it: it is encircled by dense, protected forest of oak, rhododendron and deodar that devotees regard as sacred ground where cutting trees or hunting is traditionally forbidden.
- The result is one of Uttarakhand's most peaceful and least commercialised shrines — a place of birdsong, mist and mountain quiet rather than crowds and queues.
- The presiding goddess is depicted astride a lion in ornate, bejewelled form, and is worshipped locally under several names including Vaishnavi and Bala Devi, alongside associated deities such as Kshetrapal (the guardian) and Heet.
- As a Siddha Peeth, the temple belongs to a class of sites in the Shakta tradition considered spiritually potent and answering of sincere prayer.
- Local legend links Hariyali Devi to the Mahamaya narrative of the Krishna cycle: the divine feminine energy conceived as the child of Devaki, who slipped from the tyrant Kansa's grasp and revealed herself as the goddess — a story that ties this remote Himalayan shrine into the wider mythology of Durga and the protective mother goddess.
- Worship here is unhurried and deeply rooted in village life, with priests drawn from the surrounding hamlets and rituals that follow the old Garhwali calendar.
- The temple's signature event is the Hariyali Kantha Yatra, a palanquin (doli) procession held around Dhanteras in the Diwali season, when the goddess is carried through the forest and villagers gather in large numbers — the one time of year the tranquil site fills with festive energy. Navratri also draws steady pilgrims.
- For vegetarian travellers, the setting is naturally satvik.
- Rudraprayag and its Garhwal hinterland are overwhelmingly vegetarian, and no meat or alcohol has any place at the shrine.
- There are no restaurants at the temple itself, so most visitors carry water and light snacks and eat in Rudraprayag town or at simple roadside tea-and-pakora stalls on the highway.
- Local Garhwali fare — mandua (finger-millet) roti, jhangora kheer, aloo ke gutke and seasonal dal — is wholesome, homely and entirely vegetarian.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Jasoli village, off the Rudraprayag–Karnaprayag road (diversion near Nagrasu), Augustmuni block, Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand, 246429
How to Reach: Jasoli lies about 37–38 km from Rudraprayag town. Drive up the Rudraprayag–Karnaprayag road (NH-7) to the Nagrasu area, then take the diversion toward Jasoli village; the final stretch is a narrow hill road followed by a short forest walk/climb to the shrine. Shared jeeps and taxis run from Rudraprayag; a private car is easiest given the remoteness. Nearest railhead is Rishikesh (roughly 180 km) and nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun. Roads are winding — allow ample time and confirm the motorable point locally, as it varies by season.
More places in Rudraprayag
- Rudraprayag Sangam (Alaknanda–Mandakini Confluence)The second of the Panch Prayag on the Kedarnath–Badrinath road, where the milky Mandakini meets the greener Alaknanda at a paved bathing ghat beneath the Rudranath Temple.
- Kartik Swami Temple (Kanakchauri Ridge)A rare knife-edge Himalayan ridge shrine to Kartikeya at roughly 3,050 m, reached by a 3 km forest trek from Kanakchauri with a near 360-degree Garhwal peak panorama.
- Rudranath (Rudreshwar) Mahadev TempleThe ancient stone Shiva shrine above the sacred confluence that gives Rudraprayag its name — tied to the sage Narada's surrender before Shiva as Rudra, lord of music.
- Koteshwar Mahadev Cave TempleA serene riverside cave shrine on the Alaknanda near Rudraprayag, sheltering a naturally formed shivalinga where Shiva is believed to have paused on the way to Kedarnath.
- Chamunda Devi Temple, RudraprayagA revered Shakti shrine at the Rudraprayag confluence — honouring Chamunda as the consort of Rudra beside the ancient Rudranath temple, thronged during Navaratri.
- Agasteshwar Mahadev Temple, AgastmuniAn archaeologically rich Shiva temple on the Mandakini at Agastmuni, named for sage Agastya, with carved stone panels of Hindu deities and a large April Baisakhi mela.
- Indrasani Mansa Devi Temple, Kandali PattiAn ancient forest-cradled shrine to Mansa Devi, the serpent goddess venerated as a healer of snakebite — a Siddha Peeth traced to the age of Adi Shankaracharya, about 14 km above Rudraprayag.
- Leopard of Rudraprayag Memorial (Golabrai)A modest roadside sign-board near Golabrai marking the spot where Jim Corbett shot the notorious man-eating leopard of Rudraprayag in 1926 — a literary and natural-history landmark on the Badrinath road (the Alaknanda valley road).
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hariyali Devi Temple located?
It sits above Jasoli village in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, on a forested ridge at roughly 1,370 metres in the Garhwal Himalaya. It is about 37–38 km from Rudraprayag town, reached via a diversion off the Rudraprayag–Karnaprayag road near Nagrasu, followed by a short walk up through the forest.
Why is the goddess shown on a lion, and what makes the temple special?
Hariyali Devi is a Siddha Peeth — a site the Shakta tradition considers spiritually potent — and her idol is depicted astride a lion, a classic emblem of the protective mother goddess. She is worshipped locally as Vaishnavi and Bala Devi alongside guardian deities. The name Hariyali means greenery, and the temple is famed for the dense, protected sacred forest that surrounds it, where felling trees is traditionally forbidden.
Is there an entry fee for Hariyali Devi Temple?
No. Like most Hindu temples, entry is free and the shrine is open to all. There is no admission ticket; devotees may make voluntary offerings if they wish.
What are the temple timings?
The temple keeps no strict ticketed hours; it is generally open through daylight, roughly sunrise to sunset. Because the final approach is a forest walk, it is best to visit in daylight and start early. Timings can shift with the season and festival calendar, so confirm locally before setting out.
When is the main festival at Hariyali Devi?
The signature event is the Hariyali Kantha Yatra, a palanquin (doli) procession held around Dhanteras in the Diwali season, when the goddess is carried through the forest and villagers gather in large numbers. Navratri also draws steady pilgrims. These are the liveliest times to visit an otherwise very quiet shrine.
Where can I eat vegetarian food near the temple?
The Rudraprayag region is overwhelmingly vegetarian and no meat or alcohol features at the shrine. There is no restaurant at the temple itself, so carry water and light snacks. For a proper meal, the GMVN rest-house canteen and small vegetarian bhojnalayas in Rudraprayag town serve pure-veg thalis, mandua roti and dal-chawal, while roadside chai-and-pakora stalls near Nagrasu and Augustmuni offer simple snacks en route (hours vary, so check on the day).
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