Neelkanth Mahadev Temple
नीलकंठ महादेव मंदिर
The place where, according to legend, Shiva swallowed poison and his throat turned blue. The temple, decorated with colorful sculptures in the forested hills, is an important pilgrimage site.
The temple sits at about 1,330 meters above sea level in the hills southeast of Rishikesh. According to legend, Shiva swallowed deadly poison when the gods churned the ocean of milk, and his throat turned blue, which gave the temple its name, “Blue Throat” (Neelkanth). The temple gate is decorated with colorful sculptures of the churning of the ocean, and the shrine houses a Shiva lingam. During the Shravan month in July and August, large numbers of Kanwar pilgrims carry Ganges water here. Entry is free and the temple is open about 5:00 to 21:00. From Lakshman Jhula, take a shared jeep for about 1 hour along roughly 32 kilometers of mountain road, or walk about 12 kilometers.
Opening hours
About 05:00–21:00
Nearby sights
- Beatles Ashram (Chaurasi Kutia)
- Patna Waterfall
- Triveni Ghat
- Bharat Mandir
- Lakshman Jhula
- Tera Manzil Temple (Trayambakeshwar)
- Janki Setu
- Parmarth Niketan Ganga Aarti