- The Katarmal Sun Temple, Almora is not so popular as others. Know about its History and Architecture.
Nestled amidst the sylvan surroundings of Kumaon hill ranges close to the
town of Almora in Uttarakhand, the Katarmal Sun Temple is one of the hidden
architectural gems of India.
This is one of the renowned but lesser known ancient places of worship
dedicated to the Sun God. This temple complex is next only to the well-known
Sun Temple of Konark in Odisha in matters of antiquity and architectural splendour.
While the Sun Temple of Konark in Odisha has acquired global fame, this equally
splendorous temple complex is yet to receive the attention that it really
deserves.
This article was
first published in the Bhavan Journal.
View from Binsar road i.e. opposite the temple.
History and Architecture
The Katarmal Sun Temple is more than eight centuries old
and it was built by Katyuri kings,
who were known for promoting art and architecture.
The temple is known for its unique architecture, which is
a blend of intricate designs of the Nagara and Dravidian architectures. It has
a main sanctum and a surrounding corridor, which are built using locally
quarried stone. The sanctum is decorated with a stunning spire (shikhara) that rises
into the sky, symbolising the rays of the sun reaching towards the heavens.
The premises also offer spellbinding views of the majestic Nanda Devi and
other towering peaks in the region. It said that the temple structure has been
designed with specific astronomical calculations which allow the sun rays to
brighten the
sanctum during specific times of the year. It
is amazing that the sun rays hit the main idol inside the sanctorum on certain
days of the year. It indicates its deep connection to the cosmos.
The presiding deity here is worshipped as Vraddhaditya,
believed to be an incarnation of the Sun God. The image of Surya in the temple
dates back to the 12th century. The idols of Shiva-Parvati and
Lakshmi-Narayana are also found in the temple. However, the intricately carved
doors and panels have been removed to the National Museum in Delhi after the 10th
century idol of the presiding deity
was stolen.
Another important feature of this temple complex are the small shrines,
numbering 44, built surrounding the main temple. Interestingly, no idols are
found inside any of these shrines. However, the presiding deity inside the main
sanctum is also surrounded by a good number of small-sized idols. According to
the temple priest, these idols were originally installed in the shrines but
were later shifted inside the main sanctum for safety.
This beautiful hilltop temple perched at an elevation of 2,116 metres above
the sea level also offers some breath taking views of
the surrounding Himalayan landscape. Its remote location has helped preserve
its historical, architectural and natural beauty and visitors will carry home
some fond memories.
How to Reach
Katarmal Sun temple is located about 17 kms away from
Almora. Less than thirty minutes of drive on the road meandering through the
groves of pine trees takes us till the Kosi village. The temple is not linked
by road and the visitors need to trek for about one and a half kilometres to
access the temple complex.
Bus/taxi service is available till Kosi. Accommodation is available at
Almora, while restaurant facilities can be found at Kosi too. Though this
temple has been declared a monument of national importance, it still remains a well-kept
secret of Uttarakhand. It is bound to attract tourists in large numbers and
boost the local
economy if efforts are made to popularise it.
This article was first published in the Bhavan’s Journal, September 16-30, 2025 issue. This article is courtesy and copyright Bhavan’s Journal, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai-400007. eSamskriti has obtained permission from Bhavan’s Journal to share. Do subscribe to the Bhavan’s Journal – it is very good.
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