If you are living in Delhi/NCR, and you can’t escape the plains to go all the way to Mount Kailash to offer prayers to Lord Shiva on Shivaratri or can’t go for Darshan to the Jyotirlingas for seeking blessings. We are here to sort you out with the famous Shiva temples in Delhi, which you can visit this year after two years of strictly COVID protocols eclipsing all major festivities.

Prachin Gauri Shankar Temple, Chandni Chowk

Dating back to 800 years, this shrine was built by a Maratha devotee of Lord Shiva in Old Delhi. The story behind the construction goes like this: there was a  Maratha soldier, who was an ardent worshipper of Lord Shiva. In one of the battles which he fought, he got severely injured and was on the brink of losing his life. He prayed fervently to Shiva and promised to build a temple if he stays alive. By the grace of God, he survived the injuries and therefore kept his promise by building a beautiful temple. In the Garbhagriha of the temple, the main attraction is the Lingam made of Brownish stone covered with white marble.

Neeli Chhatri Temple

Another historical temple is the Neeli Chhatri temple located on the Nigambodh Ghat in the Jamuna Bazaar area. The legend has that the king Yudhishthir -eldest of the five Pandavas, built this temple in honour of Lord Shiva and even performed the prestigious sacrificial ritual of Ashwamedha Yajna. 

Shiv Mandir Gufawala

This 22-year-old temple is a small wonder developed with the aim of serving as a tourist spot. It is a heaven to tourists and locals in Preet Vihar and Delhi. The architecture of the temple is in the form of a huge expansive cave- hence the name Gufawala. The presiding deities here are Lord Shiva and Vaishno Devi.

Dudheshwarnath Temple

Staying true to its name, the temple is made up of white marble giving an appearance of being whitewashed in milk. Located a couple of kilometres away from the Hindon River, this temple has many associated legends offered for its origin. Besides, there are stories that tell that the Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji had renovated this temple in modern times. It is a self-revealed Shiva lingam enshrined and worshipped by the locals of Ghaziabad. Amongst the visitors, the soldiers from the nearby army cantonment often visit the temple.

Mangal Mahadev Birla Kanan, Rangpuri

In the list of temples, this is relatively one of the newer ones. Situated in Rangpuri, it has a very beautiful architecture with intricate detailing ensuring to give a positive vibe. It was established in 1994 in the presence of late Prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The tall Bronze statue of Shiva can be seen standing high from the western borders of Delhi.