Deori Mandir

Getting there

• By air

  Birsa Munda Airport (IXR) in Ranchi is the nearest airport.

• By train

  Ranchi Junction Railway Station (RNC) is the nearest railway station.

• By road

  The temple is on the right side of the Tata-Ranchi Highway (NH-33), about 60 km from Ranchi and 3 km from Tamar.

Why devotees come here

Deori Mandir stands in Deori village, Tamar, near Ranchi in Jharkhand, and is dedicated to Solha Bhuji, a 16-armed form of Devi Durga. It is said to be the only temple in Jharkhand where tribal Pahan priests perform the pujas alongside Brahmins.

Legend says a king of Tamar was guided by a dream of Devi Durga to the temple, which lay hidden in the forest. Incredible India describes the deity as an avatar of Kali, while the state's official pages name her Durga, so visitors may hear both names. The Pahan priests who perform the pujas here are tribal. They work alongside conventional Brahmin priests, a pairing the state says is unique in Jharkhand.

The original temple is built of stone and dated to about the 10th to 11th century. The Jharkhand tourism page gives a wider range for its construction, from the 10th to the 12th century. The ancient mandir was built from interlocking stones without binding materials, and its sandstone walls carry carved bas-reliefs of mythological tales. The temple was renovated a few years back, and it stands in Deori village on the right side of the Tata-Ranchi Highway.

Tips for your visit

• Deori village lies near Tamar, so ask for Deori Mandir by name when you reach Tamar.
• Look for the carved bas-reliefs on the sandstone walls as you approach the temple.

Questions people ask