Shivrinarayan Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur is the nearest major airport. Bilaspur airport is about 69 km away, roughly 1 hour 45 minutes by road.

• By train

  Janjgir-Naila and Akaltara are the nearest major railway stations.

• By road

  Bilaspur is 65 km away, about 1.5 hours by road. Raipur is 129 to 134 km away, around 3 hours by car or taxi.

Why devotees come here

Shivrinarayan is a town in Janjgir-Champa district, Chhattisgarh, where the Mahanadi, Shivnath and Jonk rivers meet. The town is known as the Gupt Prayag of Chhattisgarh. Legend links the town's name to Shabari, an old ascetic who offered berries to Rama.

Shivrinarayan Math is a Hindu temple and institution in the town that bears its name. It was established during the eighth century, and it has stood for centuries. The town is also known as Sheorinarayan, and it is called the Gupt Prayag of Chhattisgarh.

Local legend says the town was named after Shabari, an old female ascetic. Legend says she tasted the berries she had gathered, to check their sweetness, before she offered them to Rama. The legend places that moment here. The main Lakshman Narayan temple was built in the 11th century under the Haihaya dynasty kings, and it is an outstanding example of ancient Vaishnava architecture. The complex also houses the Keshav Narayan Temple and the Chandrachud Mahadev Temple, which are more than 900 years old.

Local belief holds that the idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra, now worshipped in Puri, Odisha, were first established here as Neel Madhav. The Janjgir-Champa district government presents the temple as a cultural heritage site. The State Government has also named Shivrinarayan one of 9 spots to be restored and developed as part of the Ram Van Gaman Path.

Festivals

• January-February, from Magh Purnima to MahashivratriShivrinarayan Mela

  About 15 days. A cultural stage is held every evening, organised by the state culture department and the local administration.

Tips for your visit

• During the fair, local dharamshalas are booked well in advance.
• The town is also written Sheorinarayan, so search under both spellings.
• The aarti and the cultural stage are both held every evening during the mela.

Questions people ask