Shukratal

Getting there

• By train

  Muzaffarnagar (MOZ) and Kahtauli are the main stations in the district.

• By road

  Shukratal is about 30 km from the district headquarters.

• By air

  Dehradun airport (DED), in Uttarakhand, is listed at 98 km from the district, not from Shukratal itself.

Why devotees come here

Shukratal is a religious town on the bank of the Ganga in Muzaffarnagar district, Uttar Pradesh. It is linked to sage Shukdev and to the Bhagavata katha. The site has large statues of Shiva, Durga and Hanuman, and a Sanskrit college is in the town.

Shukratal is a famous religious spot in Muzaffarnagar district, on the bank of the Ganga. The town is linked to sage Shukdev. Legend says King Parikshit, who was cursed to die of a snakebite within a week, heard the Bhagavata katha from him here. The story is told as legend, not as recorded history. Shukratal lies about 30 km from the district headquarters.

A temple was built under a banyan tree near the spot where Shukdev is said to have taught. The banyan is called Akshay Vat. Hanumatdham, a Hanuman shrine in the town, was constructed in 1987. A Sanskrit college is also in the town.

The site now has a 108-foot statue of Shiva and an 80-foot statue of Durga. A Hanuman statue stands on the riverbank. The chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, offered a 2.5 kg golden crown to Hanuman on a visit to Shukratal. A monument to the courage shown by the Kargil martyrs was dedicated here by Swami Kalyan Dev, a social worker. An event to mark the death anniversary of Swami Kalyan Dev has also been held here.

Tips for your visit

• The chief minister has announced plans to develop Shukratal on the lines of Kashi, Ayodhya and Mathura.
• Devotees tie a red thread around the Akshay Vat banyan tree to seek their wishes.
• Sadhus have staged a protest at Shukratal while standing in the Ganga river.

Questions people ask