Pandeshwar Temple, Hastinapur - Timings, History, Best Time to Visit

At a distance of 2.5 km from Hastinapur Bus Station, Pandeshwar Temple is an ancient shrine located in Hastinapur, Uttar Pradesh. Situated in the ruins of the old city of Hastinapur, it is one of the best tourist places in Hastinapur.

Pandeshwar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to legend, Yudhishthira had established the shivalinga at the Pandeshwar Mahadev temple before the war of Mahabharata and prayed to Shiva for a blessing to win the war. Yudhishthira is known to be the very personification of virtue, dharma, and kshama (forgiveness) performed tapa in such an exemplary manner that Lord Shiva became pleased and blessed him with success. It is that same belief that draws great crowds to have darshan of Lord Shiva here.

This temple is also believed to be the place where the Kauravas and Pandavas received an education. The Shiva Linga is placed right in the middle of the temple complex with domes surrounding it. The Shiva Linga is of natural stone though it has been reduced to half of its original size with the continuous Jala Abhishek performed. A temple of Goddess Kali on the hillock above and many other ashrams are also present on the ruins.

It is said that this temple was built in the Mahabharata era. In 1798, Raja Nain Singh of Bahishuma Fort Parikshitgarh did an outstanding job of renovating this temple. It was during an excavation of the ancient fort of Hastinapur that the walls of the Pandava fort, a hillock of Mahatma Vidura, the palace of the Pandavas, Draupadi Ghat, the kitchen of Draupadi, Karan temple as well as the palace of Raja Nain Singh, twelve cisterns and others were discovered. A wide variety of sculptures painted grey pottery belonging to the Vedic Age, ancient swords, and sculptures were also found during the excavations. These remains are kept in the museum in Agra.

Timings: 6 AM - 9 AM

Entry: Free