Popular Temple
Gorakhnath Temple
Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh
The principal seat of the Nath sect, after whom the city of Gorakhpur is named
At a glance
- Location
- Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh
- Presiding deity
- Yogi Guru Gorakhnath (linked to the Shaiva Nath tradition)
- Temple type
- Popular Temple
- Tradition
- Shaiva
- Nearest railway station
- Gorakhpur Junction (~3-4.5 km)
- Nearest airport
- Gorakhpur Airport (~8 km)
- Best time to visit
- October to March; the Makar Sankranti Khichdi Mela (January) is especially significant.
History
Gorakhnath Temple is dedicated to Yogi Gorakhnath, one of the founding gurus of the Nath sect, after whom the city of Gorakhpur takes its name. The temple has for centuries been a centre of Nath yogic tradition, Hatha Yoga, and cultural education, and remains one of Uttar Pradesh's most influential religious-social institutions today.
Spiritual significance
The complex also runs a large fairground, a goshala (cow shelter), and educational institutions, and hosts a grand Khichdi Mela on Makar Sankranti, drawing millions of participants.
Plan your visit
Darshan timings
4:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Timings change on festivals and special occasions. Confirm with the temple's official source before you travel.
Gorakhpur Junction (home to one of India's longest railway platforms) connects to Delhi, Mumbai, and other major cities; autos and taxis are readily available from the station to the temple.
Continue your Shiva bhakti
Devotional texts for this deity, already on the site.