The famous Temple of Chitai Almora is the Golu Devta temple, dedicated to Gollu or Goljyu Devta, an Avtar (incarnation) of Lord Shiva in the form of Gaur Bhairav. Although there are many temples of Golu Devta in Almora but the Chitai Golu Devta Temple is the most sacred one. It is reputed to make every wish come true, provided the worshipper asks for it with a clear conscience.
The temple is situated at a distance of 9kms from the city of Almora, in the state of Uttarakhand in India. The nearest railway station is the Kathgodam railway station
( 94 kms ). Pantnagar airport ( 124 kms ) and the IGI international airport at New Delhi ( 352 kms ) are the closest airports. The temple has free entry and the usual exploration time is
2 hours.
Gollu Devta is popular as a God of Justice. Devotees worship at the temple with the means of a White Cloth, Pagri and White Shawl. The people believe that what God asks for in propitiation is a bell, as is evident from the thousands of bells strung across the temple premises! One can even seek divine intervention by writing to the Devta. Stacks of letters are pinned all over the temple along with the bells.
Devotees from far flung areas come to worship Gollu Devta . They perform either a 3-day pooja ( worship ceremony ) or a 9-day pooja and give offerings of Ghee, Milk, Curd, Halwa, Poori and Pakauri.
