Wednesday, 31 January 2024 | PNS | NAINITAL
The president of Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam Employees Federation
Dinesh Gururani has urged the State government to include the sun temple at Chowbati in Madgaon in Didihat Tehsil of Pithoragarh district which resembles the famed sun temple in Konark in Odisha in the Manaskhand Mandir Mala Mission. Stressing on appropriate beautification of the temple, he demanded that the State government should enhance road connectivity to facilitate smooth movement of devotees. He said that it is unfortunate that while the asphaltisation of road from Didihat to Chowbati had been done at the State government’s behest, the four-kilometre stretch from Chowbati had remained untouched.
He further said that it did not stand to reason as to why the historical sun temple in Pithoragarh has been kept outside the purview of the Manaskhand Mandir Mala Mission. “While the State government has arranged accommodation for visitors to the Katarmal Sun Temple located in Almora district after implementing a beautification project, the temple in Pithoragarh has remained uncared for, left vegetating in developmental slump,” he said and added that he had already written to the district tourism officer demanding beautification of the Madh Sun Temple.
Experts say that this sun temple in Pithoragarh is one of rare temples in Uttarakhand whose architecture was inspired by the south Indian temple architectural style. Earlier known as Naghar, the temple is believed to have been built by Lord Vishwakarma while some believe that it was built by the Pandavas.
Gururani said that marking the Surya Parva on February 15, Sundarkand would be recited inside the temple. This aside, a l religious and cultural programme would be held in the temple premises the same day to mark the auspicious occasion.
