Dehradun to Lakhamandal: Unexplored Place in Uttarakhand
Being lover of long bike rides, I always seek places that are not too crowded, have an abundance of nature, and have something spiritual to offer. Being from Dehradun, the capital of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, I have the privilege to explore places that others can only dream of.
One such place, hidden away in the mystical Himalayan ranges of the Dehradun District is the Lakhamandal Temple.
The Lakhamandal Temple is full of interesting facts and stories, mythology, and the place itself is a great natural phenomenon that would attract any nature lover.
Where exactly is Lakhamandal Village?
Lakhamandal is a small village, hidden among the mountains in the Jaunsar region in Dehradun District.
The village falls under the Chakrata Tehsil (62 km away from Lakhamandal), en route Yamunotri on National Highway 507.
The river Yamuna flows alongside the village and Yamunotri is at a distance of about 50 km from Lakhamandal Village.
Travelling to Lakhamandal: Things to Know
Distance from:
Delhi: 353 km
Dehradun: 110 km
Chakrata: 60 km
Paonta Sahib: 105 km
Places to see near the Lakhamandal Temple
Naugaon (Banderpooch Peak View): 15 km
Purola: 33 km
Tiger Falls (Chakrata): 48 km
Yamunotri Temple: 50 km (plus 5 km trek)
Kempty Falls: 60 km
Mussoorie and nearby areas: 75 km
Hanol (Mahasu Devta Temple): 82 km
Road trip to the Lakhamandal Temple
We started early around 6 am from Dehradun. During November, the temperature starts to plummet and we were prepared for the worst. Gloves, Sweaters, Jackets, Mufflers, you name it. We had it all.
Lakhamandal is well connected via motorable roads and it takes around 4-5 hours to reach there from Dehradun, but we like to stop and enjoy what scenic views present themselves along the way and absorb the nature.
Views Such as these,
Route plan for Lakhamandal
If you are traveling to Lakhamandal from in and around Dehradun, there are two routes that you can choose from.
Dehradun-Mussoorie-Kempty Fall-Nainbag-Lakhamandal
The total distance covered on this route is 110 km and the route itself offers scenic views, adventurous riding experience, and you shall witness many other unexplored places in Uttarakhand, names of which you might not have even heard of.
From Dehradun, we ascended to Mussoorie, at a distance of around 35 km, but not before enjoying a delicious Maggi at Dehradun’s famous Maggi point.
If you are traveling from outside Dehradun and have a bit more time on hand, stay in Mussoorie for at least a day or two and explore what this queen of hill stations has to offer.
From Mussoorie, the route is pretty much a descent to Kempty Fall, which is about 15 km from library chowk in Mussoorie.
The next stop we made was at Nainbag, 26 km from Kempty Falls, where we had our breakfast of aloo paratha and chai.
From Nainbag, it took us around 1.5 hours more to reach a junction, where we sidetracked from the National Highway 507 to Yamunotri, and took a left turn towards the Lakhamandal Village, crossing a bridge over the Yamuna.
Gate to lakhamandal
Paonta Sahib-Herbertpur-Yamuna Bridge-Lakhamandal
Another alternative route to reach Lakhamandal is via Herbertpur, from where the Lakhamandal is at a distance of about 95 km.
From Herbertpur, take the route to Chakrata and head towards the Yamuna Bridge.
From Yamuna bridge, the route to Lakhamandal is the same as described previously.
This route is suitable if you are entering Dehradun from Paonta Sahib.
Lakhamandal: A village quite unlike anything
Upon reaching the village and parking our bike, we took in the atmosphere of the village. We could see Jaunsaris, dressed in traditional attires, smiling faces, all welcoming the visitors.
Upon talking to a few locals, we came to know that the majority of the population in Lakhamandal are Jaunsaris.
Being a garhwali myself, even I could not understand their language, which is really unique from any other language in Uttarakhand.
Great craftsmanship was at the display, where we saw local houses built of wood, something that makes you want to settle in a village as beautiful as Lakhamandal
Lakhamandal Temple: Historical and Mythological site.
A short walk among narrow lanes of the village took us to the stairs of the temple.
As we reached the main courtyard of the temple, we were greeted by the smiling faces of the temple caretakers, other devotees.
The priest took us on a tour of the temple, where at every step there is something amazing on offer.
From green and red-colored shivling to statues of Maanav and Daanav to a number of shivlings discovered on excavation.
We were informed that it is estimated that the area has more than 1 lakh shivlings. Some of which are on display at the temple.
Amazed at the marvel that we had stumbled upon, we were curious to know what all hidden stories this place has in store for us. The Lakhamandal Temple has its connections with Mahabharat.
The temple is believed to have been constructed by the Pandavas when they stayed in the area for close to a year.
The caretaker’s face lit up as he narrates the great tale of Pandavas’ escape from the burning house, foiling the evil plot of their cousin Duryodhana.
The Pandavas escaped from a cave, which is known as Gupteshwar Mahadev, located 0.5 km before you reach the main temple.
Where did we stay in Lakhamandal?
The Lakhamandal Village remains an unexplored place in Uttarakhand and the village is quite disconnected from the hustle and bustle of city life.
As it had been a tiring journey, we decided to halt for the night and head back to Dehradun the next morning. After inquiring, we found out that the villagers offer a place to stay in their homes, but the facilities were, as we had expected, minimal.
Another local suggested that we move to Naugoan, 15 km away, and look for a hotel there. So, after a 30 min ride further up the road to Yamunotri, we discovered yet another unexplored place in Uttarakhand.
The peaceful village of Naugaon
Naugoan is a small village in the area, but the place is lively and has a small market where you can find places to eat, unlike Lakhamandal where there are limited resources.
If you are lucky enough, you might just get a glance at the monstrous Banderpooch peak (6313 meters).
So basically, if you are looking to stay in close vicinity to the Lakhamandal Temple, there aren’t many great options.
Either you stay at Damta, which is 22 km before Lakhamandal, or move on to explore places like Naugaon, Barkot, or even Purola, where you will find decent accommodation.
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