Golu Devata Temple or Chitai temple

Location

Chitai temple is located 3km from the cantonment area in Almora. The temple is dedicated to Golu Devta who is considered to be the God of Justice. At the temple there are several bells hanging in the premises. These bells are hung by devotees as offerings when they make a wish or if their prayers are answered. The locals of the region have deep faith in this temple and visit it often.

A landmark in Almora, Chitai Temple has the presiding deity Lord Shiva, who is referred here by the name Lord Gollu. Local folks have much faith in this hilltop temple, they often visit here with offerings. The history says the temple was constructed by a general belonging to the Chand dynasty.

The temple is characterized by the large number of bells hanging in the premises. These bells are hung by the devotees as offerings making a wish or in thanksgiving on the fulfillment of one’s wish. This is an important religious attraction on tourist map.

Golu Devata (8 km) is thought to be as an incarnation of Gaur Bhairav (Shiva), and is worshipped all over the region and regarded as the dispenser of justice by the devotees with extreme faith.

Another legend suggests that he was a General in the army of Chand king, Baz Bahadur's (1638-78), and died displaying explemplary valour at war, the temple was erected in his honour, at Chitai, 8 km from Almora city.

Another story about Gwalla talks of a local king who, while hunting, sent his servants to look for water. The servants disturbed a woman who was praying. The woman, in a fit of anger, taunted the king that he could not separate two fighting bulls and proceeded to do so herself. The king was very impressed by this deed and he married the lady. When this queen got a son, the other queens, who were jealous of her, placed a stone in its place and the child in a cage and put the cage into the river. The child was brought up by a fisherman. When the boy grew up he took a wooden horse to the river and on being questioned by the queens he replied that if women can give birth to stone then wooden horses can drink water. When the king heard about this, he punished the guilty queens and crowned the boy, who went on to be known as Gwalla devata.

There are many temples of Golu Devata in Kumaun, and the most popular are at Chitai, Champawat, Ghorakhal. It is the popular belief that Golu Devata dispense quick justice to the devotee.

Devotees in turn offers bells and Sacrifice of animals after the fulfilment of wish. Thousands of bells of every size can be seen hanging over the temple premisces. Many devotees file a lot of written petitions daily, which are received by the temple.