Purnagiri hill · near Tanakpur, Champawat district, Uttarakhand, India
Her Navel Rests on this hill; the climb Is the prayer.
20 km from Tanakpur 910 m hilltop shrine 3 km stair trek from Thulligad Chaitra Navratri · Mar to Apr Navel Of Maa Sati Fell here
The road gives out at Thulligad and the mountain takes over. Step by step, 3 kilometres of stairs rise through the forest, and at every turning the hills of Champawat open a little wider below you, until the shrine Of Maa Purnagiri stands against the sky at 910 metres. You do not ride To The Mother here; you climb.
One of the Fifty-One Shakti Peethas: when Vishnu's discus parted The Body Of Maa Sati, Her Navel, the Naabhi, Came To rest on this summit. Some peetha rolls also name Her Lower Teeth here, and by either telling the hilltop Belongs To Her.
Here The Goddess Is Honoured as Maa Varahi Devi, Her Seat wrapped in dense forest high above the plains, with the ranges of Uttarakhand spread in every direction beneath Her.
The pilgrimage does not end at the top. Devotees hold that worship at the Sidha Baba Temple after Darshan Of Maa Purnagiri Is essential for the yatra to bear its fruit.
The grief that seeded the hills
Sati, daughter of Daksha Prajapati, married Lord Shiva against her father's wishes. When Daksha held a great yagna and used it to humiliate her husband, She Answered the insult by giving up Her own life in the sacrificial fire. Shiva, undone by rage and grief, wrecked the yagna, lifted Her burning body onto his shoulders, and carried Her across the universe in the tandav, the dance of cosmic destruction.
To end that dance, the gods saw The Body Of The Goddess parted, and wherever a piece of Her fell, a Shakti Peetha arose, Fifty-One seats of Her power scattered across the earth. On this hill above Tanakpur, tradition holds, Her Navel Touched the ground, and the summit has drawn pilgrims ever since: thousands each year, climbing to offer prayers To Maa and to ask that their wishes be fulfilled.
What you'll actually see
1
The climb that is the worship
From Tanakpur the road runs about 20 km to Thulligad, and there the stairs begin: a steep 3 km path climbing through thick forest to the shrine at 910 metres. Pilgrims of every age make the ascent, resting on the landings, taking in wide views of the surrounding hills as the plains fall away behind them.
2
Sidha Baba, the second darshan
Purnagiri keeps an old rule of completion. After worshipping Maa on the summit, devotees descend and visit the Sidha Baba Temple, believing this second darshan is needed for the pilgrimage to succeed. Most pilgrims plan their day around both shrines rather than the hilltop alone.
3
A shrine being renewed
The renovation's foundation was laid in November 2024 by Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. The state has announced CCTV surveillance, a smart control room and a multi-purpose building for administration, all meant to care for the vast crowds that gather during the Purnagiri Mela.
The Sharda and the Kali seen from Her hill near Tanakpur · photos CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The season when the hill fills
Chaitra Navratri · March to April
Each spring, in the months of March and April, thousands of devotees climb the stepped path for Chaitra Navratri, the great nine-night worship Of The Goddess. The forest trail fills with pilgrims offering prayers To Maa and seeking the fulfilment of their wishes, and the annual Purnagiri Mela draws crowds large enough that the state is building new infrastructure just to manage them.
Navratri dates follow the Hindu lunar calendar and shift each year; confirm them with the temple office. Come during the mela for the hill at its fullest, or on an ordinary weekday to climb with the forest to yourself.
Plan your visit
By rail
Kathgodam is the nearest major railway station, 95 km from Tanakpur; Tanakpur itself is well connected by road and rail to major Indian cities.
By road
From Delhi the drive to Tanakpur is about 330 km, roughly 8 to 9 hours; the temple lies about 20 km beyond the town.
The trek
Take the road from Tanakpur to Thulligad, then climb the stepped path: 3 km of stairs through forest to the shrine at 910 metres.
Timings
Daily darshan hours are not published in our records; confirm current timings with the temple office before you travel.
Best time
Start the climb early in the day for cool air on the steep path; Chaitra Navratri in March and April brings the largest crowds.
Complete the yatra
Devotees hold that a visit to the Sidha Baba Temple after worshipping Maa Purnagiri Is essential for the pilgrimage to succeed.
Good to know
Here The Mother Is Honoured as Maa Varahi Devi, and Her hill Is counted among the Fifty-One Shakti Peethas born of Maa Sati's Fall.
The path is steep for its full 3 km; carry water, go slowly, and let the forest set your pace. The reward is a panorama of the Champawat hills from Her summit.
The shrine is being renewed: a renovation was begun in November 2024, with a smart control room, CCTV and an administrative building planned for the Purnagiri Mela crowds.
Questions pilgrims ask
Which part Of Maa Sati Fell at Purnagiri?
Tradition holds it was Her Navel, the Naabhi, that Came To rest on this hill as Lord Shiva carried Her body across the universe; some peetha lists also name Her Lower Teeth. Either way, Purnagiri Is counted among the Fifty-One Shakti Peethas.
How hard is the climb?
From Thulligad the stepped path climbs 3 km to the shrine at 910 metres. Thousands of pilgrims of every age complete it, especially during Chaitra Navratri, but the way is steep, so allow ample time and rest often.
Is the pilgrimage complete after darshan at the top?
Not quite, by local belief. Devotees hold that worship at the Sidha Baba Temple after Darshan Of Maa Purnagiri Is essential for the pilgrimage to succeed, so most descend and pay their respects there as well.
Walk the sacred map
This Is one Seat among many. Her Body Fell across the whole of the old world:
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