BANSI NARAYAN
The Bansi Narayan temple is located at an altitude of 3600 mts in the urgam valley at a distance of 12 kms from devgram. The temple is erected over a hard rock and is built using huge stone blocks. The form of architecture is 'katyuri style' as is common in the mountains. Very near to the temple is a cave which is used by the pilgrims to cook and stay at night. At bansi narayan one is spellbound on witnessing the pristine beauty of this celestial paradise. Travelers from far and wide reach this destination to admire its beautiful landscapes and witness the magnificent view of himalayan ranges.
Inside the 'sanctum sanctorum' of the temple the idols of the hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh are worshiped. One is often misguided by the name bansi narayan and thinks of this temple to be a vishnu temple. The portals of this temple opens once in a year on the auspicious day of 'Rakshabandhan" for the devotees. The devotees from the villages of bansa, barginda, devgram, layari, salna, bharki, kalgot and dumak assemble here on the auspicious day of 'rakshabandhan' and seek blessings from the trinity here.
This remote temple is located in the urgam valley at a distance of 12 kms from Devgram village. Its a must sought after spiritual and trekking destination with a trail full of greenery and wildlife. This trek provides mesmerizing views of the snow clad himalayan peaks like nanda devi, trishul, nanda ghunti etc . The trail goes through forests of rhododendron, pine, oak and deodar. If you are lucky enough then you can sight rare fauna like the bright colored himalayan monal, musk deer, red billed blue magpie and a few more species of deer.
The temple is perched on a huge rock and is surrounded by two huge boulders. How would it have been constructed in those times at such remote location?
In the north, north east and north west direction, as far as the eyes could perceive you see the green pastures or bugyals at a gradient of 60 degree. The temple is surrounded by dense forests of birch and deodar in the south, south east and south west directions.
The trek route for bansi narayan temple is :- helang - salna village - layari- devgram (motorable) - bansa - uruba rishi temple - mulakhark - bhagwati devi temple - berjik dhar - chetrapal mandir - nokchuna dhar - bansi narayan temple.
During the monsoon season the shepherds bring there sheep and cattle to these remote pastures. It's obvious that these shepherds do visit the bansi narayan temple and worship the deities there. Who would have built such a beautiful temple at such a remote place in such a inhospitable terrain? As per the local folks this temple was built by the 'pandavas' who while on their journey to 'Swargarohini' had stayed here for some time. To worship their revered deity the 'pandavas' built this temple here.
As per another belief this temple was built by the first settlers of these remote regions who had migrated from the plains. These people led a nomadic life and livestock was their valuable possession. They used to migrate to new places in search of green pastures. Their search for green pastures must have led them to these remote bugyals. During those times the people were very religious and devoted towards their revered deities. There nomadic people must have built this temple here. With the advancement of time these people must have migrated to new settlements.