30°21′26″N 78°01′00″E / 30.3572724°N 78.0166768°E / 30.3572724; 78.0166768 Tapkeshwar Temple, also known as Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple, is a temple in Dehradun dedicated to Shiva. The temple is on the bank of the Tons River, built on top of a natural cave, which holds the temple's main shivalinga.

History

The Tapkeshwar Temple is believed to be 6,000 years old. It has a natural shivalinga in the cave, which became a place of reverence for the local people.

It is also believed that this was used as a residence by Dronacharya, the teacher of the Pandavas and Kauravas in the Hindu epic Mahabharata; the cave is called Drona Cave after him. Dronacharya's wife Kalyani was unable to breastfeed their newborn son Ashwatthama. As Dronacharya was unable to afford a cow or cow's milk, Ashwatthama prayed to Shiva, who then fed him milk dripping from the shivalinga in the cave.

Operations

The temple is popular as both a tourist destination and a pilgrimage site in Dehradun. Pilgrims bathe in the nearby sulphur-water springs before entering the temple.

Drona Cave, surrounded by hills, is a popular site for picnickers from Dehradun and nearby districts.

Events

The temple hold a large festival on Shivratri. The temple committee organizes free meals for the devotees.

Every year on Holi, a local theater group, Hamari Pehchan, begins their holiday performance at the temple.