Deoghar - Abode of the Gods

Deoghar also known as Baidyanath Dham is an important Hindu pilgrimage. It is one of the twelve jyotirlingas, and also one of the 51 shaktipeeths and is famous for the mela of Shrawan (5th month according to the Hindu calendar system. It is the only place in India where the jyotirlinga and the saktipeeth are together. They lay side by side. Each year between July and August (on the eve of the month ofShraavana) about 7 to 8 million devotees come from various part of India to offer holy water from the Ganges at Sultangunj; almost 108 km from Deoghar to present it to Shiva. An unbroken line of people in saffron-dyed clothes stretches over the full 108 km for the month. (Shiva) temple 

Get in

• By rail - the nearest railway station is Baidyanath Dham (Deoghar) which is a terminal station of a 7 km branch line originating at Jasidih Jn. on the Howrah-Delhi main line. Apart from local trains on the branch line trekkers (type of jeep) taking in passengers on a per person fare basis and auto rickshaws are available.

• By road - Deoghar is approachable from Kolkata 373 km, Giridih 112 km, Patna281 km, Dumka 67 km, Madhupur 30km,Ranchi 250 km Shimultala 53 km and other places. Regular buses are available from surrounding towns.

Get around

Unmetered taxis or hired cars, auto rickshaws, tongas and cycle rickshaws are available. Tongas charge around Rs. 400, autorickshaws around Rs. 500 and hired cars Rs. 700-1,000 for a visit to most of the important places in the town.

See

• Baidyanath Temple - According to Hindu mythology, Ravana went to Mount Kailash and prayed to Lord Shiva, who gave him a Jyotirlinga to take to his land, with the promise not to place the lingam any where else. In case that happened, the lingam would remain fixed on that spot forever. The gods, who were unhappy at the prospect of the divine lingam being established in the enemy kingdom, which would render them powerless against their adversary, worked a trick on Ravana. He mistakenly handed over the lingam to a brahmin, who grounded it at Deoghar. Ravana did his best to uproot it but beyond breaking the tip he was unsuccessful. In deep remorse, he used to come to this place everyday and worship the lingam by offering water from the Ganges. Historically the temple is dated to 1596. The temple has almost all god & godesses and whole temple is built on a single rock. During the month of 'Sawan' people from across the country come to offer ganga jal to the divine Shiva ling.

For centuries, devotees, in the month of Shravan (June-July) undertake a rigorous 100-km pilgrimage on foot from Ajgaibinath (Sultanganj) in Bhgalpur district to offer holy water from the Ganges to the lingam at Deoghar.

• Naulakha Mandir - It is situated 1.5 km away from Baba Baidyanath Temple. It is a nice visiting spot. This temple looks like the temple of Ramakrishna in Belur. Inside it there are idols of Radha - Krishna. Its height is 146 feet. The amount spent in construction of the temple was about Rs. 900,000 (9 lakhs). Hence it became known as Naulakha Temple.

• Satsang Ashram - A holy place for devotees of Shri Shri Thakur Anukulchandra. In the south-west of Deoghar there is a big Ashram established by Sri Sri Anukul Chandra which is called Satsang Ashram. It is a universal reforming Ashram and working for the betterment of humanity. People from India and abroad visit this Ashram every year.

• Tapovan - Situated 10 km from Deoghar. There is a temple of Shiva which is the centre of attraction for pilgrims. The temple of Shiva is called Taponath Mahadeva. A number of caves are found in this hill. In one of the caves, a Shiva lingam is installed. It is said that Sage Valmiki came here for penance. Sri Sri Balananda Brahmachari obtained Siddhi (success through penance) here.

• Nandan Pahar - This is a small hill edging the town which hosts a famous Nandi Temple. It has been beautifully maintained by the local administration and speaks volume about the beauty of this place. This hill faces the famous Shiv temple. The Nandan pahar has a huge park for children. It also has a ghost house, a boot house, a mirror house and a restaurant

• Balanand Ashram Yogashala, Karnibagh - Yoga Institution.
• Harila Joria - Harila Jori is situated in the northern side of Deoghar, 8 km away from Baidyanath temple and 5 km away from Tower chowk. During ancient times, the area was full of Haritaki (Myrobalan) trees. This was the place where Ravana handed over the lingam to lord Visnu disguised as a Brahmin, and went for urination. A stream flows here and is known as Ravana Jori.
• Trikut -  It is situated 13 km away from Deoghar on the way to Dumka. There are three main peaks on the hill which is why it is called Trikutachal. The height of this hill is 2,470 feet (750 m). There is also a temple of Shiva at this place known as Trikutachal Mahadeva Temple. It is the mouth of river Mayurakshi. Here we also find an altar of the goddess of Trishuli. It is an attractive place with a cool stream flowing. Now this is going to have Jharkhand's first ropeway.

• Prabhu Jagadbandhu Ashrama - 4 km from Deoghar, on the way to Tapovan, near Charki Pahari crossing - for short stay in a cool, pristine environment with monks and other ashramiks.

• Ram Nivas Ashram: In this ashram Sri Sri Balananda Brahmachari Maharaj, a great yogi and guru used to stay and meditate. His disciple and the 2nd Mohanta (Head) of the ashram, Mohanananda Brahmacharialso stayed in this place. This ashram, surrounded by trees and gardens has temples of Tripura Sundari, Radha- Krishna, and Bhagbati Devi. A memorial temple has also been created at this place where the ashes of Sri Mohanananda Brahmachari were put to rest.

• Ramkrishna MIssion Vidyapith, Tiwari Chowk (Williams Town) - a boarding school run by monks of RK Mission. The campus is full of greenery and has 12 football fields. The Ramkrishna Mission Vidyapith, a branch of Ramkrishna Mission, Belur Math, Howrah district, was established in 1922 with the objective of imparting modern education combined with the values of our ancient culture in the lines of the ancient Gurukula.

• Rikhia Ashram - This Bihar School of Yoga (Sri Sri Panch Dashanam Paramhansa Alakhbarah) was established by Swami Satyananda Saraswati. Thousand of devotees from different corners of the world participate in a fair an annual festival and ceremony which is held in late November to early December. Foreigners are seen often in the town, especially between November and February. This ashram is indeed a sacred place and its charitable deeds greatly benefits the welfare of the local villages.

• Shivganga - Situated just 200 meters away from Baidyanath Temple. When Ravana was taking the lingam to Lanka, he felt the urge for urination. He handed over the lingam to a brahmin and went for urintation. After urination, he needed to wash his hands and be purified before holding the lingam. When he did not find any water source nearby, he made a blow with his fist on the earth and water came out and formed a pond. This pond is now known as Shivaganga.

• Prabhu Jagadbandhu Ashrama - It is situated 4 km away from Deoghar on the way to Tapovan, near Charki Pahari crossing. The ashrama houses a stone-temple of Prabhu Jagadbandhu, a religious preacher born at a hamlet called Dahapara of Murshidabad, Bengal. Even a single night's stay at this small but beautifully flowery and green ashrama located within a pristine landscape can provide solace and tranquility to the city tourists.

• Koiridih- A historical place near river side has an English time rest house with thousands of teak wood forest beautiful mountain view which is surrounded by Dighariya forest and a nice dam is coming. This village had a famous Ghandian freedom fighter name Late Ayodhya Prasad Singh. The High School of koiridih produced a number of skills students.

Get out

• Kali Dham, Pathrol - 53 km on bus route towards Madhupur via Sarath. Beautiful temple with nine more beautiful tamples around the Main Kali Tample which was built by Raja Digvijay Singh, 6 to 7 centuries ago.
• Basakinath Temple (42 km): It is famous for its Shiva Temple, and the pilgrimage to Babadham is considered incomplete without paying homage at Basukinath. It is situated 43 km from Deoghar near the village of Jarmundi and connected by road. It is an indigenous temple bearing local art.
• Dumka - 65 km
• Massanjore Dam - 98 km.
• Giridih - 112 km