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SHIVA TEMPLE · FOREST SHRINE · PILGRIMAGEKedareshwar Mahadev
The forest Shiva of Dahod — Kedareshwar Mahadev, set among the wooded hills of the district, is the principal Shaiva pilgrimage shrine of the region, drawing devotees through the Shravan month to worship Shiva in a setting where the sacred and the natural are inseparable.
A Shiva pilgrimage shrine in the hills
Kedareshwar Mahadev is among the most beloved Shiva temples of Dahod district — a forest shrine set in the wooded hill country, where the name ‘Kedareshwar’ links the temple to the great Shaiva tradition of Kedar, shared with the Himalayan shrine of Kedarnath and the many Kedareshwar temples across India. The temple is a centre of Shiva worship for the towns and villages of the district.
Devotion peaks during the holy month of Shravan, when pilgrims walk to the shrine to offer water and bilva leaves to the Shivalinga, and on Mahashivratri, the great night of Shiva, when the temple comes alive with all-night worship. The setting is essential to the temple’s character: the forest, the hills, and often a natural water source nearby, create the atmosphere of a sacred place embedded in nature — the particular quality of the temples of eastern Gujarat, where the line between the devotional and the natural is gently and beautifully drawn.
For the pilgrim and the visitor alike, Kedareshwar offers a peaceful and atmospheric temple experience — most powerful during Shravan, most comfortable in the cooler winter months, and always enhanced by the beauty of its forest setting. (An active temple; modest dress; busiest during Shravan and on Mahashivratri.)
From a riverside experiment to the road to freedom
Illustration — Kedareshwar Mahadev.
Linked to Shaiva Kedar.
Embedded in nature.
The great Shiva month.
The district's main Shiva temple.
Reasons to make the time
Shiva temple
Forest shrine.
Pilgrimage
Shravan devotion.
Forest
A natural setting.
Water
Often a source nearby.
Shivratri
All-night worship.
Calm
Devotion and quiet.
What to look for inside
Shiva temple
The forest shrine.
Pilgrimage
Water and bilva leaves.
How to spend an hour or two
Offer at the Shivalinga
Water and bilva.
Visit during Shravan
The peak season.
Attend Mahashivratri
All-night worship.
Walk the forest setting
Hills and trees.
Find the water source
Often nearby.
Sit quietly
Devotion and calm.
A forest Shiva shrine
Kedareshwar Mahadev is a forest Shiva temple of the kind characteristic of eastern Gujarat — a Shivalinga shrine embedded in the natural landscape of hills, forest and water, linked by name and dedication to the wider Shaiva tradition of Kedar. The setting is as important as the structure: devotion and nature meet here. Worship peaks during Shravan and on Mahashivratri, when pilgrims come from across the district. (An active temple; modest dress; busiest in Shravan and on Mahashivratri.)
The principal Shiva temple of Dahod district
Linked by name to the Shaiva Kedar tradition
Pilgrimage during Shravan and on Mahashivratri
A forest shrine where the sacred and natural meet
When to go
Cool and clear — ideal for visits.
The great Shiva month.
Hot; early morning best.
⏰ Shravan and Mahashivratri are the most devotional times across Dahod's temples.
Getting there
By Air
Vadodara (~155 km) or Indore.
By Rail
Dahod Junction — major station.
By Road
NH-47; buses from Godhra.
Know before you go
More to see close by
Limkheda
A gateway town of the highlands
Dahod Town
Birthplace of emperor Aurangzeb
Garbada Tribal Belt
Living Bhil tribal hamlets
Chhab Lake Shrines
Lakeside temples in Dahod
Chhab Talav
The serene lake at the heart of Dahod
Ratanmahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary
A rugged refuge of the Indian sloth bear
Where to eat around the ashram
Gujarati Thali
Comfort home cooking.
Tribal food
Forest produce & maize.
Makai
The maize staple.
Dal-bati
A rustic favourite.
What to eat
Hearty regional and tribal cooking — Gujarati thalis, maize staples and rustic dal-bati.
Kedareshwar Mahadev FAQ
What is Kedareshwar Mahadev?
The principal Shiva pilgrimage temple of Dahod district.
When is it busiest?
During Shravan and on Mahashivratri.
What does the name mean?
It links the temple to the Shaiva tradition of Kedar.
What is offered?
Water and bilva leaves to the Shivalinga.
What is the setting?
Forested hill country, often with a water source nearby.
Dress code?
Modest dress; respectful behaviour.
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