If you close your eyes to picture Shukratal in Uttar Pradesh, you would be probably conjuring images of a mystical place. And, to this imagination, if you could add River Ganga flowing through the city and major historical sites, you would get the complete picture of how Shukratal actually is.
This ancient city offers unique sites and attractions that guarantee unrivalled experiences. Luckily, it is not difficult to get there—it is roughly 1 hour 26 min away by road from Delhi, and 2 hours away from Dehradun. Here, we take a close look at the landmark sites of this offbeatdestination in Uttar Pradesh.
Shukratal is situated in the Muzaffarnagar district of western UP on the banks of Ganga. It has been a site of pilgrimage since 5,000 years, given its connection with King Parikshit, the descendant of the Pandavas as mentioned in the Mahabharata. It is written that the great Sage Shuka Dev, son of Maharishi Vyasa, bestowed the knowledge of true liberation on the king, who was cursed to die within seven days.
This place holds great significance for its antiquity. A special fair is organised at this site on Kartik Poornima that draws a large gathering to take a dip in the river
How to reach Shukratal?
While travelling to Haridwar or Dehradun from Delhi for about 120 km, travellers have to cross the Muzaffarnagar bypass road. On this route, while driving on the Morna-Bijnor road for 26 km, one can reach Shukratal. Do not rely on Google Maps to locate this place because you may never find it!
Akshay Vat – an ancient, silent spectator
Photo by: Uttar Pradesh tourism, Creative Commons Attribution Licence
The most intriguing and awe-inspiring spots is the hillock, in which the holy Akshay Vat (banyan tree) stands. It is believed that it is the same aged tree, under which Sage Shuk Dev narrated Shrimad Bhagwat Katha to King Parikshit before his death. Interestingly, this banyan tree never sheds its leaves. It is quite an experience to see a magnanimous tree that has seen many civilisations come and go. This tree is surrounded by ancient temples, stay houses for pilgrims, immersion sites etc. There is a shrine, where the image of Lord Krishna wielding a flute is flanked by the idols of Shuka Dev, King Parikshit and a host of other sages. Long ago, River Ganga would flow close by but with the passage of time, it has moved a bit far away from this site.
A place where the Ganga came to meet Lord Shiva
This temple has an interesting backstory. When this temple was being built, River Ganga suddenly changed its course and came extremely close to the construction site. Anxious about the turn of events, the temple founders worshipped Goddess Ganga and prayed her to change the course. The prayers were accepted and construction was resumed. A shrine for the holy river was also constructed at the same time to honour the ancient river. The Shiva Temple has beautiful interiors made of marble, and the whole place emanates peaceful vibes.
Behold! The largest idol of Hanuman
Shukratal is famous for being home to the largest idol ever of Lord Hanuman. This idol stands 75 feet and 10 inches tall from the ground. In the temple complex are located the images of different species of monkeys found on this planet.