About this temple
Alakhnath Temple is a Shiva shrine in Bareilly’s Nath Nagri pilgrimage landscape. It is associated with ascetic practice and Naga sadhus; its complex includes a prominent Hanuman image and a revered tree-side Shiva linga.
History
The shrine’s local origin account centres on Alakhiya Baba, also called Alakh Giri. The accessible local guide associates the establishment with his meditation and the discovery of a linga. A documented foundation date or dated building inscription was not established.
Legends & Religious Traditions
Alakhiya Baba tradition: The area is said to have been wooded when the saint meditated here. During his spiritual practice he became aware of a self-manifested Shiva linga beneath the ground. Excavation revealed it, and worship developed at that place. This is an attributed sacred discovery story, not an archaeologically dated foundation account.
Establishment / Consecration and Dating
A local visitor guide describes an age of roughly 900–1,000 years. This is a reported traditional age; it does not independently date the present structure.
Religious and Cultural Significance
The shrine belongs to Bareilly’s Nath Nagri religious identity. It is also described as an Anand Akhara / Dashanami centre with a Naga ascetic tradition. Those institutional associations should not be reduced to the place-name “Nath” alone.
Architecture / Physical Features
A large Hanuman image, Shiva worship under or beside a tree, and subsidiary shrines distinguish the complex. Exact dimensions and the age of the tree were not independently measured.
Rituals, Worship and Seva
YatraDham lists morning aarti at 5 AM and evening aarti at 7 PM. The morning time precedes its listed general-darshan window; confirm service access with temple staff.
Festivals and Religious Significance
Maha Shivaratri and Shravan, especially Mondays, are important occasions for Shiva worship and jalabhishek.
How to Reach
Bareilly Junction is the rail approach, followed by local road transport. YatraDham gives approximately 4.6 km from the station and 11.4 km from Bareilly Airport; actual transfers depend on the route.
Dress Code and Temple Etiquette
YatraDham recommends traditional or formal clothing. A detailed temple-issued dress policy was not verified.
Photography and Electronic Devices
YatraDham lists photography as not allowed. Ask temple staff before photographing the shrine or ascetics.
Address and Location Details
Shree Baba Alakhnath Temple, Phool Bagh / Quilla Chhawni area, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Contradictory Accounts and Variations
The two visitor guides list split darshan hours, but YatraDham separately says the temple is open 24 hours. Its 5 AM aarti also precedes the 6 AM general-darshan opening. Published counts of Bareilly’s Nath temples vary by itinerary and period; these are not a verified exhaustive inventory.
Verification Notes and Uncertainties
Reviewed 29 October 2026. BareillyTourism.in is treated as a local secondary guide, not assumed to be the government tourism department. The supplied UP Tourism post returned no readable content, Bhaskar was inaccessible and News18 could not be retrieved. The attack-protection story was not published from a headline alone. Traditional age and discovery accounts are labelled; two existing photographs are preserved.