About this temple
Khereshwar Mahadev Mandir at Tajpur Rasulpur, Aligarh, is dedicated to Shiva. The shrine contains a Shiva linga, brass deity images and engraved ceilings with metallic mural decoration; a small pond and fields lie nearby.
History
Khereshwar is a continuing centre of Shiva worship at Tajpur Rasulpur. Local religious memory links the site to Krishna, Balarama and the Pandavas. These associations express its sacred antiquity; the consulted district account and reports do not establish a dated foundation or the age of the surviving structure.
Legends & Religious Traditions
Krishna and Balarama tradition: A 2022 report attributes to temple committee representatives the account that Krishna and Balarama rested on a mound here while travelling from Mathura for a Ganga bath. Saints complained of the oppressive ruler Kolasur; Balarama defeated him. Returning from the river, Krishna established a Shiva linga and worshipped Mahadev.
Pandava tradition: A 2024 report records the belief that Krishna and the Pandavas worshipped the linga and performed havan here, explaining the shrine’s reputation as a siddhpeeth.
Hal Dhua tradition: The same report relates that Balarama washed his plough during the journey, giving a place along the route the name Hal Dhua. These are attributed religious traditions, not independently verified historical events.
Architecture / Physical Features
Engraved ceilings have metallic mural decoration. A pond and fields form part of the surrounding setting.
Rituals, Worship and Seva
Devotees offer water to the Shiva linga, particularly on Mondays and Maha Shivaratri. Havan also forms part of the temple’s sacred narratives.
Festivals and Religious Significance
Maha Shivaratri brings large gatherings for jalabhishek. Mondays are important for Shiva worship, and fairs are reported in Shravan and at Devchhath in Bhadon. Temple committee representatives connect Devchhath with Balarama’s victory over Kolasur; the reported fair includes wrestling, kabaddi and cultural programmes.
How to Reach
The shrine is on Khair Bypass Road at Tajpur Rasulpur. The district account places it approximately 5 km from the city centre and 10 km from Aligarh Bus Stand; these distances use different starting points. Aligarh is accessible by rail, followed by local road transport.
Address and Location Details
Khereshwar Mahadev Mandir, Tajpur Rasulpur village, Khair Bypass Road, Kol tehsil, Aligarh district, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Contradictory Accounts and Variations
The journey tradition varies: Jagran’s committee-attributed account names Ramghat and Kolasur, while Hindustan names Rajghat and includes Pandava worship and the Hal Dhua tradition. These variations are retained as religious accounts. A travel page describes a Ganges-bank shrine founded by Raja Sati Prasad; this conflicts with the district’s Tajpur Rasulpur setting and is not used to establish this temple’s origin.
Verification Notes and Uncertainties
Reviewed 30 October 2026. A secondary listing corroborates the reported 6–11 AM and 3–8 PM hours, but no current temple-issued timetable was established. No dated founding record, small/invisible-linga description or Ulsur demon name has been verified. The 1892 consecration account concerns the separate Mahamrityunjay shrine at Pakki Sarai. A labelled AI illustration of the Krishna–Balarama worship tradition has been added; it is not documentary photography of Khereshwar.