Kalu Siddh is one among the four siddhs of Dehradun namely Laxman Siddh, Manak Siddh and Mandu Siddh, located within 15 km radius of the city. It is a local pilgrimage circuit that is quite popular among the doonites.
The Kalu Siddh is positioned at 7 km from Thano village near Bhaniwala. This holy shrine is dedicated to a Hindu saint named Kalu Siddh and is situated in the Thano Forest Range, amid the dense thicket of Sal. There is also a natural source of water flowing nearby.
Mythology related to Kalu Siddh
According to the Hindu beliefs, it was here that the 84 disciples of Lord Dattatreya including Kalu Maharaj indulged in a prolonged penance to appease Lord Shiva. Many devotees who visit this site offer jaggery and take the prasad for the fulfilment of their wishes. The temple of Kalu Siddh is under the open sky in the shade of the Gosum tree. Numerous attempts to put a roof on the temple site has failed thus, strengthening the faith of people on the holy site. Traditionally, the villagers living nearby offer the first milk of their herd at the holy shrine as they consider it to be propitious. It is believed that the fortunate ones can see two heavily bodied shape changing apes here.
Why visit Kalu Siddh?
The holy shrine of Kalu Siddh is adorned in the lavish surroundings of the tempting Doon Valley. You can have a spiritual retreat here and can feel absolute bliss as the place offers stunning views of nature. River song flows nearby which makes the area near Kalu Siddh perfect for bird watching and trekking. If you are a curious soul then you should hit this place as you can spot some of the rare Himalayan bird species and can have an adrenaline pumping trek to the Doon Valley.
Accommodation
One can have a nostalgic stay at the well equipped Thano Forest Rest House that offers accommodation to the tourists.
How to reach Kalu Siddh
Kalu Siddh in Kaluwala village is located at a distance of 7 km from Thano village, near Bhaniwala. This holy site is adorned in the Thano Forest Range and can be accessed by personal vehicle since there is no public transport available to Kalu Siddh. Dehradun railway station at 27 km away is the nearest railhead to Kalu Siddh. Jolly Grant airport at 11 km away is the closest airport to the shrine. Kalu Sidh is only 28 km from Rishikesh, 37 km from Haridwar and around 253 km from Delhi.