Top Places to visit in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh

Shukratal is the place where Sukadeva Goswami narrated the sacred Srimad-Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana) to Maharaja Pariksit son of Abhimanyu 5000 years ago. This is one of the famous holy destination in North India. This place is around 28 KM from Muzaffarnagar . The sacred place is situated on the banks of the holy Ganga River, where it has cut a swathe through the rocky region. Every year lots of pilgrims are used to come in the month of ‘Kartika’ (October-November) on the day of ‘Purnima’ (Full Moon) to take a bath in holy river ‘Ganga’.

Places to visit in SHUKRATAL: Akshayavat (The Undying Tree): On a hillock stands the big Akshayavat (banyan tree) under which, according to belief, sage Shukdev had narrated the Shrimadbhagwat Katha to King Parikshit. The uniqueness of this tree is that it does not shed leaves.

Shukdev Temple: This majestic temple has beautifully carved idols of Sage Shukdev and King Parikshit.

Lord Hanuman Temple: In close proximity to Shukdev temple, stands the beautiful Hanuman Temple. This temple has one of the tallest images of Hanuman at 75 feet high standing outdoors over the main shrine.

Ganesh Temple: Nearby hanuman temple there is a Ganesh temple which has a tall outdoor image of Ganesh Ji, which stands 35 feet tall.

There are so many places to visit as Lord Shankar Temple, Swami Charandasji Temple, Lord Ram Temple, Goddess Shakambhari Temple, Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Ganga Temple.

Vahelna is an important pilgrimage site for Jains. This site has a mosque, a Shiva temple and a Jain temple sharing a common wall, signifying secularism. The Vahelna Jain Mandir, also known as Shri 1008 Parshwanath Digamber Jain Atishye Chetra, has an old idol of Lord Parshwanath. This temple complex also has a 57 ft high Manasthamb and a Naturopathy Hospital & Research Centre. A newly built 31 ft monolith statue of Lord Parshwanath has been installed in the Jain Mandir. Vahelna is a small industrial village situated 4 km from the Muzaffarnagar City.

Hanumatdham, situated in the Shukratal town of Muzaffarnagar District, was constructed in 1987. A 72 ft high idol of Hanuman was installed by Shri Sudarshan Singh Chakra and Inder Kumar. The idol was made by Shri Keshav Ram of Shahdol and was inaugurated by Swami Kalyandev Maharaj. In the front of the idol, there is an open courtyard of yagyashala and on the other side, there is katha-manch. Just behind the idol, there are shrines of Lord Rama, Shri Radha Krishna and a hut of Shri Sudarshan Chakra.

This 5100-year-old Banyan Tree is nothing short of miraculous. Akshay Vat Vatika towering height of 150 feet and sprawling roots are enough to intimidate anyone. It is considered a living representation of Sage Sukhdeva. It is believed that he sat under this tree and recited the Shrimad Bhagwad Puranas to King Parikshit, Arjun’s grandson, for 7 simultaneous days. The tree is hence seen as an emblem of divinity, truth, forgiveness and sacredness. The tree has been given a special name, the Tree of Undying Character, as it doesn’t shed any of its leaves. This Holy tree is visited by devotees, who tie a red thread around it to fulfill their wishes.

Ganeshdham is popular among devotees for the 35 ft high statue of Lord Ganesh. At Ganeshdham, there is River Tripatha flowing on one side and Vat Vraksha on the other. It also has a huge idol of Lord Hanuman at the back side, near the Sukhdeva Teela.

Nakshatra Vatika is the center of tourist attraction. Visitors and pilgrims visiting the mythical city Shukartaal are sure to visit the Vatika. The beauty of the Nakshatra Vatika forces tourists to stretch towards it. Nakshatra Vatika, full of greenery, is proving better from the environmental perspective. From time to time, there is also the support from the administration and leaders for the beautification and improvement of the Nakshatra Vatika. The management of the Nakshatra Vatika has been entrusted to the five-member team, which monitors it.

Swami Keshvanandji Maharaj, the Pithadhishwar of Hanumdham, says that in Indian culture, trees and Nakshatra have been considered integral to the bliss of human happiness from the emotional state of human life. According to the culture of the rishis, the tree of every nakshatra is also certain. Nakshatra Vatika was inaugurated on April 8, 2001, by then Governor Vishnu Kant Shastri. He had planted the tree of Jambu of his own birth Nakshatra.

Following Trees are planted in the Nakshatra Vatika – Kachila, Amla, Gular, Jamuna, Khair, Sheesham, Bamboo, Pipal, Nangkeer, Banyan, Dhaka, Pakad, Rita, Bell, Arjun, Vikankat, Molshree, Chir, Sal, Jalewats, Kehal, Madar, Shami, Kadamb The Kalpvraksha tree, Mango, Neem, Mahua.

The beautiful stone statues of animals, birds, peacocks, crocodiles, lions, snakes, dinosaurs, fish, giraffes, elephants and frogs are set to entertain children in the Nakshatra Vatika. The statue of two guards standing at the main gate of the Nakshatra Vatika also entertains devotees.

This temple is as old as Pashupatinath temple at Nepal.Having very beautiful panchmukhi Shivling made by very costly stone Kasauti. statue of Ma Ganga, Ganesh Gauri, Laxmi-Narayan and Garun devata also seen in this temple.It is situated at village Sambhalheda (a very small village) of distt. Muzaffarnagar (Uttar-Pradesh).

From Delhi, this important holy place is about two third of the way between Delhi and Haridwar. This small town sits on the banks of a branch of the holy Ganges River. This is a special place where Shukdeva Goswami spoke the Srimad Bhagavatam to Maharaja Parikshit 5000 years ago.

It is about an hour east of the city of Muzaffarnagar. It is around 150 km from Delhi on the way to Haridwar.

Shukratirtha– First the Bhagavata Peeth Shukdev Ashrama. This is built around the 5100-year-old Akshay Vriksha tree which sits on top of the hill where 80,000 sages of all ranks gathered hear Shukdev Goswami speak the Bhagavatam to Maharaja Pariksit 5000 years ago. It was under the branches of this tree where Shukdev Goswami and King Pariksit sat. The uniqueness of this tree as its name suggests is that it does not shed leaves. The tree is quite large, towering up to 150 feet, with branches spreading in all directions, even coming out of the sides of the hill just below the tree. One branch has a nub coming out of it is in the shape similar to Lord Ganesh. The ashrama includes a number of shrines and deities within its complex, including one close to the tree that has the images of Shukdev Goswami sitting and speaking to King Pariksit.

To the east of the town is Ganga, which is a quiet and peaceful river here, compared to the swift and powerful river at Haridwar and Rishikesh. Many pilgrims take a holy bath here. However, this is a branch of the Ganga that flows next to the village, while the main branch of the Ganga is 3 to 4 kilometres away. It is in this area where King Pariksit gave up his body.

source: https://muzaffarnagar.nic.in/tourist-places/

Muzaffarnagar is well-connected by roadways and railway networks. National Highway number 58 (NH-58) also passes through Muzaffarnagar city.

BY FLIGHT

The nearest airport is Dehra Dun Airport.

98 km away – Dehra Dun Airport (DED), Dehradun, Uttarakhand

105 km away – Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), New Delhi, Delhi

BY TRAIN

Muzaffarnagar is well connected to other major cities of the country via regular trains.

Major Railway Stations: Muzaffarnagar (MOZ), Kahtauli, Mansurpur, Jadoda Nara, Rohana, Bamanheri

BY BUS

You can easily get regular buses to Muzaffarnagar from other major cities of the country.