Set in Naimisharanya, Uttar Pradesh, Shri Naimishnath Vishnu Temple is dedicated to Vishnu as Naimishnath or Devaraja Perumal with consort Pundareekavalli Thayar (Sri Hari Lakshmi). It is also known as Naimishnath Devaraja Temple, Naimisharanya Temple, Devaraja Perumal Temple, Ramanuj Kot Temple.
The temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the Vishnu temples glorified in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham composed by the Alvar poet-saints; it is the 97th Divya Desam, Thiru Naimisaranyam, praised by Thirumangai Alvar in ten hymns. It is also counted among a small group of Swayamvyakta Kshetras, temples where the deity is believed to be self-manifested rather than consecrated. Naimisharanya is described in the Puranas as the forest chosen by Brahma for tapas, where the sage Suta is said to have first recited the Puranas to an assembly of 88,000 rishis.
Uttar Pradesh carries a distinct temple identity of its own: The spiritual heartland of India, home to Kashi, the birthplaces of Rama and Krishna, and revered Shakti and Vaishnava shrines along the Ganga and Yamuna.
Darshan hours and daily worship
| Session | Timing (as published) |
|---|---|
| Morning | 5:00 AM to 12:00 PM |
| Evening | 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM |
Timings sourced from a temple information blog and could not be independently corroborated from an official source; confirm locally before visiting.
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Purnima | Monthly, on the full moon day | Purnima is observed as a significant day of worship and pilgrim gathering at the temple and the nearby Chakra Tirtha. |
History and architecture
Architecture
South Indian style gopuram on the exterior with North Indian architectural features inside; three adjoining garbagrihas for Vishnu, Lakshmi and Ramanujacharya; a golden Garuda stambha stands before the sanctum
History
Naimisharanya is described in the Puranas as the forest chosen by Brahma for tapas, where the sage Suta is said to have first recited the Puranas to an assembly of 88,000 rishis. The nearby Chakra Tirtha, a tank in which water is said to flow in a circular motion from an underground source, marks the spot where a divine chakra (wheel) came to rest. The site is also associated with sage Vedavyasa, and tradition holds that Adi Shankaracharya visited and the poet Surdas resided here.
Planning your visit
How to reach
Naimisharanya (Nimsar) is about 32 km from Sitapur town and roughly 72 km (45 miles) north of Lucknow, on the left bank of the Gomati river. The nearest railway station is Sandila, about 42 km away.
Where this information comes from
Confidence: Medium. Deity, history and Divya Desam status are well corroborated across Wikipedia and Sri Vaishnava temple directories; timings are sourced only from a temple information blog and could not be independently verified, and entry fee, dress code and specific festival dates were not found from reliable sources so were left blank