Mostamanu: The Rain God of the Soar Valley

Temple Guide · Updated July 2026

Ask anyone in Pithoragarh who watches over the valley's weather and they'll answer without hesitating: Mosta Devta. His temple, Mostamanu, stands on the breezy Chandak plateau a few kilometres above town — a shrine of the local rain deity, revered as a son of the serpent-king Vasuki, whose blessing farmers have sought for centuries before sowing and after drought. This is living folk religion, not guidebook Hinduism, and it is one of the easiest and most rewarding stops in our home district.

The high skyline beyond the Soar valley — Mostamanu's plateau looks straight at it (file photo, 5 Peaks archive)

The Temple and Its Legend

The complex is simple: a walled courtyard, a shikhara shrine hung with bells, and long views over the chequered fields of the Soar valley. Tradition holds Mosta emerged here as a guardian of the valley's springs and rains; villages across the district still bring him first offerings of the harvest. The Mostamanu mela, held in the weeks after Shravan (usually August–September), fills the plateau with drummers, doli processions and half the district — one of Kumaon's great small fairs.

Getting There

Mostamanu is 5–6 km from Pithoragarh bazaar by road via the Chandak climb — fifteen minutes by taxi, or a pleasant two-hour walk up the old pilgrim path if you'd rather earn it. The temple is open through daylight hours year-round, with morning aarti the liveliest moment.

Around the Plateau

Chandak is Pithoragarh's playground: the paragliding launch site operates from the same ridge in season, the Kapileshwar Mahadev cave (our guide) is a short drive around the rim, and the manaskhand-era Ulka Devi temple and the old fort viewpoints fill out an easy half-day. On sharp winter mornings the Panchachuli group floats above the northern horizon from the plateau edge.

Best Time to Visit

Year-round. October–March for mountain clarity, August–September for the mela, spring for warm walking weather. Even in monsoon the drive up is short enough to time between showers — fitting, for the rain god.

Make It a Temple Day

String Mostamanu together with Kapileshwar Mahadev and a sunset at the fort for the classic Pithoragarh town circuit, or use it as the gentle first stop of a bigger Himalayan temple journey toward Thal Kedar, Dhwaj and the Adi Kailash country beyond.