Dodital Ganesh Temple is situated on the banks of Dodital Lake, a freshwater lake in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. The lake is surrounded by thick pine, oak, and rhododendron forests and lies at an altitude of about 3,024 metres (9,920 feet) above sea level. Dodital is also known as “Dhundital”, meaning ‘Ganesha ka Taal’ or ‘Lake of Ganesha’. The lake is also the source of the Assi Ganga River, which later joins the Bhagirathi near Uttarkashi.
Dodital temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha, worshipped here as Dhundiraj. Devotees believe that after being revived by Lord Shiva, Ganesha himself chose Dodital as his divine abode. The shrine, though simple, houses a small yet sacred idol of Lord Ganesha and is deeply revered as his birthplace. A small shrine for Lord Shiva also stands nearby, adding to the sanctity of this serene temple on the banks of the holy lake.
The history of Dodital is closely tied to both nature and mythology. The name “Dodital” is believed to have originated from the trout fish locally known as Dodi, which is found in abundance in the lake. Over time, however, the lake gained a sacred identity and came to be called Dhundital or Ganesha ka Taal, as local tradition firmly believes this to be the birthplace of Lord Ganesha.
According to local belief, Goddess Parvati used to bathe in Dodital. Once, to guard her privacy, she first asked Nandi, Shiva’s bull, to stand watch. But when Shiva came, Nandi could not stop him. Parvati, disappointed, decided to create a new guardian of her own.
She took turmeric paste, sandalwood, and clay from Dodital, molded it into the form of a child, and gave him life. She named him Ganesha and instructed him to obey only her commands.
When Lord Shiva tried to enter again, the child stopped him. Shiva grew angry at being denied and fought with the boy. None of Shiva’s ganas could defeat him, which revealed his divine strength. Finally, Shiva, in fury, beheaded the boy.
When Parvati saw this, she was grief-stricken and enraged. She threatened to destroy the entire universe unless her son was restored. Lord Brahma and the gods pleaded with Shiva to bring him back. Shiva instructed his attendants to bring the head of the first living being they found facing north. They returned with the head of a young elephant, which Shiva placed on the boy’s body. Thus, Lord Ganesha was reborn with an elephant head.
From that moment, it was declared that no worship, puja, or auspicious act would begin without invoking Lord Ganesha first. Hence, Dodital is remembered as Ganesha’s Janmabhoomi.
The main festival celebrated at Dodital is Ganesh Chaturthi, which attracts devotees from nearby villages and distant regions who come to offer prayers at this sacred birthplace of Lord Ganesha. Special pujas and rituals are performed on the banks of the lake, filling the serene Himalayan setting with devotional chants. Apart from Ganesh Chaturthi, local fairs and seasonal pilgrimages during summer also mark the festive spirit of the temple, as devotees undertake the trek to seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha and Lord Shiva.
