Alopi Devi Mandir

Alopi Devi Mandir is situated in Alopibagh in Allahabad in state of Uttar Pradesh, India. This place is very near to the holy Sangam where the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and the legendary Sarasvati meet. Kumbh Mela ground is very near to this place.

This temple is peculiar in a way that there is no idol in this temple rather there is a wooden carriage or 'doli' which is worshiped.Like all other ancient temples Alopi Devi temple has its origin rooted into a folklore.It dates back to the time when the entire region was covered by dense forests infested with dreaded dacoits. Once upon a time in that forest happened to pass a marriage procession. Marriage processions, in those days used to be the most vulnerable targets of robbers as they used to return loaded with gold and other riches.While deep into the jungle this marriage party found itself surrounded by robbers, robbers after killing all the men and looting the wealth turned to the 'doli' or carriage of the bride. To their dismay when they unveiled the carriage they found there was no one inside. The bride had magically disappeared.The word went around, history became legend and legend became myth. A temple came up at the site where this incident had happened and locals started worshiping the bride as "Alopi Devi" or the 'virgin goddess who had disappeared'.

As the time went by the jungles gave way to the new jungle of concrete the place became densely populated but the legend lived on. Alopi devi temple still stands there and Alopi devi continues to be worshiped by thousands of people living in Alopibagh who share every festival, marriage, birth and death with their guarding deity.