Legendary Golu Devta

Golu Devata or Lord Golu also called Gwalla or Gorilla or Golla, is the legendary mythological and historical God of the Kumaun region of Uttarakhand state of India and is their the much loved deity.

Golu Devata is thought to be as an incarnation of Gaur Bhairav (Shiva), and is worshipped all over the region and regarded as the dispenser of justice by the devotees with extreme faith.

Historically, he is considered as the brave son and General of Katyuri king, Jhal Rai and his mother was Kalinka, and his grandfather was Hal Rai. Historically the origin of Golu Devata is accepted at Champawat.
An another legend says that Golu Devta was killed by the king of Binsar due to some false doubt,he was beheaded and his boy felled at Gairad at Dana Golu and his head felled at Kaparkhan, near modern day Binsar, a few kms from Almora. At Dana Golu, there is the original and most ancient temple of Golu Devta.
Another legend suggests that he was a General in the army of Chand king, Baz Bahadur's (1638-78), and died displaying explemplary valour at war, the temple was erected in his honour, at Chitai, 8 km from Almora city.

There are many temples of Golu Devata in Kumaun, and the most popular are at Chitai, Champawat, Ghorakhal.

It is the popular belief that Golu Devata dispense quick justice to the devotee.
Devotees in turn offers bells and Sacrifice of animals after the fulfilment of wish. Thousands of bells of every size can be seen hanging over the temple premises. Many devotees file a lot of written petitions daily, which are received by the temples.