When Adi Shankaracharya traveled India in 9th century CE to establish the four maths (monastic orders), he also visited Kali in Calcutta, Chandi at Haridwar and Bhagwati at Dunagiri.

Dunagiri is important in political history of Kumaon region.  The kings of Katyuri dynasty were worshippers of Dunagiri Devi. The style of sculptures and paintings found at various temples at Dwarahat are also present at Dunagiri temple. Contemporary folk-culture of Kumaon also verifies that kings of Katyuri dynasty constructed temples at Dwarahat and Dunagiri. The famous folktale of Kumaon known as Malushahi describes the time when Rajula Malushahi’s wedding procession reached from Bageshwar to Dwarahat, they first offered a chattar to Mother Dunagiri.

According to Pt. Ramdutta Tripathi in 1318 CE Katyuri dynasty’s king Raja Sudhar Dev established a figure of Devi at Dunagiri. At Dunagiri temple one can see a stone inscription dating to 1181 CE.