Bageshwar is an enigmatic jewel of the Himalayas with its snow valleys, mountains, and soothing weather to make your journey a cherishing one. Hindu Mythology records that Lord Shiva came to this place appearing as a tiger and resided there. That’s why the town is called Bageshwar, which means ‘the Land of the Tiger’.
Like the other divine attractions of Uttarakhand, this place also has numerous ancient shrines and is a charming town to embrace oneself amidst the profuse flora and fauna of Bageshwar. There are quaint resorts to have a rejuvenating stay here, and you can also go trekking at some of the tourist spots in Bageshwar.
Here we are with the list of top 10 places that must explore here to envelop ourselves in the sacred quality Bageshwar has and an air of adventure and relaxation its offbeat aspect offers.
Places to Visit in Bageshwar
1. Baijnath
Baijnath is situated at the bank of river binwa, a tributary of river Beas. It’s a temple of Lord Shiva. There are stories that Ravana was carrying Shiva linga to Sri Lanka, and he was supposed not to stop in his way; however, due to nature’s call, Ravana handed over the linga to a Shephard. He found the linga very heavy and kept it on the ground. Therefore Ravana could not carry the Linga anymore, and that is how shivalinga got established there as ardhanarishvara.
This is why the effigy of Ravana is not burnt on Dussehra in Baijnath because this temple was established due to him. The temple is worshiped for many years and is a sacred place for localities as well as tourists. A wall surrounds the temple, and there are images of Gods & goddesses. It has a spectacular view of the Binwa river below & the Majestic snow-capped dhauladhar mountains above. A must-visit spot in HP.
2. Bagnath
According to Hindu Legend, Sage Markandeya worshipped Shiva here. Lord Shiva blessed sage Markandeya by visiting here in the form of a Tiger. Though some sources state the Bagnath temple’s existence since the 7th Century, the present building in nagara style was built in 1450 by Chand ruler, Laxmi Chand. The various statues in the temple date back from the 7th century AD to the 16th century AD.
In 1996, the Uttarakhand state’s Archeology department took over the temple, following which several inscriptions and idols from the eighth to the tenth century were sealed inside the temples. These include Shiva, Ganesha, Vishnu, Chaturmukhi Shiva, Teen Mukhi Shiva, Panch Mukhi Shiva, Mahishasura Mardini, Sahasra Shivalinga, Ganesh, Karthikeya, Panchdev Path, Navagraha, etc.
3. Kanda
Situated at the confluence of three rivers, namely, Saryu, Gomti, and latent Bhagirathi, lies the holy township of Bageshwar, also referred to as the pious land with Lord Sadashiva, said to be the redeemer of all sins. This land of Lord Shankar is of great religious, historical, and political significance. With numerous temples to visit in and around the town, this is a very suitable place to visit for religious devotees and Lord Shiva’s followers.
With its mesmerizing views and calm ambiance, the hillside town of Kausani is also located in this district. Several trekking trips also originate from Uttrakhand’s district, making it an attractive destination for enthusiasts of adventure sports. All in all, this place has something in it for everyone.
4. Gauri Udiyar
Gauri Udiyar is a place of natural beauty, spiritual peace, and divine spirit! It has a very large natural cave called ‘Gauri Maa Temple’.Dev Shilpi Vishwakarma naturally creates all the craft and the cave itself. As per an old saying, during the Shiva-Parvati marriage, all goddesses were staying there for rest in between. So we can evidence of the natural art of artistic nature, how beautifully it is crafted the full picture of Shiva-Parvati marriage over there. Maa’s Doli, wedding gifts, and many other things, we can’t imagine even.
In this temple, there is a very narrow cave, which is known as linked till Kailash. Natural fresh water in KUND is hotter in winters and chilled on summer days! Another surprising magic of nature. Many saints and yogis from India and abroad have arrived and stayed here for meditation for years. This is such a divine place to experience nature’s beauty and divine spirit.
5. SunderDhunga Trek
Sunderdhunga trek is a neighbor of the more famous Pindari and Kafni glacier treks. This is considered to be the most beautiful trek of the three. Sunderdhunga trek follows the river Sunderdhunga upstream from Khati village until its origin.
The trail makes its way through thick forests, which are home to many animals. It goes through remote, almost bordering on exotic villages, glaciers, and pristine alpine meadows. Packing more variety in each kilometer than any other trek, Sunderdhunga is surely a trek that offers many natural shows.
6. Chandrika Temple
It is situated on the river Gomti at the north-west of National Highway No.24 (Lucknow-Sitapur Road) in Kathwara village, near Lucknow City. This temple is 300 years old and is well known for the deity Chandrika Devi – a form of Goddess Durga.
Located in a natural environment encircled by the river Gomti on the north, west, and south side, it is around 28 km away from the main city of Lucknow. It is about 45 km away from Lucknow Airport. This place and nearby areas have relevance and religious significance since the time of the Ramayana. It is also called Mahi Sagar Teerth. There is mention of this temple in the holy books of Skand and Karma Puran.
7. Vijaypur
Vijaypur, officially known as Bijaypur, is a hill station and Village situated in the Bageshwar district in Uttarakhand, India. It is located 30 km from Bageshwar and 5 km from Kanda, amidst dense Pine Forests on the Bageshwar-Chaukori Highway.
It is situated at an altitude of 2050m and is known for its panoramic views of snow-capped Himalayan peaks like Trisul, Nanda Devi, and Nanda Kot. The Dhaulinag Temple, situated in vijaypur, is among the 8 prominent Nag temples of Kumaun, the others being Berinag, Kalinga, Feninag, Karkotak Nag, Pinglenag, Kharharinag, and Atheling.
8. Pindari Glacier Trek
The Pindari Glacier is a glacier found in the Kumaon Himalayas’ upper reaches to the southeast of Nanda Devi and Nanda Kot. The glacier is about 9 kilometers long and gives rise to the Pindar River, which meets the Alakananda at Karnaprayag in the Garhwal district.
The trail to reach the glacier crosses the villages of Saung, Loharkhet, crosses over the Dhakuri Pass, continues onto Khati village (the last inhabited village on the trail), Diwali, Phurkia, and finally Zero Point, Pindar, the end of the trail.
Though most of the trail is along the Pindari River banks, the river is mostly hidden until after Khati. The Pindari Glacier trail provides a 90 km (56 mi) round-trip trek that most people find comfortable completing in six days. The Pindari Glacier is also famous for other adventure sports like ice climbing and mountain biking.
9. Bigul
A tiny hamlet in the district of Bageshwar, Bigul offers amazing views of the Himalayas, including the Nanda Devi and Panchachuli peaks. This place is also important historically as Britishers used Biguls (a form of instrument used for announcements) to call nearby villagers to collect taxes from them.
Located around 32 km from the Bageshwar town, Bigul is a nice place to enjoy solitude. Dholinaag Temple is an important temple for the locals and is located at the village’s highest point.
10. Pandusthal Trek
Pandusthal is believed to be the place where the war between the Kauravas and the Pandavas took place. After a long trek of 20 km, one will reach this place that offers one of the most beautiful views of the Himalayas. The view from the Pandusthal is so grand that you can even see the dangling glaciers near the peaks.
One needs to first reach Baisani by bus or a car from Bageshwar (25 km) for the trek. The trek starts from Bassani, and the length of the trek is around 15 km and should be done in a day. One can stay overnight there as well and explore the region and return the next day.
Conclusion
Bageshwar is indeed a soulful retreat with its historical temples and numerous endeavors to tempt you. If you are stopping over at this quaint town, then the above-listed tourist sites are significant to travel to and feel more blessed in the wonderful atmosphere of Bageshwar. It’s a refreshing addition to your checklist in Uttarakhand and will surely give you moments to reminisce forever.
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