Birding Sites in Nainital

• • Nainital, Uttarakhand •
Verditer Flycatcher – Male

The bird is a Verditer Flycatcher – Male – The photo was taken at Niglat, Bhowali in Nainital, (Uttarakhand).

During the birding trail in the Himalayan Botanic Garden 7 km from Nainital on Kaladungi road, I received the Uttarakhand Forest Department brochure via tour guide that talks about Common Birds of Nainital via Photos (by Amit Verma, IFS) and Birding Sites in Nainital. Yes, I would like to visit but as of now, I would like to share the Birding Sites in Nainital because many are interested to know to visit. Correct?

Birding Sites of Nainital

  • Nainital Zoo Forest
  • Snow View
  • Governor’s House
  • Tanki to Naina Peak
  • Barapather to Land’s End
  • Barapathar to Tiffin Top
  • Barapather to Himalayan Botanic Garden
  • Birding Trail in Himalayan Botanic Garden
  • Birding Trail in Lingdhar
  • Kilbury to Pangot (On-Road)
  • Kilbury to Pangot (Trek through Forest)
  • Kilbury to Naina Peak
  • Vinayak
  • Brahmasthali
  • Kunjakharak
  • Saattal
  • Patwadangar-Kalona-Jyolikote
  • Hanumangarhi

Thank you tour guide, Thank you Uttarakhand Forest Department, and Thank you, Amit Ji.

Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat – Under The Guidance of Ganga Sewa Samiti

• • Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand • Tags:
Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat, Rishikesh (Uttarakhand, India)

Rishikesh tour during evening hours, and I visited Triveni Ghat to attend the holy river, Ganga Aarti. A little early I was at the venue and thought to know the history. Organizers were present monitoring arrangements. Upon request, Shri J. M. Arora – The treasurer of Ganga Sewa Samiti narrated The History of Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat, in short, as follows:

Though we all know the holy river Ganga has been worshiped for thousand years but in the year 1993 Ganga Sewa Samiti was formed under the guidance of respected citizens of Rishikesh such as Dr. C. L. Kohli, Shri Ram Babu Agarwal, and a few more to worship the holy river Ganga at this venue i.e., Triveni Ghat at a certain time and in an organized manner. The members added donations for the maintenance of the ghat constructed by the government. Since then evening hours Ganga Aarti has been conducted and supervised under the guidance of Ganga Sewa Samiti.

6:30 evening hours is the time for Aarti during summer days and winter days a little earlier.

Rajrajeshwari Devi Temple – Built in 1512 by King Ajay Pal

• • Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand • Tags:

Devalgarh is the important location of Natha Samprayadaya situated at Srinagar in the Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand.

Gaura Devi (also known as Goddess Parvati) temple is from the 7th Century and is as old as Badrinath and Kedarnath’s temples built by Adi Shankaracharya. It is also said King Deval of Kangra built the temple. Behind the temple is a cave and the samadhi of Sathyanath. Sathyanath is from Natha Samprayadaya. Close to the cave is Kaal Bhairav Dhuni.

Devalgarh is the center of 52 Garh (principalities).

Vaisakha (April-May) is the month of the festival.

Surendra Dutt – The priest narrated The History of Maa Raj Rajeshwari Devi Temple and showed the pillars of the temples constructed of one stone with no joints. Impressive architectural tradition history is visible.

In the year 1512 King Ajay Pal built the Rajrajeshwari Devi temple. King came here from Chandpur Garh. Chandpur Garh is at Chamoli, Uttarakhand. For five years King stayed at this location and then shifted to Srinagar. Rajrajeshwari the name is because Devi is Kuldevi of Kings.

Kunjika Prasad – The priest on request narrated the History of the temple. His forefathers were the priest of the King and since then the family serve the temple. The temple is on the second floor and the experience was divine which I can not describe in words. In short, I can say one should visit such ancient temples once.

Hire a taxi from Srinagar to reach the temple via Devalgarh Bridge, National Highway 58.

Or,

Reach Devalgarh Bridge, NH 58 by bus, and hire sharing jeep at Devalgarh Bridge for temples. Rs. 10-15 per person is the charge.

(Srinagar to Devalgarh Bridge is 7.5 Kms, Devalgarh Bridge to temples is 9 km)

Or,

Hire a taxi from University, Srinagar to reach the temple. 18 km the distance. Sharing jeep charges Rs. 25 per person.

Note: The frequency of sharing jeeps is 4-5 jeeps per day. Better hire a taxi.

Temple Timings: 5 am – 6/7 pm

I was driving a solo Royal Enfield Thunderbird Twinspark motorbike. I selected the Devalgarh bridge route while going but the road condition after crossing the bridge and right-turn towards the temple 9 km is not good. Jungle-area, landslide, and almost silent path. While returning I selected an 18 km route which was much better.

Kamleshwar Mahadev Temple – Here, Lord Vishnu was blessed with Sudarshan Chakra

• • Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand • Tags:

It is said during Dev-Asur Sangram (war between God and demons) all devatas requested Lord Vishnu to save them from Asur. To save Devtaas from Asur Lord Vishnu’s requirement was Sudarshan Chakra. Thus, Lord Vishnu collected 1000 Lotus flowers to offer Lord Shiva while chanting Lord Shiva 1000 names to have Sudarshan Chakra.

Lord Shiva to test Lord Vishnu’s devotion hides one Lotus flower. At the end of 999 offerings, Lord Vishnu was short of one flower. He decided to offer his one eye (Lord Vishnu also known as Kamalnetra) to complete 1000 offerings and 1000 chants. At that time Lord Shiva appeared and blessed him with Sudarshan Chakra which was used to kill Asur later.

Kamleshwar Mahadev Temple is the location where Lord Vishnu worships Lord Shiva and was blessed with Sudarshan Chakra. It is also said during Lord Vishnu’s prayers a couple was watching the same. When Lord Shiva appeared couple requested Lord Shiva to grant them a child. Goddess Parwati requested Lord Shiva to grant the wish. Till that day Kartika Shukla Paksha Chaturdashi (October-November), it is said whoever worships Lord Shiva while standing the whole night having one diya in hand will be granted a child as a wish by Lord Shiva.

Shivaratri, Shravan devotees visit temple in large numbers but Achra Saptami during Magh (January-February) month – next day after Vasant Panchami special festival is organized by offering 52 vyanjan (52 food items) along with Ghee to Shiva Lingam.

3 morning – 10 night

Kamleshwar Mahadev Temple is very close to Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna University, Srinagar in the Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand.

I visited the temple during the Srinagar visit. Mahant Aashutosh Puri Ji Maharaj Ji shared the History of Kamleshwar Mahadev Temple. Thank you said I.

For more detailed history one can purchase Shri Kamleshwar Mahadev Mahatmya available within the temple.

Note: Lord Shiva 1000 name is written within the temple area.

It is said and believed Shiva Lingam present within the temple rotates three times a day (24 hours).