Kanvashram near Kotdwar is at Kalalghati in the Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand.

5,500 years ago – *mid of Dwapara Yug Sage Kanva meditated at this location on the banks of Malini River now known as Kanvashram. It is said when Sage Kanva attained enlightenment he opened an ashram to teach students and the very first scripts were written. Earlier there was no writing only chanting hymns were remembered. 1300 richaye (a respected word for hymns) of Rigveda belongs to Sage Kanva. Later more were added by more sages/saints.

Judda and Chadda are two streams up within the mountains and the confluence named Malini River is the birthplace of Bharat.

Bharat was born on the banks of the river Malini. His mother’s name was Shakuntala and his father was King Dushyant. A small temple is present where Bharat was born but is far from Kanvashram within jungles not advisable to go alone.

Bharat later was admitted to Kanva Rishi ashram for studies. We all know India is known as Bharatavasha after King Bharat. The king was also known as Chakravarti Samrat Bharat.

Abhigyan Shakuntalam written by Kalidasa, 18 Puranas, Mahabharata was written by sage Vyasa, and the story about Sage Kanva is mentioned. In earlier days Kanvashram was a Siddh Peeth. Sage Kanva meditated at this location for a longer period and it is believed that devotion and dedication towards God is truly the place where a person or a sage meditates for a longer period and automatically turns into Siddh Peeth.

Kanvashram is 55.5 approx. Km from Lansdowne and 14 km from Kotdwar.

I saw Sanskrit inscriptions but do not know the meaning but will say the knowledge shared by Ramanand baba (the name given by Guru) is excellent. 67 years old baba is currently living within Kanvashram for the last 16-17 years. He is from Dehradun, Uttarakhand earlier was working as a surveyor but quit after 10 years of his job and turn into a baba.

As always a curiosity to learn more about history and upon request baba shared the said knowledge despite fasting and I tried my best to share the same with readers. Yoga Sutras – Yam, Niyam, Aasan, Prayanam – internal and outer cleanliness, Pratyahara, Dharna, Dyaan, Samadhi, and many such subjects I was not aware of discussed shared by baba.

Vasantotsav – the first day of Spring huge gathering of people and a five-day Mela (festival) is organized and celebrated here by the people.

Thank you baba said I and I start Royal Enfield Thunderbird Twinspark. The motorbike was parked before the Malini river as one has to cross the river on foot. Maybe during the rainy season, it is not possible to visit Kanvashram.

*End of Dwapara Yug Lord Krishna was present.