Category: Travel

Gwaldam is a little lethargic town, on the border of Garhwal and Kumaon. Set amidst green woods and apple orchards, it is located at an altitude of 1629 m. 40 km away from Kausani, Gwaldam offers a fascinating view of Himalayan peaks Nanda Devi (7817 mt), Trishul (7120 mt) and Nanda Ghunti (6309 mt).

Gwaldam is 22 km away from Baijnath. The highway that goes to Bageshwar, branches off to take you through a fascinating route amidst thick pine forests, against the backdrop of the Himalayas. From Gwaldam, the road winds its way through dense forests and terraced fields dotted with cottages of Tharali and Narain Bagar upto the Ranikhet-Pandukhal road.

It’s the starting point for some of the most exciting trekking routes in the Himalayas and the base for the trek to Roop Kund. The place has several apple orchards and one could go about exploring roads. As one looks up, one sees the snow-capped peaks. The valley that stretches for miles has the river Pindari flowing through it. This small hamlet with its far spread fields is one of nature’s joys.

Attraction in the vicinity

If you are adventurous enough, Gwaldam is the base of the trekking route to Roop Kund. You will come across the beautiful sleepy villages Mandoli, Debal and Wan on your way to Roopkund.

The Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra, the most revered religious journey in the region, takes place in every twelve years follow this route.

Baijnath

The famous temple complex is on the bank of local Gomti River. This group of temples was built by the Katyuri rulers in the 13th century. The main temple houses a beautiful idol of goddess Parvati. It is believed that Shiva and Parvati were married here.

Bageshwar

It is located at a distance of 45 km on the confluence of local Gomti and Saryu rivers. It is an ancient pilgrimage centre. The famous Bagnath temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This is also the base for treks to Pindari, Kafni and Sunder Dunga glaciers.

Kausani

40 km from Gwaldam, this picturesque hill station, amidst dense pine forests, offers a closer view of the Himalayan splendour, specially the Nanda Devi mountain range. Gandhiji stayed here for some time. The ‘Anashakti Ashram’ was built here in his memory.

Roop Kund

Roop Kund is situated at a height of 4800 m, in the midst of Trishul Massif. It is referred to as the mystery lake, due to the hundreds of frozen human bodies and skeletons found here, that are believed to be the remains of royal expeditionaries, lost on their way to a pilgrimage. The route to Roop Kund passes through delightful alpine pastures and snow fields, offering magnificent views of the Trishul, Nanda Ghunti and

Chaukhamba peaks.

It is located at a distance of 45 km on the confluence of local Gomti and Saryu rivers. It is an ancient pilgrimage centre. The famous Bagnath temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This is also the base for treks to Pindari, Kafni and Sunder Dunga glaciers.

Gwaldam with its healthy climate and virgin serenity is a little heaven, nestled in the woods. The entire area up to Talwari is full of orchids. A 3-km track amidst beautiful nature in the company of nameless flowers, endless springs and countless birds will take you to Badhangarh temple, perched on a narrow ridge. From here you can have a glimpse of the never seen marvels of the Himalayas.

Poverty liberating village, exclusively in India – Mana Village, Badrinath

Mana is a small pilgrim village that is located in the state of Uttarakhand. The village is present near the religious site of Badrinath. The village has the distinction of being the last settlement on the road to the country of Tibet. It is situated at a height of around 3219 meters. The village is on the banks of the River Saraswati. The entire region is surrounded by hills and one can see many small streams nearby as well.

It is believed that once anyone visit this place, never fall short of money. According to local people Manik Shaw, a business man once visited this village and was a great devotee of lord Shiva, robbers cut his throat and looted him. His head kept of chanting Shiva even after falling from body, seeing this devotion, Shiva put a peacock head and gave boon that, whoever visits this place is free from all sins and never fall short of money.

This is a perfect place for trekking and there are many trekking spots that are located here. The village of Mana can be visited as day trip from Badrinath. There is a waterfall called the Vasundara Falls that is located nearby and this is also a good place to see while travelling to the village of Mana.

There is small passage called the Bhim Pul that is located here and the River Sarawasti plunges headlong into the path and this is a sight to behold. The local population of the village lives in small cottages that are decorated and carved exquisitely.

One can visit the temple of Mata Murti that is located near the town and the temple holds an annual fair, visiting which can be an interesting experience.

ExplorationZeal destination of the month : Sattal, wild beauty.

A cluster of pristine lakes set against the captivating surroundings of dense oak and pine woods, Sattal in the state of Uttarakhand unfurls the rustic beauty of the Lower Himalayas. At an altitude of 4000 feet Sattal, also pronounced as Sattal proffers an unruffled environment with abundance of natural flora and fauna. Calm and quite ambiance of Sattal makes this sleepy locale in the outskirts of Nainital as a most memorable and impressive tourism spots.

A picturesque resort that has got the literal meaning “Seven Lakes” beholds an idyllic atmosphere for imbibing oneself in the luxury of the wilderness. Tranquility and serenity intertwined with the melodious gush of greenish water and the sweet chirp of the lovely birds unfolds a virtual paradise before the picnicker.

Adventurous never find a suitable place like Sattal to cherish their dreams since it offers a wide range of escapades before them. An unsurprisingly favorable destination to venture pleasure trips with most excellent jaunting places, Sattal dominates among other places in the travel itinerary of daring people. Sattal is just 22 km from nainital.

Best season to visit

In Sattal, April, May and June are summer months offering very pleasant and warm climate within a temperature range of 10°C to 27°C. During winters in December to February, the climate is very severe and the temperature reaches to 2°C and winters are accompanied by heavy snowfalls. The months July and August are the season for rainfalls. Sattal experiences average rainfalls during the monsoons.

The Shivaratri celebrations during February-March, Dussera during October and 5 day long celebrations, the Bageshwar Mela pilgrimage, during January are the major attractive festivals in Sattal.
Best period to visit Sattal is between March to June and September to November

Other Attraction in vicinity

Methodist Ashram:
It was established in 1930 by Stanley Jones,a great missionary and a friend of Mahatma Gandhi. It is situated at the entry point of majestic banks of the scenic Sattal. The historical importance and fine colonial architecture of this place makes it a popular destination. The famous St. John’s Church is also situated in the premises of the Methodist Ashram. The serene and tranquil ambiance of the ashram provides relaxation and peace of mind.

Bhim Tal:
It is situated at a distance of 3 kms from Sattal at an altitude of 1,375 mts above sea level.The main attraction in Bhimtal is the Bhimtal Lake which has a small island at its centre. Bhimtal is an ancient place named after the legendaryBhima of Mahabharata when Bhima visited the place during the exile period of pandavas. Bhim tal is older than the town of Nainital and is considered as one of the best excursions of Nainital. Bhim Tal is well connected with Kathgodam and all Kumaon regions and Nepal. It is an unsolved mystery but this place might have been the part of the ancient silk route of China.

Subhash Dhara:
It is a striking freshwater spring that comes from the dense forest of Sattal. This is a natural spring that captivates visitors with its crystal clear water and intriguing location.

Butterfly Museum:

It is a rich in butterfly museum at Jones Estate. Butterfly Museum is a main tourist attraction of Sattal, with over 2,500 species of butterflies and 1100 species of insects. The museum was established by Federic Smetacek,also known as ‘the butterfly man’.

From the unexplored natural vistas to the joy of seeing an array of exotic bird flock, from leisurely promenades to butterfly watching, one can opt an extensive range of pleasantly activities in Sattal. If the traveler in you is in search of a composed place where you can unravel your true senses, then Sattal is your ultimate destination. Embark a trip to Sattal and discern and extricate yourself from the tiring routine life and enjoy yourself at this astonishing cache of heavenly grandeur.

The idea of solo traveling seems unsafe and confusing to many. And the scenario doesn’t get any better especially for female solo travelers. Be it age 21 or 55; a solo female traveler is usually a term loaded with numerous assumptions.

“Travelling solo,” this term has quite often garnered mixed responses. With some furiously advocating it as an authentic form of self-discovery and soul-searching experiences, while people on the other side of the debate seem to consider it an utter waste of opportunity and time.

Travel solo all the way to Ladakh, only to have nobody to share the view with? Go to goa, all alone and do what? The idea of solo traveling seems unsafe and confusing to many. And the scenario doesn’t get any better especially for female solo travelers. Be it age 21 or 55; a solo female traveler is usually a term loaded with numerous assumptions.

Below is an attempt to debunk some of these common myths.

The world is unsafe

The most common concern attached to a woman traveling all by herself is her safety. While there is no denying of the plausible hardships waiting for the woman stepping out the door, traveling solo to some other city or country is only as much risk as traveling to one’s college/workspace in their own city. Not all destinations around the globe are unsafe or dangerous for a woman to visit alone.

She is single and miserable

Solo traveling has been linked with singlehood of lonely people, having nobody to be with but themselves. However, wanting to travel all by self does not necessarily translate into loneliness. Rather, the distance and journey help one to understand them self and others better. One achieves the ultimate peace of solitude in traveling solo, and there is definitely a remarkable difference between solitude and loneliness.

Travelling solo an act of rebellion

Many people sadly believe that everything a woman does, is for other people, either to please them or annoy them. However, most of the times the intention is not to diss on some societal expectation or break some norm, but simply travel for the love of it, for the sake of it.

It is an attempt to prove to the world

Continuing on the previous point, there is nothing to prove to the world if a woman plans to travel alone. By trekking alone, she is not trying to reach a benchmark set by men. The trip can be just one of her ways to enjoy her holidays and relax, and not essentially a goal to prove her worth.

It is a dangerous quest

“Travelling solo also invites various other dangers such as the risk of being looted, tugged, etc.” However, travelers often state how the journey help them be more vigilant and careful. To be left all by oneself doesn’t always translate to being more vulnerable. It, in fact, makes one more careful about their belongings.

It calls for unwarranted difficulty

With the hassle of booking everything alone and managing the luggage all by self, it is more of a task than enjoyment. It is important to understand the simple concept of “personal choice.” Some people do relish autonomy, and sometimes they happen to be women too!

It is monotonous

“How terribly boring is it to be all by yourself in your favorite city, during a relaxed vacation?” there is no point in relating solo trips to boredom. Actually, it is extremely important to be comfortable in one’s own company, and solo traveling offers that luxury. If looked at carefully, this is one of the rare times; a person gets to discover how they behave in the absence of their acquaintances.

It will cost you a lot more

Though the trip budget is a relatively subjective matter, the common myth that solo trips are more expensive is far from correct. Proper research and planning will lead one to find out cheap stay places and hotels that cost the same as a group trip would.

It is once in a lifetime moment

Another common fallacy is visualizing a female solo trip as a once in lifetime kind of an event. Though it can be a “bucket list item” for some, there are plenty of women who go for solo trips every weekend and are hard-core travel enthusiasts.

Navigating around would be trouble

“How would women understand directions and local transport routes in a foreign place?” Because god forbid if they know to use maps and their phones. A traveler is bound to be lost while navigating new places; that’s the part of learning. And that’s where local people and phone maps help everyone out…men, women alike.

Waste of time

“Trips are meant to be fun. And fun is meant to happen in a group” Wrong. Fun is anything that makes you happy; it is not contingent on the presence of others. While traveling with friends and family has its own charm; being all by oneself is a different kind of fulfillment. Far away from a waste of time.

All in all, solo traveling for a female is neither the most dangerous thing nor the most dramatic thing as usually portrayed. It is simply a person venturing into their hobbies and interests. In the process understanding themselves better and gaining more life experience. This is what traveling really is all about.

Sleepy hamlet, amazingly scenic beautiful village, surrounded by greenish and yellowish paddy fields, Mori is located on the banks of renowned Tons River. Mori is a part of the Tons valley, have a unique culture and history. Local folks boast that they are the descendants of the Kauravas and Pandavas, the mythological royal warriors and kings in the epic age of Mahabharatha.

A tourist attraction for the solitude-seeking travelers for secluded destinations; Mori is a perfect holiday retreat. The tallest pine forest in Asia is among the thickly populated forest in Mori. Main attractions include the ancient historic temple, with main deity as Duryodhna and the Lunagad Creek, a fantastic place with a narrow ravine and a cute pond with a small but fascinating waterfall.

Cultural diversity of Mori, full of legendary temples, architectures and mythology, is fascinating. The cutie village offers one with unusual, unique and diverse opportunities. The people in Mori are followers of Kauravas, considered as the anti heroes in epic Mahabharatha, and Mori folks consider them as gods. The people here have peculiar habits like smoke earthen pipes, coconut hookahs or bidis, women folks are fond of wearing ornaments made out of silver. An ancient temple of Karna, with a rectangular wooden structure, located nearby to Mori in Netwar is attractive.

Mori is well known for adventurous water sports activities. Water rafting on the Tons River and trekking on the undulated hilly terrains are the chief activities one can adventure for. Mori is an apt place for holiday camping, to rejuvenate and relax the body mind and whole life activities.
The hill station Mori has a cold climate all through the year. Summers during March to June are very pleasant within the temperature range of 9°C to 23°C. Winters during November to February are very chilly with minimum temperature reaching freezing level of 2°C or below. Maximum during winters are around 8°C only. Snow falls are common during winters. Monsoons have very low rainfall. Moist is very common during post monsoons and beginning of summers.

Post monsoons are good for water rafting and fishing. Summers are excellent for trekking and climbing. Best season is all through the year, may keep off freeze winter days.

Attraction for Mori

Netwar

Netwar is situated at the confluence of the tributary stream Rupin Gad and the Tons River. The village is popular for its ancient shrine dedicated to Karna, the King of Shalya. Karna was the son of Surya and Kunti. Netwar is considered to be the only region where Duryodhana, one of the Kauravas, is worshipped. The village has beautiful wooden temples devoted to Duryodhana and his allies.

About Lunagad Creek

The Lunagad Creek is located in the narrow gorge of the Tons Valley and leads to a blue pool formed by a small waterfall. The creek is surrounded by pine forest, a few Gujjar huts and tribal homes. The site is popular for the plantations of yellow and red nasturtium flowers and wild roses.

Duryodhana Temple

The Duryodhana Temple is located in Jakhol Village in the Tons Valley in Uttarkashi District. The temple is dedicated to the Kauravas and is believed to have been constructed by the local people of Saur Village.
It is considered that the Tamas River was formed by the tears of the natives who cried at the defeat of the Kauravas. The river derives its name from a Hindi word ‘Tamas’, meaning sorrow. Places like Osla, Gangar and Datmircan have temples dedicated to Kauravas and Duryodhana

This place is blessed with eternal natural beauty, and temple for antihero of Epic Mahabharat is main attraction here, tourist can enjoy adventure activities and chilly temperature.

Devalgarh – Maa Raj Rajeshwari sacred shrine and Temple of Goddess Gauri built by Lord Kubera in 7th Century AD

This amazing hill station is situated at a distance of 19 km from the main town of Srinagar via Chamdhar, Devalgarh was established by the King of Kangra named Deval under his name. The Laxmi Narayan temple, Gauri Devi temple and Rajeshwari temple are the main attractions here. Inscriptions on the stones of the temples make them important from the archaeological point of view.

Illuminate your soul in the spiritually blessed town of Uttarakhand, Devalgarh. Endowed with the beauty of pristine shrines, King Deval established the town in 1512 in the Pauri Garhwal district of Garhwal Region. Located at a short distance from the popular tourist destination of Khirsu, Devalgarh was once the Capital of the Garhwal Kingdom in the 16th Century before it was transposed to Srinagar. Considered one of those small towns that are rich in architecture, Devalgarh is best known for its group of ancient temples like Gaura Devi which is one of the Sidhpeethas, devoted to the divine Goddess Gauri and built by Lord Kubera in 7th Century AD.

Not only does the temple offer a heartwarming view of the Himalayas but also calls out to pilgrims for an annual fair which is organized during the harvest season. Besides, there is one more sacred shrine known as Maa Raj Rajeshwari which dedicated to the local deity of Garhwal. Nurturing archaeological importance the temple is swarmed by pilgrims also for the annual fair that is held here in April. Other must visit places you can take a tour to in Devalgarh are Som ki danda and Laxmi Narayan temple. Our Devalgarh travel guide is overflowing with information on best places to visit and amazing things to do in and around Devalgarh, which makes it quite essential for the travellers looking for an impeccable travelling experience. Also, handcrafted for you are the varied holiday packages by Tour My India that ensure a vacation unlike any other.

Devalgarh has its own significance in Uttarakhand’s history. In ancient times, Uttarakhand was divided into 52 small states which were known as Garh, and on this name, this land of Godboom was called Garhwal. In the 14th century, when King Ajaypal became a lioness in Chandpur Garh, he made Dewargarh, a strategically strong place, in 1512. But after about six years, on the banks of Alaknanda was established in Srinagar. During his 19 years of reign, King Ajaypal expanded his kingdom by winning the 48 strongholds of Devbhooman. Raj Rajeshwari was the Kuldevi of the dynasty of Garhwal. Raj Rajeshwari Mandir is the most famous historical temple of Devgarh. It was constructed by 14th century King Ajaypal. Built in Garhwali style, this temple has three floors. The actual temple is in the right room of the third floor. Various of Goddesses here There are statues in currencies. Among them, the golden statue of Raj-Rajeshwari is the most beautiful.

This temple is the law of Yantra worship. Here, Daksha Yantra, Mahakali Yantra, Baglakumu Yantra, Mahalaxmi Yantra and Shravanantra are duly worshiped. In the whole of Uttarakhand, the advanced urban center is established only in this temple. Even today, the priest of the temple is blessed with a daily morning prayer. Rajarateshwari yagna is organized at night in Navratri. In this Siddhapith the tradition of Akhand Jyoti is coming from generations. Hence it is also called Jataka Shakti Peetha.

This is the most observable place in archaeological terms in Pauri district. There are many temple temples and gates here. These temples were restored by King Deval who came from Kangra. Apart from this, there are also samadhis of the people of Nath community here. The inscribed inscriptions on which prove their ancient origin. It is proved automatically by seeing this rare temple group that during the time of the kings of Garhwal, architecture, especially the construction of the temples, was at its peak elevation.

Satyanath Temple:

The ancient temple of Satyanath on many sides behind the Gourja Temple. This is said to be made by King Ajaypal. Raja Ajaypal had established Satyanarath Bhairav and Raj-Rajeshwari Yantra at this place. Statues of Kalbhairav, Adityanath, Bhubaneswar and other goddesses are also installed in this temple.

Lakshminarayan Temple:

The temple of God Laxminarayan is coming down from the courtyard of Gaura temple and along with it. In it, the lofty statue of Lakshminarayan is situated in the black stone.

Soma’s Manga:

The Gaura Devi Mandir is situated in the south of the famous Daktali Mandap, named “Soma Manda”. It is said that King Ajaypal used to sit in the mandap and perform the office. And in the direction of his teacher Satyanath Bhairav, he used to meditate. From the point of view of structure and carving, this porous palace itself is the only example.

Srikrishna Temple:

A small and beautiful temple of Murali Manohar Krishna is made up of something rising from the Gourja temple. In it, the idol idol of Lord Shri Krishna is glorified while playing fists. This temple was once an important place of Vaishnavism.

Bhairav Cave:

It is called Bhairavgupa, in the west of Satyamath temple, a few caves descend from the hill and it is said. The idol of Bhairav is inscribed on the entrance to the cave. It is said that from this cave to Alaknanda there was a tunnel in ancient times. The Queen of Develarh used to go to the Ganga bath everyday through this tunnel route.

Dattatreya temple:

There is a small temple of Lord Dattatreya on the Murlimmanohar temple. This is also called the piazza arena. Lord Dattatreya is considered as the incarnation of Vishnu by Vaishnavas. But the Shaiv sect of Garhwal Dattatreya as a representative of Lord Shiva and as an officer of Yogrishna.

Gaura Devi temple:

Gaura Devi temple (temple of non-Goddess) is calculated in ancient Sidhpiths. This stone temple, made of seventh century, is an incomparable example of ancient architecture. Rajrajeshwari was Kuldevi of the dynasty of Garhwal, so his worship was in the worship hall of the palace of Deulgargarh. Gaura Temple was built while feeling the need of another temple for the people. After construction work, the Equatorial Sankranti (Vaishakhi) was established from Sumadi Naga in the Develagarh temple under the leadership of Shri Rajivochan Kalaji. In this temple, the tradition of the Shakta tradition has been prevailing. Here is the statue of Bhagwati Gauri and Lion Vahini Devi installed here. From here, there is a great view of the Himalayas. It is the Kuldevi of the local residents and the Baishakhi is organized annually for the grand fair. The devotees of Goddess come from far and away here. It is also said that Kuber had given Gaura Mata The temple was built by receiving blessings. Devgarh, famous for Kuldevi Raj Rajeshwari and Satyanath of Garhwal’s throne, has remained the capital of the Garhwal state for 6 years. According to Janushuti, there used to be an ashram of goddess Rishi. Later, disciples of Guru Gorakhnath established Satinath here. It is said that the land of Garhwal is the blessing of Gaura Mata. From here, there is a great view of the Himalayas.

How to Reach

By Flight
Nearest airport is Jolly Grant, 115 km.

By Train
Kotdwar (138 km) and Rishikesh (106 km) are the nearest railway stations.

By Road
It is well connected to Dehradun, Rishikesh, Kotdwar, Nainital, Almora, Delhi and other cities of the region.

At an altitude of 7000 feet, there lies the tiny hamlet of Abbott Mount from where one could witness the snowcapped cliffs of the mighty Himalayas in its full glory. Situated in state of Uttarakhand in district champawat. Delhi to Abbott Mount is 384 km.

This momentous hilly resort on the eastern side of the Kumaon Hills unravels a passable vision of the massive peaks from the Gangotri cliff to Dhaulagiri range.

Like all other hilly resorts, this hill station is also a noble venture of the progressive English men, especially John Harold Abbott, who wants a retreat from the tiresome life of the plains. Though this is established during the early part of the 20th century, it succeeded to keep its identity till now.

Abbott Mount has spectacular trails and walkways that make the picnicker spell bound. Picturesque and serene surroundings of deodar and pine forest are a haven of exotic Himalayan birds whose twittering and chirping creates a melodious environ. It would be a perfect quixotic location for young couples and honeymooners

March to June is perfect for sightseeing and outings. April and May are good season for fishing in the surrounding Rivers. July to October is majestic with monsoon showers and is deal for sight seeing with majestic lusting greeneries. November to February suits for those like chilly climate.