Untracked Tourist Spot In Uttarakhand - अविदित पर्यटक स्थल

[एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta]

Berinag

 Berinag  (tea gardens at  Chaukori  (11 km from  Berinag), Didihat (55km), and Jauljibi (77 km) apart from the glaciers or Gal, valleys and waterfalls that dot the region are must visits.

[एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta]

Pithoragarh Fort is on the top of a hill on the outskirts of the town and was built by the Gorkha rulers.


Chandak (8 kms) is a place where you get awesome views of the Himalayas and also has a very sacred Manu Temple here.
 

Thal Kedar (16 km) is an important religious centre for Shiva devotees, where a large fair is held on the occasion of Maha Shivratri. The natural beauty here is also worth seeing.

[एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta]

शीतलाखेतः 1828 मीटर की ऊंचाई पर रानीखेत और अल्मोड़ा के बीच खूबसूरत शहर शीतलाखेत स्थित है। शानदार हिमालयी चोटियों, फलों के बगीचे और जड़ी-बूटियों के लिए पर्यटकों के बीच प्रख्यात यह जगह शिविर के लिए आदर्श है।

प्रख्यात स्‍्याही देवी मंदिर यहां से महज तीन किलोमीटर की दूरी पर स्थित है।

यह जगह मशहूर स्वतंत्रता सैनानी और देश के पूर्व गृह मंत्री भारत रत्न पंडित श्री गोविंद बल्लभ पंत का गांव भी है।

[एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta]

कटारमल सूर्य मंदिरः इस सूर्य मंदिर का लोकप्रिय नाम बरादित्य है। पूरब की ओर उन्मुख यह मंदिर कुमायूं क्षेत्र के सबसे बड़े और विशाल मंदिरों में से एक है।

माना जाता है कि इसका निर्माण मध्यकाल में कत्यूरी वंश के राजा कटारमल जिन्होंने द्वाराहाट से केंद्रीय क्षेत्र पर शासन किया था, ने करवाया था।

विभिन्न समूहों में 50 छोटे-छोटे मंदिर हैं जो झुंड में यहां बने हुए हैं। मुख्य मंदिर का निर्माण इनसे अलग समय में हुआ लगता है। वास्तुकला संबंधी विशेषताओं और खंभों पर उकेरे गए शिलालेखों के आधार पर इस मंदिर को 13 शदी में बना हुआ माना गया है।

[पंकज सिंह महर]

अल्मोडा के किले

अल्मोड़ा नगर के पूर्वी छोर पर 'खगमरा' नामक किला है। कत्यूरी राजाओं ने इस नवीं शताब्दी में बनवाया था।  दूसरा किला अल्मोड़ा नगर के मध्य में है।  इस किले का नाम 'मल्लाताल' है।  इसे कल्याणचन्द ने सन् १५६३ ई. में बनवाया था। कहते हैं, उन्होंने इस नगर का नाम आलमनगर रखा था।  वहीं चम्पावत से अपनी राजधानी बदलकर यहाँ लाये थे।  आजकल इस किले में अल्मोड़ा जिले के मुख्यालय के कार्यलय हैं।  तीसरा किला अल्मोड़ा छावनी में है, इस लालमण्डी किला कहा जाता है।  अंग्रेजों ने जब गोरखाओं को पराजित किया था तो इसी किले पर सन् १८१६ ई. में अपना झण्डा फहराया था।  अपनी खुशी प्रकट करने हेतु उन्होंने इस किले का नाम तत्कालीन गवर्नर जनरल के नाम पर - 'फोर्ट मायरा' रखा था।  परन्तु यह किला 'लालमण्डी किला' के नाम से अदिक जाना जाता है।  इस किले में अल्मोड़ा के अनेक स्थलों के भव्य दर्शन होते हैं।

[पंकज सिंह महर]

नौकुचियाताल
भीमताल से ३ कि.मी. की दूरी पर उत्तर-पूर्व की और नौ कोने वाला 'नौकुचियाताल' समुद्र की सतह से १३१९ मीटर की ऊँचाई पर स्थित है। नैनीताल से इस ताल की दूरी २६.२ कि.मी. है।

इस नौ कोने वाले ताल की अपनी विशिष्ट महत्ता है। इसके टेढ़े-मेढ़े नौ कोने हैं। इस अंचल के लोगों का विश्वास है कि यदि कोई व्यक्ति एक ही दृष्टि से इस ताल के नौ कोनों को देख ले तो उसकी तत्काल मृत्यु हो जाती है। परन्तु वास्तविकता यह है कि सात से अधिक कोने एक बार में नहीं देखे जा सकते।

इस ताल की एक और विशेषता यह है कि इसमें विदेशों से आये हुए नाना प्रकार के पक्षी रहते हैं। ताल में कमल के फूल खिले रहते हैं। इस ताल में मछलियों का शिकार बड़े अच्छे ढ़ंग से होता है। २०-२५ पौण्ड तक गी मछलियाँ इस ताल में आसानी से मिल जाती है। मछली के शिकार करने वाले और नौका विहार शौकिनों की यहाँ भीड़ लगी रहती है। इस ताल के पानी का रंग गहरा नीला है। यह भी आकर्षण का एक मुख्य कारण है। पर्यटकों के लिए यहाँ पर खाने और रहने की सुविधा है। धूप और वर्षा से बचने के लिए भी पर्याप्त व्यवस्ता की गयी है।

[पंकज सिंह महर]

तुंगनाथ- पांच केदार में से एक

The Tungnath temple is situated at the height of 3680 mtrs. atop the Chandranath parvat, 30 Kms. from Ukhimath - Gopeshwar Road. To reach it requires a strenuous trek through dense forest.
                    A story goes that the Rishi Vyas told the Pandavas that they were guilty of killing of their own relatives and their sins would be expiated only if Shiva pardoned them. So the Pandavas began to look for Shiva. Lord Shiva kept avoiding them as he knew that Pandavas were guilty. So the Lord took refuge underground and later, his body parts resurfaced at five different places. These five places, where five magnificent temples of Lord Shiva stand, are known as the “Panch Kedar”. Each one is identified with a part of his body. Tugnath is where his hands were supposedly seen. Kedarnath, his hump; Rudranath, his head; Kalpeshwar, his hair; and Madmaheshwar, his navel.
       

In this temple of Shiva where the dome spans sixteen doors, a 2.5 feet tall idol of Adi Guru Shankaracharya is located along side the lingam. The Nandadevi temple is also situated at Tungnath not far from the awe-inspiring Akash ganga water fall, so called, because the water looks as though is is descending from heaven.

[पंकज सिंह महर]

मदमहेश्वर

         The Shiva temple near the source of the Madmaheshwar river, is the second Kedar. According to a legend, when lord Shiva was avoiding the Pandavas, he sank into the earth at Kedarnath with a desire to elude them and his torso surfaced here at Madmaheshwar.

             Located amidst serene environs, the temple has no crowd of Pandas, Pujaris, Shops  or the bustle of major pilgrimage centres . There is a small Dharamshala and provisions must be carried from the village of Gaundar.       The temple is close for six month during winter when the silver idols are taken ceremonially to Ukhimath for worship. Only the Shivling remains. Saraswati kund, where Tarpans are offered is closed by.   

[पंकज सिंह महर]

कार्तिकेय मंदिर, रुद्रप्रयाग

38 kms. from Rudraprayag on the Rudraprayag - Pokhri route is a village Kanak Chauri from where 3 kms. trek leads to Kartikswami. This place has a temple and idol of Lord Shiva’s son Kartikeya, situated at a elevation of 3048 mts., the place abounds in natural beauty and one can have a close and panoramic view of the Himalayan peaks.

[पंकज सिंह महर]

त्रिजुगीनारायण मंदिर, रुद्रप्रयाग

This magnificent temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, lies in the village of Triyuginarayan, on the ancient bridle path that connects Ghuttur to Shri Kedarnath. It is similar in architectural style to the temple of Kedarnath making this village an important pilgrimage centre.

             According to a legend, Triyuginarayan was the capital of the legendary Himvat and is the place where Shiva wedded Parvati duing the Satyug. the fire for the divine wedding was lit in the huge four cornered Havan Kund. All the sages attended the wedding of which Vishnu himself was the master of ceremonies.

            Remnants of that celestial fire are believed to be burning in the Havan kund even today. Pilgrim offer wood to the fire that has seen three Yug hence the name TRIYUGINARAYAN. The ashes from this fire is supposed to promote conjugal bliss .

          There are three other kund in this village,Rudrakund, Vishnu kund and Brahmakund. These are kund where the Gods bathed at the time of Shiva-Parvati wedding. The water in these kund flows from the Saraswati kund which is said to have sprang from Vishnu’s Navel. Women seeking children bath here, believing that it cures infertility.

[पंकज सिंह महर]

हरियाली देवी मंदिर, रुद्रप्रयाग

          A route diverting from Nagrasu, on the main Rudraprayag Karnprayag route, leads to the Siddha Peeth of Hariyali Devi. Haryali Devi is 22 kms. from Nagrasu which in turn is 37 kms. from the main town of Rudraprayag. At an altitude of 1400 mts. this place is surrounded by peaks and thick forests.

      According to the Hindu mythology, when Mahamaya was conceived as the seventh issue of Devki, Kansa threw Mahamaya violently on the ground. Consequently, several body parts of Mahamaya got strewn all over the earth. One part - the hand - fell at Haryali Devi, Jasholi. Since then it become a revered siddh peeth. There are 58 sidd peeths in all. Ma Hariyali Devi is also worshipped as Bala Devi and Vaishnav Devi. The temple houses a regally bejewelled idol of Ma Hariyali Devi, astride a lion. During Janamastimi and Deepawali this place is visited by thousands od devotees. On these occasions, the devotees accompany the idol of  Ma Hariyali Devi, covering a distance of 7 kms. to reach Hariyali Kantha. The temple houses chiefly three idols namely, Ma Hariyali Devi, Kshatrapal and Heet Devi. From Hariyali Kantha one can see the mountain range in a semi-lunar spread. The splendor of the range is sure to fill one’s heart with awe.

[पंकज सिंह महर]

ओमकारेश्वर मंदिर, रुद्रप्रयाग

       This Omkareshwar temple at Ukhimath features superbly crafted and carefully maintained icon of Lord Shiva. According to folklore, Usha, daughter of Banasur had lived here once, thus giving Ukhimath its name. In fact, Ukhimath is dotted with temples dedicated to Usha, Shiva, Parvati, Aniruddha and Mandhata, including one with the image of Mahadev with five heads - similar to the one in Kedarnath.
       An idol of Usha’s confidante, Chitralekha, also exists. And among the several copper plates discovered, two relate to land endowments for the Kedarnath temple made by the king of Nepal in 1797 A.D. and by the mother of an official of the court of Nepal in 1891 A.D.

       Nearby is the Deoria Tal, which catches the reflection of the Badrinath peak, mirroring its grandeur.

[पंकज सिंह महर]

इन्द्रासनी मंसा देवी (कश्यप ऋषि की पुत्री) का मंदिर

      The temple is situated in village Kandali Patti at a distance of 14 kms. from the main town of Rudraprayag and at about 6 kms. from Tilwara.It is believed to have been constructed in the age of Adi shankaracharya. The temple has unique architecture surrounded by temple of Jalkedareshwar, Khetrapal and Jakh Devta.
              The origin of Indrasani Mansa Devi is described in Skandpuran, Devibhagvata and Kedarkhand. It is believed that Indrasani Devi is a Mansi Kanya of Kashyapa and is known as VAISHNAVI , SHAVI AND VISHARI. Folklore claims that the Devi cures persons who have been bitten by snake.
            During Devi Jat held in the month of December 2000, on digging a Nag Jalkund was found and snakes were seen by the devotees in Jalkund. It is also claimed that if any person is bitten by snake, the person is brought before the Devi temple for worship and SANKH JAL (water) is applied on the affected area which removes the poison of the snake.
     

[पंकज सिंह महर]

वसुधारा, चमोली

Water falls have always captivated the human imagination. 5 Kms. from Mana village, toward the west is the Vasudhara fall with a sheer drop of 145 mtrs., set in a background of snowy peaks, glaciers and rocky heights. Violent wind sometimes sprays out the entire volume of the water falling and it appears that the water fall ceases for a minute or two, giving rise to a lot of superstitious ideas to the locals.

[पंकज सिंह महर]

काकभुसण्डि ताल, चमोली


This is a small oblong lake with emerald green water. It is at an altitude of 5230 mts., near Kankul Pass(5230 mts.), and is almost a kilometer in length. Myriad blossoms decorate its banks during the season, a wildest profusion of colours make the trekker forget the hardships and the exhaustion of the trek.

               Set in the lap of Hathi Parvat (6730 mts.), the lake can be approached either from Bhiundhar village, near Ghangria, or from Vishnu Prayag. The trek from the former is a little easier in gradient, but is longer. The trek from Bhiundhar passes through thick bear-infested, forests and stretches of stinging nettles. The only shelters here are the shepherd huts. This trek also involves walking long distances across glacial moraines and over slippery rocks.

                 Two huge rocks on a spur of Hathi  Parvat are described as a crow(Kaga) and an Eagle (Garuda). The locals believe that the crow is animatedly conversing with Garuda on the affairs of the universe. Another version has it that a learned Brahmin of Ayodhya once incurred the wrath of the sage Lomas who lived here and was changed into the form of crow by the sage.