Mukteshwar, the Crown of Kumaon

Location:

Located in Nainital district of Uttarakhand (India) , is at 51 km from Nainital, 72 km from Haldwani and a distance of 343 km from Delhi.

Geography:

Situated at an altitude of 2286 meters (7500 feet), it serves as a hill station for small weekend outing.

Weather:

Mukteshwar has cold winters and relatively cool summer with drastically escalated rain, in relation with lower altitudes, and frequent fog. Snowfall occurs occasionally in December and January, while the heavy rainfall events occurs during the monsoon season.

History:

Mukteshwar got its name from a 350-year-old temple of Shiva, known as Mukteshwar Dham. There are contradictory claims regarding the age of the temple. As per the local stories , the temple was constructed by a pandiya king from the Tamil kingdom during the 15th century.

It was initially known as Muktesar (as mentioned in Jim Corbett’s book “The Temple Tiger”),the name was changed after 1947. Legends have it that Lord Shiva killed a demon at this spot and granted him salvation.

The hill station was developed by the Britishers as research  and education  institute (IVR) in 1893.

Attractions:

The major attractions of this small hamlet are the IVRI laboratories, orchards of the Central Institutes of Temperate Horticulture-Regional Station, an expansive deodar forest, 22 pristine snow-peak views, and the adventure of living among wildlife such as tigers and bears are.

Mukteshwar is also home to a post office founded in 1905 which finds mention in Jim Corbett’s writing.

The place offers 180-degree views of the majestic Himalayan snow bound range consisting of Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot, Trishul and Panchachuli.

The overhanging cliffs behind the temple provide a spectacular view of the valley.

Activities to Do

1. The place is popular for adventure activities like rock climbing and rappelling. The overhanging cliffs provide good options for these activities. Paragliding is another popular sport at Mukteshwar.
2. For adventure souls, Mukteshwar does offer various options for trekking. There are many trekking trails in and around Mukteshwar. One can trek from Peora to Mukteshwar or Peora to Almora as well as Binsar to Artola.
3. Camping is another good way to spend time with your family and friends to spend some quality time in the lap of nature. Being situated amidst the dense deodar trees, Mukteshwar is an ideal place to camp and enjoy the beauty of nature.

How to Reach:

The nearest airport is at Pantnagar (99 Kms). The nearest railway station is Kathgodam (65 kms). Public and private transport is easily available from Kathgodam railway station.

Special Mention:

As per the local stories, on the occasion of Shivaratri, the women who are unable to conceive are made to pass through the Chauli Ki Jaali (holes in the rock), and the ones who are successful get the blessing of Lord Shiva and are able to give birth to child.

Pin Code: 263138

Std Code: 05942

Mukteshwar also has an SBI bank branch (SBIN0002582)