5 places to visit in Nainital to create wonderful memories
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Here are five places you simply cannot afford to miss out in Nainital.
Naini Lake
Naini Lake, a crescent-shaped lake of freshwater nestled between green hills, is the jewel at the very heart of Nainital. Boating, yachting, and paddling are some of the options here to take in the surrounding landscape while sailing over calm waters. At dusk, the lake mirrors the glistening lights of structures surrounding it, creating an ethereal ambiance.
Naina Devi Temple
Sitting at the top of the northern shore of Naini Lake is the Naina Devi Temple, one of India's 51 Shakti Peeths. This revered Hindu temple is dedicated to Goddess Naina Devi, believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Durga. The temple is believed to be the spot where Goddess Sati's eyes fell.
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Snow View Point
For a glimpse of the snow-capped Himalayan peaks such as Nanda Devi, Trishul, and Nanda Kot, Snow View Point is a must-see.
Located at an altitude of around 2,270 meters, the place is reachable on a hair-pin cable car journey from Mallital or by road. Right on top, telescopes for a closer view of the grand mountains, a tiny temple, and even tea stalls so that one can enjoy a steaming cup of tea in the cold breeze.
The Mall Road
Besides the Naini Lake, Mall Road is the commercial hub of Nainital and the happening area of the town. It is bordered with colonial structures, boutiques, restaurants, and roadside food stalls.
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It's a great place to do souvenir shopping, experience dining out, or just walk around.
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Tiffin Top
About 4 km from the city center lies Tiffin Top, popularly known as Dorothy's Seat, an off-center point that gives a wonderful sight of Nainital town. It is also a favorite spot for picnics and has been named after an English artist, Dorothy Kellet. The place can be approached by a picturesque trek or horse ride through the pine woods.
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Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Arc of the Kanwar Yatra: From Samudra Manthan to churning forces in society today
For about a fortnight in July, a common sight in North India is groups of men dressed in saffron clothes, atop trucks or on foot, chanting religious slogans like 'Har Har Mahadev' or 'Bol Bam', and carrying decorated slings. These slings, called kanwars, hold containers full of water from the Ganga, which the pilgrims are taking to various Shiva temples. The pilgrims are called kanwariyas and the annual pilgrimage is called the Kanwar Yatra. In recent years, the numbers of kanwariyas have swelled as the government has made better arrangements for their journey. However, this has also created an image of kanwariyas blasting music from their vehicles and getting into scuffles with other passersby. While the idea of pilgrimage in the Hindu religion is ancient, the Kanwar Yatra as seen today is a relatively new phenomenon. What are the religious beliefs behind the Kanwar Yatra, and what socio-economic-cultural forces shaped its present form? We explain. Kanwar Yatra is undertaken in the Hindu month of Shravan, or Saavan. Like many Indian festivals, Kanwar Yatra is also linked to the Samudra Manthan, the cosmic churning of the ocean. When the Devas (gods) and the Asuras (loosely translated as demons) churned the ocean, among the many things to emerge from it was halahal, or poison. The poison was so potent that if allowed to spread, it would have ended all life. Lord Shiva then swallowed the poison, which turned his throat blue and earned him the epithet of Neelkantha (the blue-throated one). To cool his burning throat, Goddess Parvati and others gave him water from the Ganga. Since the Samudra Manthan took place in the month of Shravan, devotees carry pitchers of Ganga water to Shiva temples as an offering in this month. The kanwar should not be put down on the ground at any time during the journey, and so people often travel in groups, carrying the kanwar for each other when needed. Water has to be taken from the Ganga and offered to in the month of Saavan, so the dates for the Kanwar Yatra this year are July 11 to (beginning of Saavan) to July 23 (Saavan Shivratri). Popular sites to collect the Ganga water are Sultanganj in Bihar, Prayagraj, Ayodhya or Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, and Haridwar, Gaumukh and Gangotri in Uttarakhand. The Shiva temples considered of special importance are the 12 Jyotirlingas, the Baidyanath Dham in Jharkhand's Deoghar, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, Pura Mahadev temple in Baghpat, and the Augharnath Temple in Meerut. 'Some temples are more popular than others, but it is not necessary for a devotee to go to one of these. Ganga water can be offered to Lord Shiva in the local town or village temple. Traditionally, the journey was undertaken on foot. Lord Shiva is an ascetic, so during the Kanwar Yatra, his devotees are supposed to practise the ascetic values of abstention and discipline while undertaking the journey,' Dr Ramesh Kumar Upadhyay, president of the Bhartiya Jyotish Aadhyatm Parishad in Jamshedpur, said. Upadhyay added that along with the Samudra Manthan legend, there is also an astrological reason to worship Shiva in the month of Shravan. 'Saavan, or Shravan, takes its name from the Shravana nakshatra (alignment of stars). Worshipping Lord Shiva in this nakshatra is considered specially auspicious,' he said. Mentions of the Kanwar Yatra as we know it are scant in religious texts and history books, though there are legends of various mythological figures offering Ganga water to Lord Shiva, from the sage Parshuram to Lord Rama to Lanka's king Ravana. Then there is the legend of Shravan Kumar in the Ramayana, who took his parents to pilgrimage in what we understand as a kanwar, but he is not recorded as carrying Ganga water to Shiva. Prof DP Dubey, retired professor of ancient history at the University of Allahabad and General Secretary of the Society of Pilgrimage Studies, said, 'In history books, descriptions of a kanwar yatra as such are difficult to find. Even the British, who were good at documenting, have not described a Kanwar Yatra. A Maharashtrian brahmin, Vishnubhat Godse, wrote a memoir of his travels in central and North India during and after the Revolt of 1857 (Maza Pravas, published much later in 1907). He talks of carrying Ganga water back to his village in Maharashtra to bathe his parents with, and this description, of walking barefoot carrying the Ganga water in a sling, is the closest to Kanwar Yatra as seen today. From my analysis of various local texts and accounts, the Kanwar Yatra appears to have originated in Bihar's Sultanganj in the 1700s. From there, it spread.' However, this spread was slow and steady, and the major uptick seems to have come in the 1980s. Various scholars have written about it, and factors, while difficult to pinpoint, include better connectivity and infrastructure, rise of Hindu identity assertion, popularity and increased accessibility of devotional music in the form of cassettes, and increasing average income in North India. Vikash Singh, Associate Professor of Sociology at New Jersey's Montclair State University, in his book Uprising of the Fools: Pilgrimage as Moral Protest in Contemporary India (2017) about the Kanwar Yatra, has written that many of the kanwariyas are young, not-very-affluent men. 'At the margins of the economy, the religious phenomenon provided an open and freely accessible, yet challenging, stage—a definite and alternative field—for participants to practice and prove their talents, resolve, and moral sincerity…The religious event is also a means to contest the symbolic violence and social inequities of a hierarchical society now dominated by a neoliberal social ethic, as imposing as it is exclusive.' Prof Dubey pointed out that as with most things in India, in the popularity of certain types of religious activities too, caste plays a role. 'An important thing to note about pilgrimages, be it to the Kumbh Mela or the Kanwar Yatra, is that they are a way to break the rigid boundaries of caste. Historically, pilgrims trailed the caravans of traders or even soldiers for security. Pilgrimages create bonds of community that are more inclusive than the generally air-tight pockets of caste. State support also plays a role. With the UP government now literally showering kanwariyas with flowers, the draw is naturally greater,' Dubey said. Yashee is an Assistant Editor with the where she is a member of the Explained team. She is a journalist with over 10 years of experience, starting her career with the Mumbai edition of Hindustan Times. She has also worked with India Today, where she wrote opinion and analysis pieces for DailyO. Her articles break down complex issues for readers with context and insight. Yashee has a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature from Presidency College, Kolkata, and a postgraduate diploma in journalism from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, one of the premier media institutes in the countr ... Read More
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Author Prajwal Parajuly goes in search of God and gets distracted by a rooster
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India.com
2 hours ago
- India.com
Unlock The Secrets Of Mumbai's Ancient Temples And Their Deep Astrological Connections
Mumbai functions as a 'City of Dreams' throughout its metropolitan essence that extends beyond its records of high-rise buildings and Bollywood film industry. The urban modern aspect of Mumbai conceals a centuries-long cultural heritage of history as well as religion and heritage which persists to this day. The energetic city of Mumbai shows several historical temple sites that are revered both spiritually and astrologically. For numerous generations devotees have honored these sacred sites which provide knowledge about Vedic astrology along with planetary effects and cosmic power. The Role of Temples in Vedic Astrology Through their function as religious establishments Hindu temples establish channels that connect human existence to divine power. Based on the teachings of Vedic astrology, which is known as Jyotish Shastra, planets together with stars affect human life based on their birth planetary positions. Religious sites which honor specific deities perform two functions by reducing harmful planetary effects together with amplifying beneficial cosmic energy. People worship Lord Shiva because Mars controls him while Goddess Parvati answers to Venus (Shukra) and Lord Ganesha receives devotion through Ketu—a shadow planetary force. During antiquity builders designed numerous temples in Mumbai according to concepts found in Vastu Shastra and the astronomical field. The proper alignment of temples follows cosmic arrangements which lets them effectively direct spiritual power. Visitors to these shrines ask for divine help to integrate their existence with cosmic harmonies and break free from planetary hindrances that affect their lives. Siddhivinayak Temple: A Beacon of Auspicious Beginnings The Siddhivinayak Temple within Prabhadevi area represents one of Mumbai's premier landmarks because it worships Lord Ganesha who removes obstacles. The temple brings in millions of worshippers each year because its spiritual power stands unmatched according to devotees. The Vedic tradition indicates that Ganesha worship provides both emotional calmness to Ketu and spiritual growth during difficult moments. According to spiritual belief the temple features its main deity facing north to bring positive success and prosperity. Before starting new projects dedicated followers of the religion uphold prayers at this place to secure heavenly assistance for the commencement. The temple exerts a magnetic power because it was built according to astrological principles which create a sacred space to find direction from celestial influences. Mahalakshmi Temple: Invoking Prosperity and Balance The Mahalakshmi Temple adjacent to Malabar Hill holds astrological significance as one of the shrines in the city. Crowds of devotees visit this shrine which honors Goddess Lakshmi to gain her blessings for abundance and wealth because they seek to worship Jupiter (Guru) and Venus (Shukra). Vedic astrological teachings demonstrate that material gains fall under the planetary domain of Jupiter whereas relationships are managed by Venus. The temple originated in 1784 on top of a hill above the Arabian Sea which connects the Earth with Water and Sky in one view. The temple construction follows Vastu guidelines precisely to support the natural distribution of universal energy. The temple organizes specific religious ceremonies known as pujas throughout Navratri festivals together with other celebrations to seek divine financial wealth and emotional contentment blessings. At the temple visitors can find worship figures of Goddess Saraswati for wisdom and Kali for power which unite together as three manifestations of feminine cosmic energy. Walkeshwar Temple: Harnessing Lunar Energy The ancient Walkeshwar Temple stands on Malabar Hill as a Shiva temple that apparently accumulates lunar spiritual power. Historical documents along with religious legends suggest Pandavas built this temple during their exile period but actual reconstruction work was undertaken by the Silhara dynasty in the 12th century. Religious devotees seek the peaceful sanctuary to eliminate the detrimental astral influences from Saturn (Shani) and Rahu that create delaying issues and confusion. People seek sacredness at the natural spring of Banganga Tank which flows from the Ganges River. Folks view bath rituals in this water source as a means to eliminate karma-related obligations while making their souls pure. The activity at this shrine reaches its peak on moonlit nights due to increased spiritual energy which supports both meditation and mind examination. Babulnath Temple: Seeking Redemption Under Shiva's Grace The Babulnath Temple stands at a short distance from Girgaum Chowpatty which demonstrates how deeply Mumbai connects to astrological principles. Babulnath Temple serves the same purpose as other Shiva temples by providing people with solace from Mars (Mangal) and Ketu-related matters. People use 'Om Namah Shivaya' mantra chanting to reduce passionate nature and erase the effects of previous lives' actions. The panoramic city view from the temple strengthens the belief that Shiva holds supreme oversight of both creation and destruction. The religious practice of Rudrabhishekam which involves bathing the lingam with milk, honey and ghee takes place frequently to obtain blessings and eliminate harmful energy. Mumba Devi Temple: Honoring the Guardian Deity A study of astrological heritage in Mumbai must include the Mumba Devi Temple located within Bhuleshwar. The temple dedicates itself to worshiping the goddess who founded Mumbai. People turn to Mumba Devi for her attributes of protection and strength because she helps solve problems related to Sun (Surya)-based energy such as egos clashes or leadership disputes. The temple began its existence in 1737 while maintaining a straightforward appearance that emanates an incredible amount of power. Through seasonal rituals and regular attendance at worship services a devotee gains solar cosmic power which develops strength together with life force. Conclusion The ancient temples of Mumbai function as vibrant expressions of eternal Indian knowledge by integrating faith and scientific principles. Architecture demonstrates through perfectly crafted designs and strategic placement and long-lasting cultural traditions how astrology deeply penetrates into the field of design. The holy sanctuaries remain sources of spiritual strength that grant blessings and discharge negative planetary effects for countless individuals.
