Situated on the foothills of the Himalayas and on the banks of the Sharda River and surrounded by dense forests is the charming city of Tanakpur in Uttarakhand. Rugged and uncooked with pristine views, Tanakpur is sometimes called the ” Gateway to the Kumaon Himalayas. ” The city can be adjoining to the Nepal border as a bridge throughout the Sharda River separates India from Nepal. Nonetheless, Tanakpur can be a vacation spot for pilgrims and devotees because the Devi Purnagiri Temple is situated 20 kms from the city and you must do a brief trek of three km uphill to achieve the temple which is without doubt one of the 108 Shakti Peethas. There are a number of vacationer locations close to Tanakpur from lakes, forests, and temples, and listed below are among the locations to see in Tanakpur.
Maa Purnagiri Temple
The divine mythological legend of Mahadev Shiva and Ma Parvati because the deities Shiva and Sati is retold right here. It was believed that Lord Shiva as a Yogi had married Sati towards the needs of her father and king, Dakha Prajapati and he carried out a Vrihaspati Yagna with out inviting them. When Sati went there alone, she was humiliated as her father insulted Lord Shiva and she or he immolated herself within the sacrificial hearth. An offended Lord Shiva in grief carried Sati’s physique in his arms and carried out the dance of destruction. It’s believed that components of her physique fell at completely different areas and so they grew to become referred to as Shakti Peethams. At Purnagiri it’s believed that her navel or “naabi” had fallen and the temple was later constructed right here. One of many oldest temples, it’s at all times thronged by devotees, particularly round spring in March- April, throughout Chaitra Navaratri.
Tanakpur can be recognized for the Panchmukhi Shiva Temple which additionally has a quite simple and humble Dharamshala connected to it.
One other widespread temple, situated on the banks of the Sharda River is the Increase Temple, additionally referred to as Adhya Shakti Peeth. It’s believed to be underneath the auspices of the religious and mystical Guru Maa and the shrines listed below are devoted to the Hindu pantheon of Goddesses who’re types of Shakti or Ma Parvati.
Sharda Ghat
Probably the most pristine ghats, the Sharda Ghat can be referred to as Ma Purnagiri Ghat. The turquoise waters of the river Sharda surrounded by the mountains look straight out of an image postcard. However that is additionally one of many holiest of all ghats as most pilgrims and devotees have their ablutions right here earlier than visiting the temple.
Nonetheless the river flows into Nepal as properly and as you drive alongside small villages on the river banks, you find yourself on the Nepal border. A bridge connects the 2 nations on the border and there are protocols and guidelines in the event you want to go to the opposite facet for a day. A medieval market arrange by the Katyuri Kings used to face on the opposite facet of the bridge in Nepal however was ultimately destroyed as a result of landslide. It was believed to have been an necessary commerce route through the colonial period.
Shyamlatal and Vivekananda Ashram
Situated about 30 kms from Tanakpur is a serene pure lake that stands enroute to the hill station of Champavat. The lake exudes a darkish bluish black color due to the hills and rocks surrounding it. Locals have named it Shyaam with a refernece to the hues of Lord Krishna. Nonetheless it’s so quiet on this distant misplaced village that you simply actually really feel like you might be in an idyllic world.
The Vivekananda Ashram is additional uphill and is somewhat haven on this world of loveliness. It was began over a century in the past by Swami Virajanandaji Maharaj, one of many disciples of Swami Vivekananda. You too can keep right here within the Ashram and dedicate your self to meditation and religious progress. There’s a temple right here contained in the Ashram. The Ashram additionally helps in coaching, schooling, and different welfare actions for youngsters in addition to additionally offering medical assist. If you’d like a couple of moments to silence your thoughts, then this is without doubt one of the finest locations to see in Tanakpur. The Ashram is nevertheless not open for visitors within the winter.
Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary
Situated in Uttarakhand, this not too long ago anointed wildlife sanctuary is between the Rivers Sharda and Gola and is predominantly full of sal timber, It stretches over an space of 270sq km, and is situated between Haldwani and Champavat forest divisions in Uttarakhand. There are three gates right here to this sanctuary and whereas Chorgalia Gate is in Haldwani and Kilpura Gate is in Chakarpur, the Kakrali Gate is in Tanakpur.
The wildlife sanctuary can be part of the Shivalik Elephant Reserve and is without doubt one of the locations to see in Tanakpur. In reality, we did spot a herd of untamed elephants with calves as properly on our wildlife safari, having fun with a mud bathtub. The forest can be residence to tigers and leopards and different mammals. It’s a chicken watcher’s paradise with over 200 species of birds. The sanctuary hyperlinks Nepal’s Shuklaphanta Nationwide Park and the dense forests of Ramnagar in Uttarakhand. In some stretches, the panorama is similar to that of Corbett Nationwide Park. The safaris usually are not but run in an organised method on this a part of the nationwide park. though you are able to do a little bit of offroading right here. Nonetheless, there are efforts to start out wildlife and journey tourism and rafting alongside the river right here that are among the proposed issues to do in Tanakpur for the adventurous at coronary heart.
Though Tanakpur is pristine and has so many unexplored locations, it’s nonetheless uncooked and rustic and wishes extra infrastructure for vacationers. There are lots of vacationer locations close to Tanakpur as properly however they nonetheless must be developed. At present, it’s nonetheless a pilgrim vacation spot and never but primed for tourism. The tourism division is eager on growing rural tourism and journey tourism right here. There are a couple of rustic homestays and some two-star resorts within the city. Whereas there’s a potential to develop wildlife and water sports activities and different journey actions, security and different precautions are but to be focussed upon. There’s a dearth of naturalists, forest guards, and guides as properly. Nonetheless, there’s a sure appeal in visiting offbeat, virgin locations and plan a visit to Tanakpur in case you are on a pilgrimage or the thought of going to a rugged vacation spot fascinates you.
Have you ever been to Tanakpur ? Are there any locations to see in Tanakpur that you simply wish to advocate?
