BAGESHWAR

Bageshwar is a small beautiful town situated almost 80km from the historic town of Almora. It is a valley town surrounded by low range mountains. Legends go as saying that the earlier name of this town was “vyaghreshwar” which gradually changed to present name Bageshwar over the passage of time.

Bageshwar is a mythological place. The confluence of two rivers, “Saryu and Gomti” along with a mythical river “Saraswati” gives the city a unique place. The historic “Bagnath” temple, on the banks of these rivers makes this place a mythological paradise. Stories related the creations of Bagnath temple with the Pandavas. Pandavas is said to have built this beautiful temple during their “agyatvas”.

Bageshwar and its surrounding areas offer many magnificent places, which are of great importance as far as tourism is concerned. A large part of this town is located between two identical mountains, “Neeleshwar and Bhileshwar (Now Chandika)”. Both the mountains boast a temple on their peaks. Local people have great faith in these temples. Of late the facilities around these temples are being upgraded. A beautiful bird’s eye view of the city can be seen from these mountain tops. Some other famous places are Loknath Ashram, Swrgashram, KothBhramari Mandir (Dangoli, Baijnath), Kalika Mandir (Kanda Parav) etc.
Bageshwar was earlier a part of Almora district but now it is a district which came into existence on 15 September, 1997.

Bageshwar has some great tourist spots to offer. Some of the main attractions in and around Bageshwar include Kausani, Baijnath, Chaukori, Pindari, Kafni and Sunderdunga Glaciers. Kausani was once called “Indian Switzerland” by Mahatma Gandhi, while Pindari glacier is very popular among the tourists and it is generally referred as the “paradise for trekkers”. Baijnath is famous for Shiva Mandir.

One important aspect for which Bageshwar is very famous is the “Uttarayani fair” or “Uttarayani ka Mela”. This annual fair is held in the auspicious month of “MAGH”, that is mid of January according to English calendar. This festival has a historic connection as the famous “Kuli Begar” movement of the Indian freedom struggle started on the bank of river Saryu during Uttarayani fair. This fair is observed with the tradition of making “ghughutya”. The essence can be felt everywhere and this festival is also known as “ghughuti tyar” in local language.

Another important event in Bageshwar is the “shivratri fair”. Though it is not held on a larger scale as Uttarayani but still it is very popular among local residents.