The Fascinating Patal Bhuwaneshwar Cave Trail
There is nothing like it on Earth!
A glimpse into the trail
Not for nothing is Uttarakhand called 'Devbhoomi'-the abode of Gods.
Every square inch of the land is replete with temples and fascinating stories.
Uttarakhand is divided into two divisions:
Kumaon- the south eastern part of the state bordering Nepal in the east and Uttar Pradesh in South.
Garhwal- the north western part of the state bordering Himachal Pradesh in the North and Uttar Pradesh in South.
Seeped in culture, tradition, mysticism and spirituality, 3 days are barely enough to explore this land of the Gods.
But then this is a trail built around one of the most mystical & mysterious places on earth-the Patal Bhuwaneshwar Cave temple.
Take our word for it, there is nothing like it on earth.
Go ahead, get blown away.
Brief Itinerary
2N/3D or 3N/4D
The trail begins in Champawat (Lohaghat) and ends in Almora
Day 0
Champawat
If you are fond of straying away from the usual mainstream tourist spots, you will choose Champawat. Seeped in history and heritage, Champawat today is best known for its ancient temples.
Legend also has it that Lord Vishnu appeared in His 'KurmaAvtar' (tortoise) here.
Check into your Homestay/hotelat Lohaghat/Champawat.
Step out for a memorable day of your life. Visit the spot where Jim Corbett killed the famed man-eating tiger of Champawat. Deadliest man-eater ever, with more than 400 kills to her name, she was Jim Corbett's first kill. Also the reason for him to turn a conservationist when he realised why they turn man-eaters.
Head to the ancient & the beautiful Banasur fort, which stands testimony to the Dwapar yug when Krishna battled & defeated the demon, Banasur.
Short visit to the ancient Ghatochkach temple . Legend has it that his head fell at this spot when he was slayed in the Mahabharata war.
A quick trip to the Ek Hathiya Ka Naula, which was built in a night by a one-handed artisan!
Round it off with a visit to the sacred Gwal Devta temple, the justice provider of the region.
Other beautiful and mystical spots to visit in & around Champawat:
Nagnath (Shiva) temple, Patal Rudreshwar cave, Kranteshwar Mahadev, Maa Barahi temple in Devi Dhura (focal point of Jim Corbett's book 'Temple Tiger'; also a fascinating local festival called 'Baghwal'). And so many others.
Day 1
Patal Bhuwaneshwar
Your raison d'etre of the trail.
Check into your resort at Patal Bhuwaneshwar, 3 odd kms from the Cave temple, in the middle of a forest.
Enjoy the sound of silence. Go for a little forest walk.
Drive down to one of the most mystical places on the earth.
A natural limestone cave that dates back to Satyug and finds mention in Skand Puran, it is one of the most fascinating and sacred places of India.
It is believed to hide the biggest secret to the end of the world.
Legend has it that the severed head of Ganesha is enshrined in the temple.
160m long and 90 feet deep, this cave has natural limestone rock formations which have created stalagmite figures.
Lord Shiva is believed to reside here alongwith all 33 koti devtas (33 type of Gods) & His family.
There are four entrances inside the cave, representative of the '4 Yugas'; namely 'Randwar', 'Paapdwar', 'Dharamdwar' and 'Mokshadwar'.
The Paapdwar was closed soon after the death of Ravana and the Randwar, was closed down after the great Mahabharata war.
Sit outside the temple for a bit in silence, and savour what you've just been through.
Drive down to the little town of Gangolihat, the abode of Maa Kalika Haat. She's believed to have returned from Kolkata to make this her permanent resting place.
She's the protective deity of the region, and also of the Kumaon regiment of the Indian army.
It is believed that Maa Kalika resides in the temple where a bed is prepared for her every night, and folds are found on the sheet next morning.
Return to the resort.
Savour the memories.
Day 2
Almora
At the banks of the Suyal River in Almora, are the Lakhudiyar Rock Paintings.
The Lakhudiyar Walls located in the Barechhina village of the Almora district of Uttarakhand is a marvelous piece of history that depicts the life of the early man during the times of Stone Age.
These caves have the paintings of animals, humans and also tectiforms done with fingers in black, red and white.
These rock shelters are a historical heritage of the country, and we just hope that they don't get lost in time.
Head to the enormous energy centre, the Kasar Devi temple situated on a hill top. Kasar Devi is none other than a form of Maa Parwati.
Kasar Devi's magnetic pull has attracted many famous people here.
From the United Kingdom to the hills of Uttarakhand, Kasar Devi has been a magnet for people who want peace and calm in their life.
Notable visitors who have found their calm in Kasar Devi include Swami Vivekananda, Bob Dylan, D.H. Lawrence, etc.
In fact, Swami Vivekananda meditated in a cave in Kasar Devi for a very long time.
According to Devi Bhagwat Puran this place is the site where Kaushiki Devi slayed demons Shumbh and Nishumbh.
There is an imprint of the goddess Durga's lion on the rock behind the idol inside the Kasar Devi Temple.
If you have time, do visit the charming Almora market.
Bal mithai, in particular, is a famous delicacy of the region; don't forget to get a few kilos packed!
Drive back to Kathgodam and catch the overnight train back home.
Gallery
Every picture tells a story. Provided you are willing to see.