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"
In the autumn heat, through the vibrant air,
And the bird called, in response to
The unheard music hidden in the shrubbery,
And the unseen eyebeam crossed, for the roses
Had the look of flowers that are looked at."
T.S. Eliot
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Ranikhet, Almora & Nainital
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4/5 Day tour
The year round
The British chose to turn Ranikhet into a cantonment
in 1869 and is still a cantonment, the home of the Kumaon regiment, of
the Indian army. The town is covered with pine and oak forests and to
the army must go the credit of limiting the spread of the bazaar and maintaining
the forests. Old colonial buildings scattered amongst dense woods mark
the small town. One gets a spectacular view of the Himalayan ranges from
almost all parts of the town.
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We
take you to the lake district of Kumaon, remarkable for its small
mountain lakes, which led the British to call it the Westmoreland
of India. There are about 10 lakes spread over an area of approximately
200 sq. kilometers. Naukuchiyatal takes its name from the fact that
it has 9 corners. The forests around the lake have been carefully
preserved, attracting scores of migratory birds during the season.
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Naukuchiyatal
and Sat Tal literally means seven lakes, as it consists
of seven interconnected tarns. The wooded slopes are thick with oak and
pine. Both lakes are in a picturesque location. A haven for birdwatchers,
nature lovers and the regular tourist, these lakes provide an ideal setting
for outdoor activities.
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Hariyal
and Vinayak have excellent views of the Great Himalayas, which are
just 62 miles as the crow flies, and you can see from Gangotri to
Nepal. |
We take you to Nainital, formerly the summer capital of the United Provinces,
now known as Uttaranchal. A prestigious educational center, Nainital is
the home of some of the finest schools in the country. The Uttananchal
state astronomical observatory provides a spectacular view of our solar
system. We will take you to Kaladhungi and show you places mentioned by
Corbett in his book "Jungle Lore". His winter home in Kaladhungi is now
a museum. We will also visit Gurney House in Nainital, which still has
some trophies from Corbett's time.
| Dwarahat
is one of the oldest townships of Kumaon. The place is famous for
the Dunagiri temple, named after the great warrior Dronacharya, the
guru of the Pandavas of Mahabharata fame. |
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Jageshwar, over eight hundred years old, is believed to be one of the
twelve holy 'Jyotirlingas'. There are 108 temples in a picturesque setting
on the banks of a small river. The temples have two distinct styles of
architecture dating back from different periods in history.
The Binsar Mahadev is a sacred place for the Kumaonis. Situated in a dense
pine forest, this temple is one of the significant seats of Lord Shiva.
The underground cave temple of Patal Bhuvaneshwar is traditionally believed
to be the abode of thirty-three Crore deities. The way to the temple is
through a narrow passageway, which also opens into several smaller caves,
which have stone carvings of many gods and goddesses.
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