Soft Treks around
Ranikhet, Almora & Nainital



" 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


Ranikhet, Almora & Nainital

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.

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.

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.

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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