Majestic peaks, lush green forests and beautiful waterfalls, that is how we can describe this small but amazing hill station, called Mukteshwar. Apart from being a pretty hill station, there is a lot for you to discover on the trip to Mukteshwar. Albeit, it is difficult to describe this alluring place completely, but we have summarised here the distinguishing features of this charmingly sleepy town, in the lap of lofty mountains, in case you are planning a trip and trying for easy gateways.
The Location
Situated 51 Kms away from Nainital district, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Uttarakhand, India. This small hill station has attracted only a few numbers of travel enthusiasts through its scenic beauty. You can reach Mukteshwar by hiring a taxi from Kathgodam Railway Station. On your way, the thick-wooded Pine, Oak and Deodar forests will steal your heart and you will ask yourself, “why didn’t I plan a trip to visit this hidden gem earlier?” The answer is simple, Mukteshwar has not received the attention, it deserves, in the tourism community. Not many people know about this destination, but at the same time, the good part is, that it is refreshingly untouched by the maddening crowd of the popular tourist destinations.
The View
Unlike famous tourist spots, the cost of stay, food and tour, is relatively less in Mukteshwar. This place is best for activities such as camping, adventure sports and trekking. The place offers stunning panoramic view of the Kumaon Himalayan peaks like the Chaukhamba, Nanda Devi as well as the snowclad mountaintops of Adi Nampha of the Nepal Himalayas.
The Food & Stay
There are many options for a comfortable stay in Mukteshwar, but if the weather is in your favour, then there is nothing like camping here. In most of the camps, there is a room service person who takes care of your day to day needs during your stay in the camp and the other person is the cook, who prepares delicious and organic local Pahari food such as a green curry called KuppaI, Aloo ke Gutke (a Kumauni dish made of potato), Sisunak Saag (a green leafy vegetable cuisine) and Rus (a dished prepared by mixing various pulses and legumes). The days are spent in soaking the sun and the evenings are spent quietly, gazing at the golden sun, setting behind mountains. You can enjoy a cup of hot tea or coffee while looking at the beautiful sunset. The sizzling pakoras with tea are like cherry on the cake. As the night gets darker and the temperature drops, you can sit near the campfire (Thank God! It really gets cold), holding a glass of wine, along with some local snacks and listen to the mesmerizing local Pahari songs. The melodious flute, that is mostly played in those songs, will make you feel out of this world.
In most of the camps, there is a room service person who takes care of your day to day needs during your stay in the camp and the other person is the cook, who prepares delicious and organic local Pahari food such as a green curry called KuppaI, Aloo ke Gutke, Sisunak Saag and Rus.
Things You Can Do In Mukteshwar
The room service person is happy to play as a tourist guide for a day on your request. He will take you to the near by waterfalls and near by sightseeing which are generally hidden from the eyes of metro city tourists. However, you will have to manage on your own while visiting the popular sites such as Mukteshwar Dham temple, Chauli ki Jali hills and adventure activity spots.
It is said that the Mukteshwar Dham is a 350 years old temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to the folklores, Lord Shiva killed a demon king here and gave him salvation at the very place where the temple is situated. That’s how the place got its name, Mukteshwar (related to Mukti or salvation). Chauli Ki Jali is another place which holds legends attached to it. It is believed that Goddess Durga had killed a demon here. A fair is organized annually at this place. A Huge crowd gathers here during this time, specially women, who come to pray in the hope of childbearing.
Besides the religious visits, Mukteshwar has many adventure sports at your disposal. There are sports such as rock climbing, rappelling, valley crossing, flying fox, to name a few. On your way to trekking you can experience breathtaking view of rocky hills, fruit orchards and conifer trees.
Mukteshwar has many adventure sports such as rock climbing, rappelling, valley crossing, flying fox at your disposal.
If you are interested in veterinary then you can also visit the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI). There are many historical items and artifacts that are preserved in its museum.
Mukteshwar houses breezy waterfalls. However, a few of them are hard to reach due to slippery hills and absence of proper roads. Therefore, it is advised that you must visit them during the day time, and also when other tourists are present there. In case of emergency, they can help. You can carry a couple of extra clothes, just in case you wish to take a dip or two. Leave the place before sunset because the temperature during the evening plunges several notches down and the dark grasps the whole surrounding.
A few pro tips, Carry good amount of woolen clothes to keep yourself warm as the climate in Mukteshwar is a real masquerade. You can visit Mukteshwar through out the year but camping in winter and rainy seasons is not recommended. Keep good quality trekking shoes as the hills in Mukteshwar are very steep and slippery. Have a safe and happy journey!
Carry good amount of woolen clothes to keep yourself warm as the climate in Mukteshwar is a real masquerade.
