Uttarakhand, also called the Dev Bhoomi of India, has many ancient temples, gurudwaras, churches and mosques that one might want to visit. Many tourists visit Uttarakhand every year, for the sole purpose of spiritual and religious atonement, the char dham yatra being one of the many religious treks.
While everyone knows of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Tungnath and other religiously important destinations, very few know of the religious relevance of Nainital in the old Hindu scriptures. Here are 3 religious Spots that you must visit in Nainital this year:
- Naina Devi Temple
Naina Devi Temple, located on the banks of the Nainital lake, is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths. Legend has it that when Lord Shiva was carrying the burnt corpse of Mata Sati, her eyes fell on the land of Nainital, and hence the district deriving its name. The locals have great faith in the temple and it is one of the many ancient temples in India.
- Naukuchiatal
Naukuchiatal, a small town in the Nainital district, is also a lake town with a nine cornered lake. Naukuchiatal has great religious and mythological relevance as the Lake Naukuchiatal is said to be created by Lord Brahma on the local’s tapasya (hard wish). It is also said that people who have a parikrama (complete round) of the lake have good fortune. There’s another myth around the lake. It is believed that it is impossible to see all nine corners of the lake at the same time, and so if someone is able to do it, he/she attains Nirvana.
- Mukteshwar Temple
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Mukteshwar temple is believed to be constructed by the Pandavas during their 12 years long period of exile. This ancient temple is situated at a height of 2312 meters above sea level. Apart from its sacred relevance among Shiva devotees, the panoramic view of the Himalayan ranges from the temple is a sight not worth missing out on. The 180 degrees panoramic view from the temple shows the peaks of Nanda Devi, Nandakot, Nandaghunti, Trishul and Panchachuli.