Baijnath, Uttarakhand

Baijnath
town
A temple at Baijnath
Baijnath Location in Uttarakhand, India
Coordinates: 29°55′N 79°37′E / 29.92°N 79.62°E / 29.92; 79.62Coordinates: 29°55′N 79°37′E / 29.92°N 79.62°E / 29.92; 79.62
Country	India
State	Uttarakhand
District	Bageshwar
Languages
• Official	Hindi
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)

Baijnath is a small town on the banks of the Gomti River in the Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand, India. The place is most noted for its ancient temples.

History

Baijnath has remained the capital of Katyuri Kings, who ruled the area from 7th-11th century AD., then it was known as Kartikeyapura and lies in the centre of 'Katyur' valley; in 1901 it is was a small village with a population of 148.

Temples of Baijnath

There is a famous Baijnath Mandir (Lord Shiva) on the bank of the river which is said to have been built by the Kumaon Katyuri king in around 1150 A.D. and it was Capital of the Katyuri dynasty of kings who ruled Uttaranchal during 12th and 13th century, Baijnath was once known as Kartikyapura. One of the most important places to visit in Baijnath is the historically and religiously significant Baijnath Temple constructed in the twelfth century. The temple holds significance because, according to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva and Parvati were married at the confluence of River Gomati and Garur Ganga. Dedicated to SivaVaidyanatha, the Lord of Physicians, the Baijnath temple is actually a temples’ complex built by the Katyuri kings with the idols of Shiva, Ganesh, Parvati, Chandika, Kuber, Surya and Brahma. Also the town of Baijnath draws its name from the temple. Situated on the left bank of the Gomti River at an elevation of 1126 mts, the temples are constructed in stone. The main temple that houses a beautiful idol of Parvati is chiseled in black stone. The temple is approached from the riverside by a flight of steps made of stones constructed by the orders of a Katyuri queen. On the way to the main temple, just below the house of the Mahanta, is the temple of Bamani. Legend goes that the temple was built by a Brahmin woman and dedicated to Lord Shiva. it is believed that it was built in one night by katyuri kings [edit] Commerce and tourism.^[1]

Heritage

Around 2 km from Baijnath there is a temple of Bhagwati Mata Kot Bhramri Devi Temple or (Kot Ka Mandir) (traces of Ma Bhramri can be found in the last two paragraph of Chapter Eleven of Durga Shaptashati Path - The most sacred Hindu Book equivalent to Gita and Ramayana), which once was a fort owned by the Katyuri Kings. Also there is a myth that Adiguru Shankaracharya stayed on this temple overnight while en route to Badrinath. There is widespread belief among the local populace that the goddess, (after whom the temple is named) Kot Bhramri Devi's, Goddess face should not be shown to anyone except the priest of the temple if not followed this advice the entire Katur Valley will face ill luck and massive disaster will follow hence backside of the goddess is worshipped, except during the annual festival of "Nandaashtmi" during Bhadrapad Ashtami or Radha Ashtami during September month (the state government declares as State holiday) or when the Raj Jaat Yatra which takes place once in twelve year. Since last 150 Years buffalo and Lamb used to be sacrificed in the name of Nandaashtami has been stopped by The Honorable High Court of Nainital on a Public Interest Litigation filed by Animal Protection Society and as a result under police protection this practice has stopped. Though the Goddess Ma Bhramri is Satvik but some 200 years back during Nepalese Invasasion and their Kingdom, local deity Ma Nandadevi's status got installed at Kot Bhramri Mandir as a result animal sacrifice got started some 200 years back.

Geography

Baijnath is located at 29°55′N 79°37′E / 29.92°N 79.62°E / 29.92; 79.62.^[2] It has an average elevation of 1,130 metres (3,707 feet). An artificial lake building near the temple compound is on the cards and soon it would be ready. Immediately outside the temple complex there lies a lake full of fishes "Golden Mahaseer" and fishing is strictly restricted at this site and is a major tourist attraction where you will find tourist offering chana to fishes.

There is good lodging and boarding facilities at Baijnath which offers good and budget accommodation at the state run Tourist Reception Centre and good rooms with all modern amenities can be availed at very cheap rates. Its booking can be done from KMVN Delhi office (Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam Limited). It is the last recognised tourist rest house / budget accommodation in Kumaon hills prior to entering Gwaldam in Chamoli District in Garhwal.

The chief occupations of its inhabitants are agriculture, retired and serving defence personnel, petty shopkeepers and tea stall owners, teachers, fix point small scale taxi services operators.

The nearby market is Garur which is supposed to be one of the oldest in the region (since pre-independence days of the British Rule in India, but the market expanded during 1970 to 2010 with the efforts of social worker and industrialist K D Pandey. Primarily, Garur is the last recognised and biggest Kumaon market prior to entering Garhwal via Kumaon en route to Garur Gwaldam road.

A discussion is being held on laying a railway track between Tanakpur to Bageshwar which if materialised would bring this place on national connectivity. Congress as well as ruling BJP is supporting this cause

Nearby villages include Dangoli, Gagrigol, Haat, Teet Bazar, Purara, Noghar, etc.

Commerce and tourism

There are good lodging and boarding facilities at Baijnath with budget accommodation at the state run Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) and good rooms with all modern amenities can be availed at very cheap rates. Two kilometres further is a heli-pad facility for emergency landing for state and defence usage.

The chief occupation of its inhabitants are pensioners from retired services, State Government Teachers, Bankers, Post Officer Employees, Forest Services, agriculture, retired and serving defence personnel, petty and large shopkeepers dealing into day to day items and tea stall owners, butchers and finally point small scale taxi services.

From Baijnath en route to Bageshwar Bridge which is motorable route up to 'Song' at sub town place called Kapkot whereby thousands of foreign as well as domestic trackers come to trek on Sunderdhunga as well as Pindari Glaciers which are within a trekable distance of one hundred km (fifty Up and fifty down trek on foot).

There is a nearby market at Dangoli but main market remains two kilometers away at Garur which caters to household items, daily use goods to people and is considered to be biggest market place in the region after Almora, Ranikhet and Bageshwar District in Kumaon Hills up to Karanprayag District in Garhwal.

The market of Garur is one of the oldest in the region (since pre-independence days of the British Rule in India, but the market expanded during 1970 to 2010 with the efforts of local area people. In this area Mohan Chandra Joshi is a well known Poet, notable social worker and another one industrialist K D Pandey is also known for his vast development for Garur. In 2011 the major banks and other government services - the polytechnic, post office and the only ATM of the region are situated in the property owned by the Pandey Family. One can find modern shopping complex recently came up in Garur market build up by the Pharswan family. Primarily, Garur is the last recognised and biggest Kumaon market prior to entering Garhwal via Kumaon en route to Garur Gwaldam road.

A discussion is being held on laying a railway track between Tanakpur to Bageshwar which if materialised would bring this district on faster national connectivity and invite much larger tourist population by 2020. Congress as well as ruling BJP is supporting this cause. Also an artificial lake making is in progress and is expected to be complete by April 2014.

References